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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2010

File No. 001-34726

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 2

to

Form 10

GENERAL FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

The Netherlands   98-0646235

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Weena 737

3013AM Rotterdam

The Netherlands

31 10 275 5500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class Registered

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Such
Class will be Registered

Class A ordinary shares

  New York Stock Exchange

Class B ordinary shares

  New York Stock Exchange

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨   Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   þ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

 


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LyondellBasell Industries N.V. was formed on October 15, 2009 to serve as the parent holding company for certain subsidiaries of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (“LyondellBasell AF”) after completion of proceedings under chapter 11 (“Chapter 11”) of title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “U.S. Bankruptcy Code”). LyondellBasell AF and 93 of its subsidiaries were debtors (the “Debtors”) in jointly administered bankruptcy cases (the “Bankruptcy Cases”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”). Additional subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF were not involved in the Bankruptcy Cases. On April 23, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court approved our Third Amended and Restated Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”) and we emerged from bankruptcy on April 30, 2010 (the date of our emergence from bankruptcy being the “Emergence Date”).

Prior to the Emergence Date, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. had not conducted any business operations. Accordingly, unless otherwise noted or suggested by context, all historical financial information and data and accompanying financial statements and corresponding notes, as contained in this Registration Statement, reflect the actual historical consolidated results of operations and financial condition of LyondellBasell AF for the periods presented and do not give effect to the Plan of Reorganization or any of the transactions contemplated thereby or the adoption of “fresh-start” accounting. Thus, such financial information may not be representative of our performance or financial condition after the Emergence Date. Except with respect to such historical financial information and data and accompanying financial statements and corresponding notes or as otherwise noted or suggested by the context, all other information contained in this Registration Statement relates to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and its subsidiaries following the Emergence Date. When we use the terms “LyondellBasell Industries N.V.,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar words in this Registration Statement, unless the context otherwise requires, we are referring to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and its subsidiaries following emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases. For more information on the Bankruptcy Cases, see “Item 8. Legal Proceedings—Bankruptcy Cases and Reorganization.”

As of the Emergence Date, LyondellBasell AF’s equity interests in its indirect subsidiaries terminated and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. now owns and operates, directly and indirectly, substantially the same business as LyondellBasell AF owned and operated prior to emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases. References herein to “our” historical consolidated financial information (or data derived therefrom) should be read to refer to the historical financial information of LyondellBasell AF.

Since the Emergence Date, there has been a limited market for our securities. LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares have been quoted on Pink OTC Market’s electronic quotation and trading system under the symbols “LALLF” and “LALBF,” respectively, since emergence. We intend to apply for listing of our class A ordinary shares and our class B ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

In reviewing this Registration Statement, you should carefully consider the matters described in the section entitled “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 45 of this Registration Statement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of any of the securities of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. or determined whether this Registration Statement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This Registration Statement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Statements contained in this Registration Statement as to the contents of any contract or document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance, if the contract or document is filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement. Each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the applicable document.

After the SEC declares this Registration Statement effective, we will file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We intend to furnish our stockholders with annual reports containing combined financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm. This Registration Statement is, and any of these future filings with the SEC will be, available to the public over the Internet on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may read and copy any filed document at the SEC’s public reference rooms in Washington, D.C. at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information.

We maintain an internet site at http://www.lyondellbasell.com. Our web site and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not a part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Registration Statement.

You should rely only on the information contained in this Registration Statement or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different information or to make any representation not contained in this Registration Statement.

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

This Registration Statement includes industry data that we obtained from periodic industry publications, including Chemical Marketing Associates, Incorporated (“CMAI”); Turner, Mason & Company; Platts (a reporting service of The McGraw-Hill Companies); SRI Consulting (“SRI”); Tecnon Orbicom; PIRA Energy Group; Chemical Market Resources; DeWitt & Company, Inc. (“DeWitt”); Oil and Gas Journal; Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”); Energy Information Administration (“EIA”); and internal company reports and estimates. Industry publications generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there can be no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Additionally, the industry sources that we reference request or require that, if we reproduce the information they provide, we inform readers that they make no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of, nor assume any liability for, such information. We believe that the industry data we obtained from industry publications is reliable and is the data commonly and regularly used for analysis of our industry. However, we have made no independent verification of the accuracy of this data.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 1.

   Business    1

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    45

Item 2.

   Financial Information    63

Item 3.

   Properties    104

Item 4.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management    107

Item 5.

   Directors and Executive Officers    111

Item 6.

   Executive Compensation    116

Item 7.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence    147

Item 8.

   Legal Proceedings    148

Item 9.

  

Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

   152

Item 10.

   Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities    154

Item 11.

   Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered    155

Item 12.

   Indemnification of Directors and Officers    164

Item 13.

   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    165

Item 14.

   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    165

Item 15.

   Financial Statements and Exhibits    166

This Registration Statement is being filed to register the class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares that were issued in connection with the Plan of Reorganization. It is not and is not to be construed as an inducement or encouragement to buy or sell any of our securities. You should be aware of certain risks relating to our business and ownership of our class A or class B ordinary shares, which are described under the heading “Item 1A.—Risk Factors.”

You should not assume that the information contained in this Registration Statement is accurate as of any date other than the date set forth on the cover. Changes to the information contained in this Registration Statement may occur after that date, and we undertake no obligation to update the information, except in the normal course of our public disclosure obligations and practices.

All industry and statistical information included in this Registration Statement, other than information derived from our financial and accounting records, is presented as of December 31, 2009 unless otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise indicated, financial information and information derived from our accounting records which are presented as “current” are as of December 31, 2009.

 

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CAUTIONARY INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements contained in this Registration Statement are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “estimate,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “budget” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Many of these forward-looking statements have been based on expectations and assumptions about future events that may prove to be inaccurate. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Our actual results (including the results of our joint ventures) could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to:

 

   

our ability to comply with debt covenants and service our substantial debt,

 

   

availability of cash and access to capital markets,

 

   

the business cyclicality of the chemical, polymers and refining industries,

 

   

the availability, cost and price volatility of raw materials and utilities, particularly the cost of oil and natural gas,

 

   

competitive product and pricing pressures,

 

   

uncertainties associated with the U.S. and worldwide capital markets and economies,

 

   

operating interruptions (including leaks, explosions, fires, weather-related incidents, mechanical failure, unscheduled downtime, supplier disruptions, labor shortages, strikes, work stoppages or other labor difficulties, transportation interruptions, spills and releases and other environmental risks),

 

   

the supply/demand balances for our and our joint ventures’ products, and the related effects of industry production capacities and operating rates,

 

   

our ability to achieve expected cost savings and other synergies,

 

   

legal and environmental proceedings,

 

   

tax rulings, consequences or proceedings,

 

   

technological developments, and our ability to develop new products and process technologies,

 

   

current and potential governmental regulatory actions in the U.S. and in other countries, including potential climate change regulation,

 

   

political unrest and terrorist acts, and

 

   

risks and uncertainties posed by international operations, including foreign currency fluctuations.

Any of these factors, or a combination of these factors, could materially affect our future results of operations (including those of our joint ventures) and the ultimate accuracy of the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results and future developments (including those of our joint ventures) may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Our management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or prior earnings levels.

All forward-looking statements in this Registration Statement are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this section and elsewhere in this Registration Statement. See “Item 1. Business,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 2. Financial Information—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional information about factors that may affect our

 

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businesses and operating results (including those of our joint ventures). Use caution and common sense when considering these forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update these statements unless applicable securities laws require us to do so.

In addition, this Registration Statement contains summaries of contracts and other documents. The summaries of contracts and documents that are filed as exhibits to this Registration Statement may not contain all of the information that is important to an investor and reference is made to the actual contract or document for a more complete understanding of what is discussed in this Registration Statement regarding the contract or document involved.

 

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under Dutch law by deed of incorporation dated October 15, 2009.

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. was formed to serve as the parent holding company for certain subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF after completion of the Bankruptcy Cases. LyondellBasell AF and 93 of its subsidiaries were Debtors in jointly administered Bankruptcy Cases in the Bankruptcy Court. As of the Emergence Date, LyondellBasell AF’s equity interests in its indirect subsidiaries terminated and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. now owns and operates, directly and indirectly, substantially the same business as LyondellBasell AF owned and operated prior to emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases, which business includes subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF that were not involved in the Bankruptcy Cases.

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is the successor to the combination in December 2007 of Lyondell Chemical Company (“Lyondell Chemical”) and Basell AF S.C.A. (“Basell”), which created one of the world’s largest private petrochemical companies with significant worldwide scale and leading product positions.

Overview

We are the world’s third largest independent chemical company based on revenues and an industry leader in many of our product lines. We are the world’s largest producer of polypropylene and polypropylene compounds (“PP compounds”) and a top worldwide producer of propylene oxide (“PO”), polyethylene (“PE”), ethylene and propylene. Additionally, we are a leading provider of technology licenses and a supplier of catalysts for polyolefin production. Our refinery in Houston, Texas (the “Houston Refinery”) is among North America’s largest full conversion refineries capable of processing significant quantities of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil. We participate in the full petrochemical value chain, from refining to specialized end uses of petrochemical products, and we believe that our vertically integrated facilities, broad product portfolio, manufacturing flexibility, superior technology base and operational excellence allow us to extract value across the full value chain.

We have the size and scale to compete worldwide:

 

   

For the year ended December 31, 2009, our revenues were $30.8 billion.

 

   

As of December 31, 2009, our total assets were $21.4 billion.

We are geographically diverse:

 

   

As of December 31, 2009, we manufactured products at 59 sites in 18 countries (including those operated through joint ventures).

 

   

We sell products in more than 100 countries.

 

   

For the year ended December 31, 2009, 54% of our revenues was generated from sales in North America, 35% from sales in Europe and 11% from sales in the rest of the world.

 

   

We participate in 16 significant manufacturing joint ventures, 11 of which are outside of Western Europe and the U.S., primarily in regions that have cost-advantaged raw materials or high growth rates, including Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

We have leading positions in our key products:

 

   

As of December 31, 2009, we are the worldwide rated capacity leader in polypropylene, PP compounds, polyolefin licensing, polypropylene catalysts and oxyfuels.

 

   

As of December 31, 2009, we ranked second, third, fourth and fourth in worldwide capacity in propylene oxide, PE, ethylene and propylene, respectively.

 

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Our products are used in a broad range of applications and in products that people use every day, and have been increasingly in demand in developing markets:

 

   

Key end uses for our products include: rigid and flexible packaging, transportation fuels (gasoline and diesel), containers, plastic pipe, detergents, cosmetics, electronics, appliances, automotive parts, paints and coatings, furnishings, construction and building materials and many other industrial and consumer goods applications.

 

   

The diverse end-market uses for our products help to reduce volatility of demand for our products, and a majority of our revenues in 2009 was derived from sales of products utilized in consumable products (including fuels).

Our businesses and asset portfolio provide diversification and flexibility:

Our business portfolio of refining and oxyfuels, olefins and polyolefins, intermediate and derivative chemicals, and technology provides diversification and flexibility. Despite the current economic conditions generally and in our industry, parts of our businesses have performed in line with historical norms:

 

   

In 2009, the oxygenated fuels products within our refining and oxyfuels segment showed margins which were consistent with recent years, due in part to the significant differential between gasoline prices and butane costs, coupled with increasing worldwide biofuels demand.

 

   

The continued enhancement of feedstock flexibility in our North American olefin plants allowed us to improve the competitiveness of these assets in the current market conditions where natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) pricing has been much lower than most crude-oil-based feedstocks, partially offsetting the weak overall profit environment for producers using crude-oil-based feedstocks.

 

   

In our olefins and polyolefins segments, our North American PE business has benefitted from strong export demand driven by the Asian economy, competitors’ project delays and relatively lower NGLs cost-based ethylene.

 

   

The PO business within our intermediates and derivatives segment demonstrated results in 2009 consistent with recent years.

Competitive Strengths

We believe that our key competitive strengths are:

 

   

Leading Positions in Worldwide Segments . We are the world’s third largest independent chemical company based on revenues and an industry leader in many of our product lines. We are the world’s largest producer of polypropylene, PP compounds and oxyfuels and a top worldwide producer of PO, PE, ethylene and propylene. Additionally, we are a leading provider of technology licenses and a supplier of catalysts for polyolefin production. Our Houston Refinery is among North America’s largest full conversion refineries capable of processing significant quantities of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil.

 

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Worldwide Position by Product

 

Products

   Worldwide Rated Capacity    Worldwide Position
     (million lbs per year, unless noted)     

Refining and Oxyfuels

     

Oxyfuels (bbl/day)

   75,000    #1

Olefins and Polyolefins

     

Polypropylene

   12,100    #1

Polyethylene

   10,800    #3

Ethylene

   14,400    #4

Propylene

   8,800    #4

PP Compounds

   2,300    #1

Intermediates and Derivatives

     

Propylene Oxide

   2,500    #2

Technology

     

Polyolefin Licensing

      #1

Polypropylene Catalysts

      #1

 

Sources: CMAI, Chemical Market Resources, DeWitt and LyondellBasell AF’s internal data.

Note: Capacities and worldwide capacity position are as of December 31, 2009, except for Technology worldwide capacity position, which is as of December 31, 2008, and include our pro rata share of joint ventures.

 

   

Geographic Diversity . Our worldwide manufacturing, sales and marketing network enables us to serve the needs of both local and worldwide customers. As of December 31, 2009, we operated (including through our joint venture network) 59 manufacturing sites in 18 countries. For the year ended December 31, 2009, 54% of our revenues was generated from sales in North America, 35% from sales in Europe and 11% from sales in the rest of the world. We market and sell our products in more than 100 countries, providing the opportunity to develop new markets for our products in higher-growth regions. We have worldwide exposure to many different economies as a result of our historical strength in Europe and the United States and our worldwide joint venture network. Our technology licensing platform has enabled us to make a number of investments in high-growth regions to broaden our worldwide reach.

Worldwide Network

LOGO

 

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     North America    Europe    Rest of World    Total

Manufacturing Facilities (1)

   23    19    17    59

Employees (2)

   6,120    7,750    990    14,860

Revenues (millions) (3)

   16,566    10,931    3,331    30,828

 

(1) As of December 31, 2009. Includes joint ventures and wholly owned manufacturing facilities.
(2) Approximate as of December 31, 2009.
(3) Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009 based on delivery location.

 

   

Participation in High-Growth, Low-Cost Markets through Joint Venture Relationships . We have pursued a strategy of leveraging our leading technology positions and worldwide marketing network to gain access to growing markets and low cost raw materials and feedstocks through the development of joint ventures. We participate in 16 significant manufacturing joint ventures in 11 countries throughout the world, most of which are in regions that have cost-advantaged feedstock or higher growth rates, including Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, which have shown average annual GDP growth rates of 7% (outside of Japan), 5% and 4%, respectively, from 2005 through 2009. On a 100% basis, our joint ventures have 8.1 billion pounds of polypropylene capacity and 2.7 billion pounds of PE capacity. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 we received cash dividends from these joint ventures of $148 million, $98 million and $26 million, respectively, in addition to benefitting from profits relating to licensing revenue, catalyst sales and marketing joint venture products. Since late 2008, we have begun production at two new Saudi Arabian joint ventures, expanded production at two other joint ventures in Saudi Arabia and Mexico, and in 2010 we are anticipating the startup of a new joint venture in China and capacity additions at another joint venture in Thailand. Our equity stakes allow us to participate in higher growth regions of the world without the significant expense of constructing wholly owned facilities.

 

   

Portfolio of Differentiated Products, Which Provides Premium Margins . We believe that our PP compounds, Catalloy process resins, polybutene-1 (“PB-1”), PO and intermediate products and our technology business help mitigate our exposure to the olefin and polyolefin cycles. The cycles for PO and its derivatives have historically tended to follow more independent supply and demand patterns than olefins and polyolefins. We also believe our technology and catalyst businesses further reduce the impact of petrochemical cycles on our operating results and provide a foundation for us to realize premium profit margins.

 

   

Significant Achievable Cost Savings in Process . From June 30, 2008 through the end of 2009, we reduced our workforce by approximately 2,370 employees and approximately 1,650 contractors. Additionally, since the end of 2007, we have significantly rationalized our asset footprint by shutting down underperforming assets with 4 billion pounds of annual capacity of polymers and chemicals. Management expects additional fixed cost savings by reducing staff, rationalizing our worldwide asset base, restructuring our contracts and realizing savings in procurement and logistics. Our senior management continues to focus on streamlining our worldwide fixed cost infrastructure.

 

   

We Operate One of the Largest High-Complexity Refineries in North America . We believe that our Houston Refinery is among the more flexible of major North American refineries with the ability to process 268,000 barrels per day of a wide array of feedstock grades, including heavy, high-sulfur crude oil. These grades of crude oil are more difficult to refine into gasoline than other high value fuel products, but have historically been less costly to purchase, giving us a cost advantage over many of our competitors. Processing heavy, high-sulfur crude oil in significant quantities requires a high-complexity refinery, which differentiates our Houston Refinery from the majority of competing facilities in the U.S. We have entered into a crude supply agreement with PDVSA Petróleo S.A. (“PDVSA Oil”) to buy crude at market-based pricing for the majority of our supply. Our Houston Refinery also benefits from its strategic location near various North American pipeline systems and a major port on the Gulf of Mexico, with its proximity to Venezuela and Mexico, which are among the largest producers of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil.

 

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Integrated Portfolio Structure . We participate in the full petrochemical value chain, from refining to specialized end uses of petrochemical products. We extract value from optimization across the refining and oxyfuels, olefins and polyolefins and intermediates and derivatives businesses. We operate several major integrated olefin and olefin derivative sites, which provide cost efficiencies through shared services and infrastructure, economies of scale and optimization. Additionally, oxygenated fuel products produced from chemical assets offer further integration benefits with the fuels business. We utilize our flexibility by leveraging a portfolio of mixed feedstock crackers across the U.S. to reduce our exposure to volatility in feedstock prices, enabling us to process lower cost feedstocks. On a worldwide basis, we produce in excess of 100% of our ethylene requirements and approximately 50% of our propylene requirements.

World Scale Diversified & Vertically Integrated Portfolio Structure

LOGO

 

   

Superior Technology Platform . We are a technology-driven company that invests in research and development to maintain our leadership position, which we believe provides us with a significant competitive advantage. We estimate that approximately 43% of polypropylene and 35% of PE worldwide licensed capacity from 2003 through 2009 use our technologies. We believe that we are the global technologies leader in polyolefins. These proprietary technologies provide us with a cost-advantaged, market-preferred position.

 

Technology Portfolio
Polyolefins    Offering of complete polyolefin technology portfolio; proven processes with competitive capital and operating costs
Propylene Oxide    Proprietary technology basis for >30% of worldwide production
Propylene Oxide Derivatives    Environmentally advantaged solvents
Catalysts    Differentiated product portfolio at competitive use cost; ongoing innovation to enhance performance

 

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We are a technological leader in the manufacture of PO, using our proprietary propylene oxide/styrene monomer (“PO/SM”) and propylene oxide/tertiary butyl alcohol (“PO/TBA”) processes. We continue to increase our expertise in the production of butanediol from PO. As of March 1, 2010, approximately 960 of our employees are engaged in research and development activities.

 

   

Focused, Experienced Management Team . We are led by James L. Gallogly. Mr. Gallogly was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in May 2009. Mr. Gallogly has over 29 years of operating and leadership experience in chemical, refining and related industries. He formerly worked at ConocoPhillips, most recently serving as executive vice president of exploration & production from October 2008 to May 2009. For the preceding two years, he was executive vice president of refining, marketing and transportation. He was president and chief executive officer of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company from 2000 to 2006 and served as a member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Gallogly is supported by a senior management team that has extensive operational and financial experience in the chemical, polymers and refining industries. Our senior management team is focused on managing through this current cyclical trough by implementing extensive fixed cost reduction measures, optimal asset utilization and initiatives to increase operational reliability. For more information on our executive officers, see “Item 5. Directors and Executive Officers—Executive Officers.”

 

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Our Strategy

Our principal focus is on reducing our cost structure, improving operations and revenues and realizing the synergies from the December 2007 combination of Lyondell Chemical and Basell. Our efforts are directed by the following key business strategies:

 

   

Operational Excellence . Operational excellence, which includes a commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and improved reliability, is key to our future success. We believe optimal operations can be achieved through a systematic application of standards and improved maintenance procedures, which is also expected to result in improved personnel and process safety and environmental performance. We continue to set new, stricter operational excellence targets for each of our facilities based on industry benchmarks.

 

   

Cost Reduction / Revenue Enhancement . We are pursuing cost reductions across our system with specific goals, based in large part on benchmarks of industry leading performance. We believe that our worldwide manufacturing scale provides the opportunity to minimize costs per unit, a critical operational measure for petrochemical and refining companies. We will continue to focus on upgrading our customer and product mix to realize premium pricing. By leveraging our leading technological platform, worldwide presence, strong customer relationships and reliability and quality, we also intend to increase our sales of value-added, differentiated products.

 

   

Capital Discipline . Additionally, we remain focused on disciplined capital allocation. We intend to optimize our capital spending to address projects required to enhance reliability and maintain the overall asset portfolio. This includes key maintenance and repair activities (“turnarounds”) in each segment, necessary regulatory and maintenance spending, as well as a limited number of high return debottlenecking and energy reduction projects.

 

   

Portfolio Management . We will also carefully manage our portfolio as demonstrated by the recent closure of certain underperforming assets. We continue to evaluate our asset portfolio and may initiate further rationalization, depending on market conditions.

 

   

Performance-Driven Culture . The benchmarking, goal setting and results measurement previously described as part of the cost reduction and revenue enhancement efforts are central to the new performance driven, accountability culture that we are instilling. We believe we have outstanding people and assets, and with the right performance expectations, can rapidly increase our competitiveness. We have reshaped the management team to initiate a refocused effort around these basic strategic elements.

 

   

Technology-Driven Growth . Our strong, industry leading technologies provide us with a platform for future growth. We intend to continue to improve our operations in the mature, highly sophisticated markets in Europe and North America, and, as our financial condition improves, we plan to grow in quickly developing markets like Asia and regions with access to low cost feedstocks.

 

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Segments

As of December 31, 2009, we began reporting our results of operations based on five business segments through which our operations are managed. These are our reportable segments:

 

   

Refining and Oxyfuels . Our Refining and Oxyfuels segment refines heavy, high-sulfur crude oil in the U.S. Gulf Coast, refines light and medium weight crude oil in southern France and produces oxyfuels at several of our olefin and PO units. Our Houston Refinery is among North America’s largest full conversion refineries capable of processing significant quantities of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil. Our refinery in Berre, France (the “Berre Refinery”) processes light to medium weight crude oils, and provides raw material and site integration benefits to our olefin and polyolefin business in Europe. We are also a significant manufacturer of oxygenated fuels at several facilities within the U.S. and Europe. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our Refining and Oxyfuels segment generated $10,835 million of revenues (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

   

Olefins and Polyolefins—Americas (“O&P—Americas”) . Our O&P—Americas segment produces and markets polyolefins, ethylene and ethylene co-products. We are the largest polypropylene producer, the largest producer of light olefins (ethylene and propylene) and the third largest producer of PE in North America. In addition, we produce significant quantities of high-value specialty products such as Catalloy process resins. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our O&P—Americas segment generated $8,652 million of revenues (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

   

Olefins and Polyolefins—Europe, Asia, International (“O&P—EAI”) . Our O&P—EAI segment produces and markets olefins (ethylene and ethylene co-products) and polyolefins. We are the largest producer of polypropylene and PE in Europe. We are also the largest worldwide producer of PP compounds, a high-value specialty product (global marketing of which is managed in our O&P—EAI segment). We also produce significant quantities of other high-value specialty products such as Catalloy process resins and PB-1. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our O&P—EAI segment generated $7,128 million of revenues (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

   

Intermediates and Derivatives (“I&D”) . Our I&D segment produces and markets PO and its co-products and derivatives, acetyls, ethylene oxide and its derivatives, and flavor and fragrance chemicals. PO co-products include styrene monomer (“SM”) and C 4 chemicals (tertiary butyl alcohol (“TBA”), oxyfuels (which is managed in our Refining and Oxyfuels segment), isobutylene and tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (“TBHP”)), and PO derivatives include propylene glycol (“PG”), propylene glycol ethers (“PGE”) and butanediol (“BDO”). We believe that our proprietary PO and acetyls production process technologies provide us with a cost advantaged position for these products and their derivatives. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our I&D segment generated $3,777 million of revenues (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

   

Technology . Our Technology segment develops and licenses industry leading polyolefin process technologies and provides associated engineering and other services. Our Technology segment further develops, manufactures and sells polyolefin catalysts. We market our process technologies and our polyolefin catalysts to external customers and also use them for our own manufacturing operations. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our Technology segment generated $436 million of revenues (excluding inter-segment revenue).

 

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The following chart sets forth our business segments and key products:

 

Refining and Oxyfuels            

 

O&P—Americas

and

O&P—EAI

 

I&D

  

Technology

Gasoline

Ultra low sulfur diesel

Jet fuel

Lube oils

Gasoline blending

components

–  Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE)

–  Ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE)

 

Alkylate

Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO)

 

Polyolefins

–  Polypropylene

–  High density polyethylene (HDPE)

–  Low density polyethylene (LDPE)

–  Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)

–  Propylene-based compounds, materials and alloys (PP compounds)*

–   Catalloy process resins

–  Polybutene-1 (PB-1)*

 

Ethylene and co-products

–  Ethylene

–  Propylene

–  Butadiene

–  Benzene

–  Toluene

 

Ethylene derivatives

–  Ethanol

 

Propylene oxide,
co-products and derivatives

–  Propylene oxide (PO)

–  Styrene monomer (SM)

–  Tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA)

–  Isobutylene

–  Tertiary butyl
hydro-peroxide (TBHP)

–  Propylene glycol (PG)

–  Propylene glycol ethers (PGE)

–  Butanediol (BDO)

 

Acetyls

–  Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM)

–  Acetic acid

–  Methanol

 

Ethylene derivatives

–  Ethylene oxide (EO)

–  Ethylene glycol (EG)

–  EO derivatives

Flavor and fragrance chemicals

  

Polypropylene process technologies

–   Spheripol

–   Spherizone

–   Metocene

 

Polyethylene process technologies

–   Lupotech

–   Spherilene

–   Hostalen

 

Polyolefin catalysts

–   Avant

 

Selected chemical technologies

 

* O&P—EAI only.

 

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Our Corporate and Capital Structure

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under Dutch law by deed of incorporation dated October 15, 2009. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. was formed to serve as the parent holding company for the remaining subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF after completion of the Bankruptcy Cases. LyondellBasell AF and 93 of its direct and indirect subsidiaries were Debtors in jointly administered Bankruptcy Cases in the Bankruptcy Court.

Upon the consummation of the Plan of Reorganization, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. became the successor to the combination in December 2007 of Lyondell Chemical and Basell, which created one of the world’s largest private petrochemical companies with significant worldwide scale and leading product positions. Prior to the combination of Lyondell Chemical and Basell, Lyondell Chemical was the third-largest independent, publicly-traded chemical company in North America. It was a leading worldwide manufacturer of chemicals and plastics, a refiner of heavy crude oil and producer of fuel products. Since its spin-off from Atlantic Richfield Company (“ARCO”) in 1985, Lyondell Chemical had grown by strategic acquisitions of, among other assets, certain businesses and/or subsidiaries of ARCO, Millennium Chemicals Inc. (“Millennium Chemicals”), and Occidental Chemical Corporation, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, as well as the non-Lyondell Chemical shares of joint ventures such as Equistar Chemicals, LP and Houston Refining LP, formerly known as Lyondell-CITGO Refining LP, which owned the Houston Refinery. Prior to the combination of Lyondell Chemical and Basell, Basell was the largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefin products, a leading supplier of PE and catalysts, and the industry leader in licensing polypropylene processes. Basell was formed in September 2000 when BASF AG (“BASF”) and Shell Chemical Company (“Shell”) combined their respective polypropylene businesses with their then-existing PE joint venture.

 

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Refining and Oxyfuels Segment

Overview

Our Refining and Oxyfuels segment refines heavy, high-sulfur crude oil in the U.S. Gulf Coast, refines light and medium weight crude oil in southern France and produces gasoline blending components at several of our olefin and PO units. In 2009, our Refining and Oxyfuels segment generated operating revenues of $10.8 billion (excluding inter-segment revenue).

The Houston Refinery, which is located on the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, has a heavy, high-sulfur crude oil processing capacity of approximately 268,000 barrels per day on a calendar day basis (normal operating basis), or approximately 292,000 barrels per day on a stream day basis (maximum achievable over a 24 hour period). The Houston Refinery has a Nelson Complexity Index of 11.4. The Houston Refinery is a full conversion refinery designed to refine heavy (16 to 18 degrees API), high-sulfur crude oil. This crude oil is more viscous and dense than traditional crude oil and contains higher concentrations of sulfur and heavy metals, making it more difficult to refine into gasoline and other high-value fuel products. However, this crude oil has historically been less costly to purchase than light, low-sulfur crude oil. Processing heavy, high-sulfur crude oil in significant quantities requires a refinery with extensive coking, catalytic cracking, hydrotreating and desulfurization capabilities, i.e., a “complex refinery.” The Houston Refinery’s complexity enables it to operate in full conversion mode, producing a slate of products that consists primarily of high-value, refined fuel products. The Houston Refinery’s refined fuel products include gasoline (including blendstocks for oxygenate blending), jet fuel and ultra low sulfur diesel. The Houston Refinery’s products also include heating oil, lube oils (industrial lubricants, white oils and process oils), carbon black oil, refinery-grade propylene, petrochemical raw materials, sulfur, residual fuel and petroleum coke. Houston Refining LP became a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary on August 16, 2006.

In April 2008, we acquired the Berre Refinery and related businesses in France from Société des Pétroles Shell. The Berre Refinery is designed to run light to medium sulfur crude oil and has a current capacity of approximately 105,000 barrels per day. It produces naphtha, vacuum gas oil, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel, bitumen and heating oil. The Berre Refinery provides raw material and site integration benefits for our operations in France and supports our polyolefin business in Europe. The Berre Refinery also provides us with access to significant logistics assets, including pipeline access, storage terminals and harbor access to the Mediterranean Sea. The Berre Refinery has a Nelson Complexity Index of 6.7.

The Refining and Oxyfuels segment also includes gasoline blending components such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (“MTBE”), ethyl tertiary butyl ether (“ETBE”) and alkylate. MTBE and ETBE are produced as co-products of the PO and olefin production process at four sites located in Texas, France and The Netherlands. In the fourth quarter of 2009, we completed a project to convert one of our MTBE units at Channelview, Texas to ETBE production. We currently have three sites that can produce either MTBE or ETBE with a combined capacity to produce 59,000 barrels per day of MTBE or ETBE; the Company’s total capacity for MTBE or ETBE production is 75,000 barrels per day. Alkylate is produced at one facility located in Texas.

 

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The chart below shows our position and capacities in key Refining and Oxyfuels businesses:

LOGO

 

Sources: EIA; DeWitt; CMAI; LyondellBasell AF’s internal data

Note: Capacities are as of December 31, 2009. Positions are based on our wholly owned capacity and pro rata share of joint venture capacity.

(1) Thousands of barrels per day
(2) MTBE / ETBE split based on actual production at plants where there is swing capacity between the two fuels

The following table outlines:

 

   

the primary products of our Refining and Oxyfuels segment;

 

   

capacity as of December 31, 2009, unless otherwise noted; and

 

   

the primary uses for those products.

See “Item 3. Properties” for the locations where we produce the primary products of our Refining and Oxyfuels segment.

 

Key Products                                               

  

                 Capacity (1)                 

  

Primary Uses

Houston Refinery:

     

Gasoline and components

   120,000 barrels per day    Automotive fuel

Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel

   95,000 barrels per day    Diesel fuel for cars and trucks

Jet Fuel

   25,000 barrels per day    Aviation fuel

Lube Oils

   4,000 barrels per day    Automotive and industrial engine and lube oils, railroad engine additives and white oils for food-grade applications

Berre Refinery:

     

Diesel

   42,000 barrels per day    Diesel fuel for cars and trucks

Cracker Feedstock

   27,000 barrels per day    Raw material for Olefin unit

Fuel Oil

   12,000 barrels per day    Heating fuel

Gasoline

   8,000 barrels per day    Automotive fuel

Bitumen

   7,000 barrels per day    Asphalt

 

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Key Products                                               

  

                 Capacity (1)                 

  

Primary Uses

Gasoline Blending Components:

     

MTBE/ ETBE

   75,000 barrels per day (2)    MTBE is a high octane gasoline blending component; ETBE is an alternative gasoline blending component based on agriculturally produced ethanol

Alkylate

   22,000 barrels per day    Alkylate is a high octane gasoline blending component

 

(1) Only certain key products for the Houston Refinery and the Berre Refinery are identified. Thus, the sum of the capacities in this table will not equal either facility’s total capacity.
(2) Represents total combined MTBE and ETBE capacity.

Sales & Marketing / Customers

In 2009, no single Refining and Oxyfuels segment customer accounted for 10% or more of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues.

In the U.S., we market and sell gasoline (including blendstocks for oxygenate blending), jet fuel, heating oil, ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, lube oils, coke and sulfur produced at the Houston Refinery. These products are sold in large commodity markets. The Houston Refinery evaluates and determines its optimal product output mix, based on market prices and conditions. As a result, we are subject to various risks associated with selling commodity products.

Gasoline sales accounted for 11% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009. The Houston Refinery’s products primarily are sold in bulk on the U.S. Gulf Coast to other refiners, marketers, distributors and wholesalers at market-related prices. Diesel fuel is produced to meet ultra low sulfur specifications for the on-road transportation market. Most of the Houston Refinery’s products are sold under contracts with a term of one year or less or are sold in the spot market. The Houston Refinery’s products generally are transported to customers via pipelines and terminals owned and operated by other parties. Products also are transported via rail car, barge, truck and ocean going vessel. In addition to sales of refined products produced by the Houston Refinery, we also sell refined products purchased or received on exchange from other parties. The exchange arrangements help optimize refinery supply operations and lower transportation costs. To meet market demands, we also from time to time purchase refined products manufactured by others for resale to our customers. However, purchased volumes have not historically had a significant impact on profitability.

In Europe, the Berre Refinery provides a significant portion of the raw materials requirements for our nearby steam cracker. The remaining products are sold into local markets under market-based sales agreements or in the spot market. Key customers of the Berre Refinery include other refiners, marketers and distributors, and its products are primarily transported via pipelines and other infrastructure assets owned by us.

MTBE and ETBE are derivatives of TBA, which is a co-product of the PO produced by our I&D segment. Production levels at the PO/TBA co-product production facilities primarily are determined by the demand for our PO and PO derivatives. Accordingly, the resulting production levels of the TBA derivatives (such as MTBE and ETBE) depend primarily on the demand for PO and PO derivatives and secondarily on the relative market demand for MTBE and ETBE, as well as the operational flexibility of our multiple production facilities in meeting this demand. Separately, MTBE and alkylate are also produced as derivatives of the ethylene co-products produced by our O&P—Americas segment. When necessary, we purchase MTBE for resale to satisfy customer demand for MTBE above our production levels. Volumes of MTBE purchased for resale can vary significantly from period to period. However, purchased volumes have not historically had a significant impact on profitability.

 

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We sell our MTBE and ETBE production under market-based sales agreements and in the spot market. We blend our alkylate into gasoline and also sell alkylate under short-term contracts and in the spot market. Sales of MTBE and ETBE together, and alkylate each accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009.

Substantially all refiners and blenders have discontinued the use of MTBE in the U.S., partly as a result of U.S. federal governmental initiatives to increase use of bio-ethanol in gasoline as well as some state legislation to reduce or effectively ban the use of MTBE. However, MTBE/ETBE demand for gasoline blending remains strong within the remaining worldwide market. Accordingly, we are marketing MTBE and ETBE produced in the U.S. for use outside of the U.S. Our European-based MTBE/ETBE plants generally have the flexibility to produce either MTBE or ETBE to accommodate market needs. We produce ETBE in Europe to address Europe’s demand for bio-based fuels.

Recently Japan opted to use ETBE principally as a means of meeting its carbon dioxide reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. We and a partnership representing Japanese refiners have signed a supply contract, which will source a significant portion of Japan’s bio-fuels needs. As a result, we converted our Channelview facility to produce ETBE in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Sales of our MTBE, ETBE and alkylate are made by our marketing and sales personnel, and through distributors and independent agents located in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region. We have centralized certain sales and order fulfillment functions in regional customer service centers located in Houston, Texas, Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Hong Kong, China. We also have long-term contracts for distribution and logistics to ensure reliable and efficient supply to our customers. MTBE, ETBE and alkylate are transported by barge, ocean going vessel and tank truck.

Raw Materials

Most of the crude oil used as a raw material for the Houston Refinery is purchased under a crude supply agreement with PDVSA Oil, an affiliate of Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., the national oil company of Venezuela. The contract currently provides for the purchase and supply of 215,000 barrels per day of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil through July 31, 2011 and automatically renews annually subject to either party’s right to terminate at the end of a term by giving 12 months notice. The contract incorporates market-based pricing, which is determined using a formula reflecting published market indices. The pricing formula is designed to be consistent with published prices for similar grades of crude oil.

There are risks associated with reliance on PDVSA Oil for supplies of crude oil and with enforcing the provisions of contracts with companies such as PDVSA Oil that are non-U.S. commercial affiliates of a sovereign nation. For example, currently and from time to time in the past, PDVSA Oil has declared itself in a force majeure situation and has reduced deliveries of crude oil purportedly based on announced production cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”). Additionally, it has recently imposed certain credit terms that have effectively shortened the time the Houston Refinery has to pay for crude oil purchased under the contract. Any modification, breach or termination of the crude oil contract, or any interruption in this source of crude oil on its current terms, could adversely affect us. Our crude oil contract with PDVSA Oil is subject to the risk of enforcing contracts against non-U.S. commercial affiliates of a sovereign nation, political, force majeure and other risks.

Most of the crude oil used as a raw material for the Berre Refinery is sourced from North Africa and the Middle East region, Russia and the Caspian Sea region and West Africa.

We purchase our ethanol requirements for the production of ETBE from regional producers and importers in Europe at market-related prices. Additionally, we have entered into a supply contract with a Brazilian ethanol producer to supply a significant portion of the ethanol used for the manufacture of ETBE at our Channelview

 

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facility. For further discussion regarding the raw materials requirements for the production of MTBE, ETBE and alkylate, see “—Intermediates and Derivatives—Raw Materials.”

Industry Dynamics / Competition

The markets for fuel products tend to be volatile as well as cyclical as a result of the changing global economy and changing crude oil and refined product prices. Crude oil prices are impacted by worldwide political events, the economics of exploration and production and refined products demand. Prices and demand for fuel products are influenced by seasonal and short-term factors such as weather and driving patterns, as well as by longer term issues such as the economy, energy conservation and alternative fuels. Industry fuel products supply is dependent on short-term industry operating capabilities and on long-term refining capacity.

With a throughput capacity of approximately 268,000 barrels per day (on a calendar day basis), we believe that the Houston Refinery is among North America’s largest full conversion refineries capable of processing significant quantities of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil.

In North America, we compete for the purchase of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil based on price and quality. Although most of our crude oil supplies are secured under contract with PDVSA Oil, supply disruptions could impact the availability and pricing for heavy, high-sulfur crudes. We compete in gasoline and distillate markets as a bulk supplier of fungible products satisfying industry and government specifications. Competition is based on price and location. Our refining competitors are major integrated oil companies, refineries owned or controlled by foreign governments and independent domestic refiners. Based on published data, as of January 2009, there were 150 operable crude oil refineries in the U.S., and total U.S. refinery capacity was approximately 17.8 million barrels per day.

During 2009, the Houston Refinery processed an average of approximately 244,000 barrels per day of crude oil, representing approximately 1% of all U.S. crude processing capacity.

The differential in price between a representative barrel of benchmark refined petroleum products, such as gasoline or heating oil, and a barrel of benchmark crude oil is known as the “crack spread.” The Maya 2-1-1 crack spread, based on two common industry benchmarks, the West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”), 2-1-1 crack spread and the WTI-Maya differential, represents the differential between one barrel of U.S. Gulf Coast 87 Octane Conventional Gasoline and one barrel of U.S. Gulf Coast No. 2 Heating Oil (high-sulfur diesel), on one hand, and the first month futures price of two barrels of Maya crude oil set by Petroleos Mexicanos (“Pemex”), on the other hand. The Berre Refinery refining spreads generally track the 4-1-2-1 Ural reported benchmark spread. This spread is calculated by adding the price of one barrel of gasoline to the price of two barrels of diesel and one barrel of #6 fuel oil and subtracting the price of four barrels of Mediterranean crude oil. The Berre Refinery provides a significant portion of the raw materials for our nearby olefin cracker. While these benchmark refining spreads are generally indicative of the level of profitability at both the Houston Refinery and the Berre Refinery, there are many other factors specific to each refinery that influence operating results.

We believe that we are the largest producer of MTBE/ETBE worldwide. We compete for sales of MTBE and ETBE with independent MTBE producers worldwide and independent ETBE producers mainly in Europe. The most significant MTBE competitor is Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (“SABIC”), and the most significant ETBE competitors are Repsol, Total, Neste and Braskem. MTBE and ETBE face competition from products such as ethanol and other octane components. Legislative and other actions have eliminated substantially all U.S. demand for MTBE. Therefore, we have been selling our U.S.-produced MTBE and ETBE for use outside of the U.S. We compete with other refiners and olefin manufacturers for sales of alkylate that we do not internally blend into gasoline.

 

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Olefins and Polyolefins Segments Generally

We are the world’s largest producer of polypropylene and PP compounds and a top worldwide producer of PE, ethylene and propylene. We manage our olefin and polyolefin business in two reportable segments, O&P—Americas and O&P—EAI.

 

   

O&P—Americas. Our O&P—Americas segment produces and markets olefins (ethylene and ethylene co-products) and polyolefins. We are the largest producer of polypropylene and light olefins (ethylene and propylene) and the third largest producer of PE in North America. In addition, we produce significant quantities of high-value specialty products such as Catalloy process resins.

 

   

O&P—EAI . Our O&P—EAI segment produces and markets olefins (ethylene and ethylene co-products) and polyolefins. We are the largest producer of polypropylene and PE in Europe and the largest worldwide producer of PP compounds, a high-value specialty product. We also produce significant quantities of other high-value specialty products such as Catalloy process resins and PB-1. Our O&P—EAI segment manages our worldwide PP compounds business, including our facilities in North and South America, manages our worldwide PB-1 business and manages our Catalloy process resins produced in Europe and Asia.

Polyolefins are thermoplastics and comprise approximately two-thirds of worldwide thermoplastics demand. Since their industrial commercialization, thermoplastics have found wide-ranging applications and continue to replace traditional materials such as metal, glass, paper and wood. Our products are used in consumer, automotive and industrial applications ranging from food and beverage packaging to house wares and construction materials. PE is the most widely used thermoplastic, measured on a production capacity basis. We produce high density polyethylene (“HDPE”), low density polyethylene (“LDPE”), linear low density polyethylene (“LLDPE”) and metallocene linear low density polyethylene. Polypropylene is the single largest polyolefin product produced worldwide, and we produce homopolymer, impact copolymer, random copolymer and metallocene polypropylene.

We specialize in several specialty product lines: PP compounds, Catalloy process resins and PB-1, focusing on specialty polyolefins and compounds that offer a wide range of performance characteristics superior to traditional polyolefins. Typical properties of such polyolefins include superior impact-stiffness balance, scratch resistance, soft touch and heat scalability. End uses include automotive and industrial products and materials. PP compounds consist of specialty products produced from blends of polyolefins and additives and are sold mainly to the automotive and white goods industries.

We are the only manufacturer of Catalloy process resins, which are our proprietary products. The Catalloy process resins business focuses on specialty polyolefins that offer a wide range of performance characteristics superior to traditional polyolefins. Catalloy process resins compete with a number of other materials, such as other polypropylene resins, flexible PVC, ethylene propylene rubber and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polycarbonate, metals and reinforced polyurethanes.

Sales of ethylene accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009. Sales of polypropylene accounted for approximately 13% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009. Sales of PE (HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE, collectively) accounted for 17% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009. Catalloy process resin sales accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009.

 

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The charts below show the combined position and annual capacity of our worldwide olefin and polymer businesses:

LOGO

 

Sources: CMAI; LyondellBasell AF’s internal data

Note: Capacities are as of December 31, 2009. Positions are based on wholly owned capacity and pro rata share of joint venture capacity.

LOGO

 

Sources: CMAI; LyondellBasell AF’s internal data

Note: Capacities are as of December 31, 2009. Positions are based on wholly owned capacity and pro rata share of joint venture capacity.

 

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Olefins and Polyolefins—Americas Segment

Overview

Our O&P—Americas segment produces and markets polyolefins, ethylene and ethylene co-products. We are the largest producer of polypropylene and light olefins (ethylene and propylene) and the third largest producer of PE in North America. In addition, we produce significant quantities of high-value specialty products such as Catalloy process resins. In 2009, our O&P—Americas segment generated operating revenues of $8.7 billion (excluding inter-segment revenue).

We currently produce ethylene at five sites in the U.S. The production of ethylene results in co-products such as propylene, butadiene and aromatics, which include benzene and toluene. Ethylene is the most significant petrochemical in terms of worldwide production volume and is the key building block for PE and a large number of other chemicals, plastics and synthetics. Ethylene and its co-products are fundamental to many segments of the economy, including the production of consumer products, packaging, housing and automotive components and other durable and nondurable goods.

We produce polyolefins (PE and polypropylene) at nine sites located in North America and one site located in South America. One of our joint ventures owns the polypropylene facility in Mexico.

Our O&P—Americas segment manufactures Catalloy process resins at two sites in North America.

The following table outlines:

 

   

the primary products of our O&P—Americas segment;

 

   

annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2009, unless otherwise noted; and

 

   

the primary uses for those products.

See “Item 3. Properties” for the locations where we produce the primary products of our O&P—Americas segment. Annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2009 was calculated by estimating the average number of days in a typical year that a production unit of a plant is expected to operate, after allowing for downtime for regular maintenance, and multiplying that number by an amount equal to the unit’s optimal daily output based on the design raw material mix. Because the processing capacity of a production unit is an estimated amount, actual production volumes may be more or less than the capacities set forth below. Capacities shown include 100% of the capacity of joint venture facilities.

 

Product                                         

  

Annual Capacity

  

Primary Uses

Olefins:

     

Ethylene

   9.6 billion pounds (1)    Ethylene is used as a raw material to manufacture polyethylene, EO, ethanol, ethylene dichloride, styrene and VAM

Propylene

   5.5 billion  pounds (1) (2)    Propylene is used to produce polypropylene, acrylonitrile and propylene oxide

Butadiene

   1.1 billion pounds (1)    Butadiene is used to manufacture styrene-butadiene rubber and polybutadiene rubber, which are used in the manufacture of tires, hoses, gaskets and other rubber products. Butadiene is also used in the production of paints, adhesives, nylon clothing, carpets, paper coatings and engineered plastics

Aromatics:

     

Benzene

   195 million gallons (1)    Benzene is used to produce styrene, phenol and cyclohexane. These products are used in the production of nylon, plastics, synthetic rubber and polystyrene. Polystyrene is used in insulation, packaging and drink cups

 

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Product                                         

  

Annual Capacity

  

Primary Uses

Toluene

   40 million gallons (1)    Toluene is used as an octane enhancer in gasoline, as a chemical raw material for benzene and/or paraxylene production and as a core ingredient in toluene diisocyanate, a compound used in urethane production

Polyolefins:

     

Polypropylene

   4.4 billion pounds (3)    Polypropylene is primarily used to manufacture fibers for carpets, rugs and upholstery; house wares; medical products; automotive interior trim, fascia, running boards, battery cases, and bumpers; toys and sporting goods; fishing tackle boxes; and bottle caps and closures

High density polyethylene (HDPE)

   3.3 billion pounds    HDPE is used to manufacture grocery, merchandise and trash bags; food containers for items from frozen desserts to margarine; plastic caps and closures; liners for boxes of cereal and crackers; plastic drink cups and toys; dairy crates; bread trays; pails for items from paint to fresh fruits and vegetables; safety equipment, such as hard hats; house wrap for insulation; bottles for household and industrial chemicals and motor oil; milk, water, and juice bottles; large (rotomolded) tanks for storing liquids such as agricultural and lawn care chemicals; and pipe

Low density polyethylene (LDPE)

   1.3 billion pounds    LDPE is used to manufacture food packaging films; plastic bottles for packaging food and personal care items; dry cleaning bags; ice bags; pallet shrink wrap; heavy-duty bags for mulch and potting soil; boil-in-bag bags; coatings on flexible packaging products; and coatings on paper board such as milk cartons. Ethylene vinyl acetate is a specialized form of LDPE used in foamed sheets, bag-in-box bags, vacuum cleaner hoses, medical tubing, clear sheet protectors and flexible binders

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)

   1.3 billion pounds    LLDPE is used to manufacture garbage and lawn-leaf bags; industrial can liners; house wares; lids for coffee cans and margarine tubs; dishpans, home plastic storage containers, and kitchen trash containers; large (rotomolded) toys like outdoor gym sets; drip irrigation tubing; wire and cable insulating resins and compounds used to insulate copper and fiber optic wiring, and film; shrink wrap for multi-packaging canned food, bag-in-box bags, produce bags, and pallet stretch wrap

Specialty Polyolefins:

     

Catalloy process resins

   600 million pounds    Catalloy process resins are used primarily in modifying polymer properties in film applications and molded products; for specialty films, geomembranes, and roofing materials; in bitumen modification for roofing and asphalt applications; and to manufacture automotive bumpers

Ethylene Derivatives:

     

Ethanol

   50 million gallons    Ethanol is used as a fuel and a fuel additive and in the production of solvents as well as household, medicinal and personal care products

 

(1) Excludes capacities from our Chocolate Bayou, Texas facility which was permanently shut down in early 2009, including 1.12 billion pounds of ethylene, 700 million pounds of propylene, 150 million pounds of butadiene, 105 million gallons of benzene and 26 million gallons of toluene.
(2) Includes (1) refinery-grade material from our U.S. refinery and (2) 1 billion pounds per year of capacity from the product flex unit at the Channelview facility, which can convert ethylene and other light petrochemicals into propylene.
(3) Includes 100% of 1.31 billion pounds of capacity of Indelpro A.A. de C.V. (“Indelpro”). See “—Joint Venture Relationships.” Excludes 800 million pounds of an off-take agreement with ConocoPhillips, which expired on December 31, 2009.

 

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Sales & Marketing / Customers

In 2009, no single external O&P—Americas segment customer accounted for 10% or more of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues.

We currently produce ethylene at five sites in the U.S. Our ethylene production in the U.S. generally is consumed internally as a raw material in the production of derivatives and polymers, or is shipped by pipeline to customers. In North America, we are a net seller of ethylene.

We currently produce propylene at six sites in the U.S., which includes production from the Houston Refinery’s fluid catalytic cracker coproduct stream. We use propylene as a raw material for production of PO and polypropylene. The propylene production within the U.S. that is not consumed internally is generally sold under multi-year contracts. In North America, we are a net seller of propylene.

We currently produce butadiene or aromatics (benzene and toluene) at two sites in the U.S. We generally sell our butadiene under multi-year contracts. We use the benzene as a raw material for production of styrene; in the U.S., we are a net purchaser of benzene. Our Refining and Oxyfuels business uses the toluene to blend into gasoline. Of the toluene production that is not consumed internally, a majority is sold on a spot basis.

We at times purchase ethylene, propylene, benzene and butadiene for resale, when necessary, to satisfy customer demand for these products above production levels. Volumes of ethylene, propylene, benzene and butadiene purchased for resale can vary significantly from period to period. However, purchased volumes have not historically had a significant impact on profits.

In the U.S., most of the ethylene and propylene production of our Channelview, Corpus Christi and La Porte facilities is shipped via a pipeline system, which has connections to numerous U.S. Gulf Coast consumers. This pipeline system, some of which is owned and some of which is leased, extends from Corpus Christi to Mont Belvieu to Port Arthur, Texas, as well as into the Lake Charles, Louisiana area. In addition, exchange agreements with other ethylene and co-products producers allow access to customers who are not directly connected to this pipeline system. Some ethylene is shipped by rail car from Clinton, Iowa to Morris, Illinois and also to customers. A pipeline owned and operated by an unrelated party is used to transport ethylene from Morris, Illinois to Tuscola, Illinois and is used as a raw material in the production of ethanol. Some propylene is shipped by ocean going vessel. Butadiene, benzene, toluene and other products are distributed by pipeline, rail car, truck, barge or ocean going vessel.

We produce polypropylene at three sites in North America and one site in South America. One of the sites in North America (Mexico) is owned by a joint venture. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.” We manufacture PE using a variety of technologies at six sites in the U.S.

With respect to polypropylene and PE, our production is typically sold to an extensive base of established customers. Our polypropylene and PE product volumes are typically sold to customers under annual contracts or under customary terms and conditions without formal contracts. We sell polypropylene into our PP compounds business, which is managed worldwide by our O&P—EAI segment. We also have a facility in Ohio that produces performance polymer products, which include enhanced grades of PE. We believe that, over a business cycle, average selling prices and profit margins for specialty polymers tend to be higher than average selling prices and profit margins for higher-volume commodity PEs.

The majority of our polyolefin products sold in North America is sold through our sales organization. We have regional sales offices in various locations throughout the U.S. Polyolefins primarily are distributed in North America by rail car or truck.

 

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We manufacture Catalloy process resins at two sites in the U.S. We sell these products into certain specialty applications, including construction, packaging and automotive as well as into our PP compounds business, which is managed in our O&P—EAI segment. Catalloy process resins are transported generally by tank truck and rail car.

Joint Venture Relationships

The following table describes our O&P—Americas segment’s significant manufacturing joint venture relationships.

 

Name

  

Location

  

Other Parties

  

LyondellBasell
Ownership

  

Product

  

2009 Capacity (in
millions of pounds)

Indelpro

   Mexico    Alfa    49%    Polypropylene    1,310 (1)

 

(1) Represents the joint venture’s total capacity and not our proportional capacity.

Our Indelpro joint venture in Mexico operates a manufacturing facility with an annual polypropylene capacity of 1.31 billion pounds. We own 49% of this joint venture, and the output of the asset is marketed by the joint venture. Indelpro’s annual capacity includes 770 million pounds produced from our Spherizone process technology. This joint venture provides us with equity distributions and revenues from technology licensing and catalyst sales, as well as geographical diversification.

In addition, we have a limited partnership with Sunoco with respect to our LaPorte, Texas facility. The partnership produces ethylene and propylene. Sunoco’s partnership interest entitles it to 500 million pounds of propylene annually. Our partnership interest entitles us to receive all remaining ethylene and propylene production, as well as other products produced.

Raw Materials

Raw material cost is the largest component of the total cost for the production of ethylene and its co-products. The primary raw materials used are heavy liquids and NGLs. Heavy liquids include crude oil-based naphtha and gas oil, as well as condensate, a very light crude oil resulting from natural gas production (collectively referred to as “heavy liquids”). NGLs include ethane, propane and butane. The use of heavy liquid raw materials results in the production of a significant amount of co-products such as propylene, butadiene, benzene and toluene, as well as gasoline blending components, while the use of NGLs results in the production of a smaller amount of co-products, such as propylene.

The flexibility for a plant to consume a wide range of raw materials has historically provided an advantage over plants that are restricted in their raw material processing capability. Facilities using heavy liquids historically have generated, on average, approximately four cents of additional variable margin per pound of ethylene produced compared to facilities restricted to using ethane. This margin advantage was based on an average of historical data over a period of years and is subject to fluctuations, which can be significant. The costs of producing ethylene from heavy liquids and NGLs can change, based on the relative values of crude oil and natural gas, as well as the relative values of the products generated through the use of those raw materials. For example, at certain of our U.S. ethylene facilities during 2008 and 2009, ethane had a cost advantage reflecting high crude oil prices as compared to NGLs. We have the capability to process significant quantities of either heavy liquids or NGLs, depending upon the relative economic advantage of the alternative raw materials. We estimate that in the U.S. we can process between 40% and 90% NGLs. Changes in the raw material feedstock will result in variances in production capacities among the products.

As described above, our management believes that our raw material flexibility in the U.S. is normally a key advantage in the production of ethylene and co-products. As a result, heavy liquids requirements for these businesses are sourced worldwide via a mix of contractual and spot arrangements. Spot market purchases are

 

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made in order to maintain raw material flexibility and to take advantage of raw material pricing opportunities. NGL requirements for these businesses are purchased via long term and spot contractual arrangements from a variety of sources. A portion of the heavy liquids requirements for these businesses are also obtained from our Refining and Oxyfuels segment. Heavy liquids generally are delivered by ship or barge, and NGLs are generally delivered via pipeline.

In North America, we also purchase large amounts of natural gas to be used for consumption (not as a raw material) in our business via market-based contractual arrangements with a variety of sources.

The principal raw materials used by our polyolefin business are ethylene and propylene. During 2009, our North American ethylene and propylene production exceeded the North American raw material requirements of our O&P—Americas segment. However, not all raw material requirements for ethylene and propylene in this region are sourced internally.

In North America, our Mexican joint venture, Indelpro, receives the majority of its chemical grade and refinery grade propylene needs from Pemex, the state owned oil company of Mexico, under a long-term contract. Our U.S. propylene requirements are produced internally and sourced by a few long-term contracts with third-party suppliers. Propylene not produced internally (on-site at the facility) is delivered via pipeline.

Substantially all of the ethylene and propylene used in our North American PE and polypropylene production is produced internally. Our polyolefin facilities generally can receive their olefins directly from our crackers via our pipeline system, pipelines owned by unrelated parties or on-site production. The PE plant at La Porte is connected by pipeline to facilities of unrelated parties and could receive substantially all of the ethylene via exchanges or purchases.

The raw materials for polyolefins and Catalloy process resins are, in general, commodity chemicals with numerous bulk suppliers and ready availability at competitive prices.

Industry Dynamics / Competition

With respect to olefins and polyolefins, competition is based on price, product quality, product delivery, reliability of supply, product performance and customer service. Industry consolidation in North America has led to fewer, although larger, competitors. Profitability is affected not only by supply and demand for olefins and polyolefins, but also by raw material costs and price competition among producers, which may intensify due to, among other things, the addition of new capacity. In general, demand is a function of worldwide economic growth, which fluctuates. It is not possible to accurately predict the changes in raw material costs, market conditions, capacity utilization and other factors that will affect industry profitability in the future. After a relatively strong start in 2008, demand in late 2008 fell rapidly as the global economies slid quickly into a deep recession. The relatively depressed conditions continued through 2009 and are expected to continue through 2010. We estimate that olefin operating rates in North America were approximately 81% in 2009, and are forecasted to rise to 91% in 2014, while PE and polypropylene operating rates were approximately 80% and 78%, respectively, in 2009, and are forecasted to rise to 89% and 91%, respectively, in 2014. Capacity share figures for us and our competitors, discussed below, are based on completed production facilities and, where appropriate, include our proportionate share of joint venture facilities and certain long-term supply arrangements.

Based on published rated production capacities, we were the second largest producer of ethylene in North America as of December 31, 2009. North American ethylene rated capacity at December 31, 2009 was approximately 74 billion pounds per year, with approximately 79% of that North American capacity located along the Gulf Coast. At December 31, 2009, our ethylene rated capacity in the U.S. was approximately 9.6 billion pounds per year, or approximately 13% of total North American ethylene production capacity. We compete in North America with other large marketers and producers for sales of ethylene and its co-products with Dow, ExxonMobil, International Petroleum Investment Company (“IPIC”), Shell, INEOS, ChevronPhillips, Texas Petrochemicals, Inc. and others.

 

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Based on published data regarding polypropylene capacity, we believe that, including our proportionate share of the joint venture, we are the largest producer of polypropylene in North America as of December 31, 2009, with a proportionate share capacity of 3.3 billion pounds, or approximately 17% of the total North American capacity. Our largest competitors for sales of polypropylene in North America are ExxonMobil, Total, Sunoco, Formosa Plastics Corporation and INEOS.

With respect to PE, we believe that we are the third largest producer of PE in North America as of December 31, 2009, with 5.8 billion pounds per year of capacity, or approximately 13% of North American capacity. Our largest competitors for sales of PE in North America are Dow, ExxonMobil, IPIC, Chevron Phillips, INEOS and Westlake.

 

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Olefins and Polyolefins—Europe, Asia, International Segment

Overview

Our O&P—EAI segment produces and markets olefins (ethylene and ethylene co-products) and polyolefins. We are the largest producer of polypropylene and PE in Europe and the largest worldwide producer of PP compounds, a high-value specialty product. We also produce significant quantities of other high-value specialty products such as Catalloy process resins and PB-1. Our O&P—EAI segment manages our worldwide PP compound business, including our facilities in North and South America, manages our worldwide PB-1 business and manages our Catalloy process resins produced in Europe and Asia. We have eight joint ventures located principally in regions with access to low cost feedstocks or access to growing markets. In 2009, our O&P—EAI segment generated operating revenues of $7.1 billion (excluding inter-segment revenue).

We currently produce ethylene at three sites in Europe and one joint venture site in the Middle East. The production of ethylene results in co-products such as propylene and butadiene. Ethylene is the most significant petrochemical in terms of worldwide production volume and is the key building block for PE and a large number of other chemicals, plastics and synthetics. Ethylene and its co-products are fundamental to many segments of the economy, including the production of consumer products, packaging, housing and automotive components and other durable and nondurable goods.

We produce polyolefins (polypropylene and PE) at 19 facilities internationally, including ten facilities located in Europe, four facilities located in Asia, three facilities located in the Middle East and two facilities located in Australia. In addition, we own a PE facility in Münchsmünster, Germany that is currently being rebuilt following a fire in 2005. Our joint ventures own one of the facilities in Europe, four of the facilities in Asia and three in the Middle East.

PP compounds consist of specialty products produced from blends of polyolefins and additives and are sold mainly to the automotive and white goods industries. We manufacture PP compounds at 15 facilities worldwide (a number of which are the same facilities as the polyolefin facilities described above), consisting of four facilities in Europe, five facilities in Asia, three in North America, two in South America and one facility in Australia. In February 2008, we acquired Solvay Engineered Polymers (“SEP”), a leading supplier of PP compounds in North America. The acquisition included two PP compounding sites in the U.S., one of which was closed after the acquisition. SEP’s primary products include Deflex TPOs, Sequel engineered polyolefins, and Indure engineered polyolefins. The acquisition of SEP complements our existing PP compounds business in North America.

Catalloy process resins are produced using a unique technology and three-step process allowing for very specific tailoring of the product properties that results in a superior range of resins compared to conventional polypropylene. We produce Catalloy process resins at two sites in the EAI region, including one site in The Netherlands and one site in Italy. The process is proprietary technology that is not licensed to third parties, and as a result, we are the only manufacturer of Catalloy process resins.

We produce PB-1 at one facility in Europe. We believe that we are the largest worldwide producer of PB-1, a unique family of highly flexible, strong and durable butene-based polymers. A majority of the current PB-1 we produce is used in pipe applications and for under-floor heating and thermo sanitary systems, where flexibility and creep resistance at high temperature are very important. PB-1 is being developed to target new opportunities in applications such as “easy-open” packaging (seal-peel film), construction, fibers and fabrics, compounds, adhesives and coatings.

The following table outlines:

 

   

the primary products of our O&P—EAI segment;

 

   

annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2009, unless otherwise noted; and

 

   

the primary uses for those products.

 

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See “Item 3. Properties” for the locations where we produce the primary products of our O&P—EAI segment. Annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2009 was calculated by estimating the average number of days in a typical year that a production unit of a plant is expected to operate, after allowing for downtime for regular maintenance, and multiplying that number by an amount equal to the unit’s optimal daily output based on the design raw material mix. Because the processing capacity of a production unit is an estimated amount, actual production volumes may be more or less than the capacities set forth below. Capacities shown include 100% of the capacity of joint venture facilities.

 

Product                                         

  

Annual Capacity

  

Primary Uses

Olefins

     

Ethylene

   6.4 billion pounds (1)    Ethylene is used as a raw material to manufacture polyethylene, EO, ethanol, ethylene dichloride, styrene and VAM

Propylene

   5.4 billion pounds (1)(2)    Propylene is used to produce polypropylene, acrylonitrile and propylene oxide

Butadiene

   550 million pounds (1)    Butadiene is used to manufacture styrene-butadiene rubber and polybutadiene rubber, which are used in the manufacture of tires, hoses, gaskets and other rubber products. Butadiene is also used in the production of paints, adhesives, nylon clothing, carpets, paper coatings and engineered plastics

Polyolefins:

     

Polypropylene

   12.8 billion  pounds (3)(4)    Polypropylene is primarily used to manufacture fibers for carpets, rugs and upholstery; house wares; medical products; automotive interior trim, fascia, running boards, battery cases, and bumpers; toys and sporting goods; fishing tackle boxes; and bottle caps and closures

High density polyethylene (HDPE)

   4.0 billion pounds (4)(5)    HDPE is used to manufacture grocery, merchandise and trash bags; food containers for items from frozen desserts to margarine; plastic caps and closures; liners for boxes of cereal and crackers; plastic drink cups and toys; dairy crates; bread trays; pails for items from paint to fresh fruits and vegetables; safety equipment, such as hard hats; house wrap for insulation; bottles for household and industrial chemicals and motor oil; milk, water, and juice bottles; large (rotomolded) tanks for storing liquids such as agricultural and lawn care chemicals; and pipe

Low density polyethylene (LDPE)

   2.8 billion pounds (4)(6)    LDPE is used to manufacture food packaging films; plastic bottles for packaging food and personal care items; dry cleaning bags; ice bags; pallet shrink wrap; heavy-duty bags for mulch and potting soil; boil-in-bag bags; coatings on flexible packaging products; and coatings on paper board such as milk cartons. Ethylene vinyl acetate is a specialized form of LDPE used in foamed sheets, bag-in-box bags, vacuum cleaner hoses, medical tubing, clear sheet protectors and flexible binders

 

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Product                                         

  

Annual Capacity

  

Primary Uses

Specialty Polyolefins:

     

PP compounds

   2.4 billion pounds (7)    PP compounds are used to manufacture automotive interior and exterior trims, dashboards, bumpers and under-hood applications; base material for products and parts used in appliances; anti-corrosion coatings for steel piping; wire and cable

Catalloy process resins

   600 million pounds    Catalloy process resins are used primarily in modifying polymer properties in film applications and molded products; for specialty films, geomembranes, and roofing materials; in bitumen modification for roofing and asphalt applications; and to manufacture automotive bumpers

PB-1 resins

   110 million pounds    PB-1 resins are used in flexible pipes, resins for seal-peel film, film modification, hot melt and polyolefin modification applications, consumer packaging and adhesives

 

(1) Includes 100% of olefin capacity of SEPC (described below) in Saudi Arabia, which includes 2.2 billion pounds of ethylene and 630 million pounds of propylene. The facility, of which we own 25%, began initial production in the third quarter of 2008.
(2) Includes (1) refinery-grade material from our French refinery; (2) 100% of the 1.015 billion pounds of capacity of the propane dehydrogenation (“PDH”) plant owned by SPC, a polymers joint venture of which we own 25%; and (3) 1.015 billion pounds of capacity from Al-Waha joint venture (described below), of which we currently own 21%.
(3) Includes: (1) 100% of the 1.59 billion pounds of capacity at SPC; (2) 100% of the 800 million pounds of capacity of SunAllomer Ltd. (“SunAllomer”); (3) 100% of the 880 million pounds of capacity of Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sp. Z.o.o. (“Orlen”); (4) 100% of the 990 million pounds of capacity of HMC Polymers Company Ltd. (“HMC”); (5) 100% of the 1.545 billion pounds of capacity of PolyMirae Co. Ltd. (“PolyMirae”); (6) 100% of the 990 million pounds of capacity at Al Waha, which began operations during late 2009; and (7) 550 million pounds of capacity at our Terni, Italy location, which we announced in the first quarter 2010 we are shutting down. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.” Excludes one 240 million pound line located at our Wesseling, Germany site, which was shut down during 2009.
(4) Includes (1) 100% of 880 million pounds of capacity of LDPE manufacturing complex which commenced operations in the second quarter of 2009 that is owned by SEPC, a joint venture of which we own 25% and (2) 880 million pounds of HDPE capacity from SEPC, which began operations in late 2008. Excludes 410 million pounds of LDPE capacity at a site located in Carrington, UK, which was shut down during 2009.
(5) Includes 100% of the 705 million pounds of capacity of Orlen. See “— Joint Venture Relationships.” Excludes 705 million pounds of capacity at a site in Münchsmünster, Germany that is currently being rebuilt following a fire in 2005.
(6) Includes: 100% of the 240 million pounds of capacity of Orlen. Excludes 240 million pounds of capacity at a site located in Fos-sur-Mer, France, which was shut down during 2009. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.”
(7) Includes 100% of the 165 million pounds of capacity of PolyPacific Pty Ltd. (“PolyPacific Pty”), a joint venture of which we own 50%, and 110 million pounds of capacity of SunAllomer, a joint venture of which we own 50%.

 

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Sales & Marketing / Customers

In 2009, no single external O&P—EAI segment customer accounted for 10% or more of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues.

We currently produce ethylene at one site in France, two sites in Germany, and one joint venture site in the Middle East. Our ethylene production in Germany and France is generally consumed internally as a raw material in the production of polymers. In Western Europe, we are essentially balanced in our ethylene supply and demand.

We currently produce propylene at our olefin plants, including one site in France, two sites in Germany and the three joint venture sites in the Middle East (SPC, Saudi Ethylene & PE Company Ltd. (“SEPC”) and the Al-Waha Petrochemicals Ltd. (“Al-Waha”) venture). In addition, we produce propylene at our Berre Refinery. We use propylene as a raw material for production of PO and polypropylene. In Europe, we are a net purchaser of propylene.

We currently produce butadiene at one site in France and one site in Germany. We generally sell our butadiene under multi-year contracts.

We at times purchase ethylene, propylene, benzene and butadiene for resale, when necessary, to satisfy customer demand for these products above production levels. Volumes of ethylene, propylene, benzene and butadiene purchased for resale can vary significantly from period to period. However, purchased volumes have not historically had a significant impact on profits.

European ethylene and propylene production is generally either fully integrated with, or is transported via pipeline to, our PE and polypropylene facilities in Europe.

We produce polypropylene at nine sites in Europe, four sites in Asia, two sites in Australia and two sites in the Middle East. All of the sites in Asia and the Middle East and one of the sites in Europe (Poland) are owned by a joint venture. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.”

We manufacture PE using a variety of technologies at four sites in Europe, including one joint venture facility in Poland, and at one joint venture site in the Middle East. Also, an HDPE facility in Münchsmünster, Germany is currently being rebuilt following a fire in 2005.

With respect to polypropylene and PE, our production is typically sold to an extensive base of established customers. Our polypropylene and PE product volumes are typically sold to customers under annual contracts or under customary terms and conditions without formal contracts. We believe that, over a business cycle, average selling prices and profit margins for specialty polymers tend to be higher than average selling prices and profit margins for higher-volume commodity polypropylenes.

For the O&P—EAI segment, we typically have exclusive marketing arrangements with our joint venture partners to sell and market polypropylene and PE outside the country where such a joint venture facility is located.

The majority of our polyolefin products sold in Europe is sold through our sales organization. We have three sales channels for polyolefins ( Alastian , Direct Sales and Polyolefin Solutions) to distinguish between commodity and specialty business models and allow a focused approach to meet the needs of different buying requirements of our customers. The characteristics of these sales channels are as follows:

 

   

Alastian has a “no-frills” offering for a limited range of commoditized products. All terms of sales are standard, and extra services, including technical service and freight, are charged separately. Prices are posted, and all transactions are highly automated.

 

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Direct Sales offers a broad range of commoditized products and standard services via a direct local sales presence for those customers who value a traditional relationship and sales support.

 

   

Polyolefin Solutions focuses on high growth and high value application segments in the polyolefin market. Through its two business lines and key account management, it offers a full service range and reliable supply and runs a dedicated innovation project team that draws on the expertise and strength of our research and development organization.

Polyolefins primarily are distributed in Europe by rail car or truck.

We and our joint ventures manufacture PP compounds at five sites in Asia (two of which are owned by joint ventures), four sites in Europe, three sites in North America, two sites in South America and one joint venture site in Australia. We manufacture Catalloy process resins at one facility in Italy and one facility in The Netherlands. We also manufacture PB-1 at the facility in The Netherlands.

We sell these high-value specialty polymers into certain specialty applications, including construction and automotive. Advanced polyolefins are transported generally by truck and rail car.

Our marketing and sales force for O&P—EAI segment is involved in sales related activities, including direct sales and customer service. Our regional sales offices are located in various locations, including The Netherlands; China; India; and United Arab Emirates. We also operate through a worldwide network of local sales and representative offices in Europe, North America and the rest of the world (primarily in importing countries) and through an extensive network of commercial representatives in over 50 countries. Our joint ventures typically manage their domestic sales and marketing efforts independently, and we typically operate as their agent/distributor for exports.

Joint Venture Relationships

The following table describes our O&P—EAI segment’s significant manufacturing joint venture relationships.

 

Name

 

Location

 

Other Parties

  LyondellBasell
Ownership
   

Product

  2009 Capacity (1)
(in  millions of pounds)

SPC

  Al-Jubail Industrial   Tasnee   25   Polypropylene   1,590
 

City, Saudi Arabia

      Propylene   1,015

SEPC

  Al-Jubail Industrial   Tasnee, Sahara   25   Ethylene   2,200
  City, Saudi Arabia   Petrochemical     Propylene   630
   

Company

    HDPE   880
        LDPE   880

Al-Waha

  Al-Jubail Industrial   Sahara Petrochemical   21 % (2)     Polypropylene   990
  City, Saudi Arabia   Company and others     Propylene   1,015

HMC

  Thailand   PTT   29   Polypropylene   990

Basell Orlen Polyolefins

  Poland   Orlen   50   Polypropylene   880
        HDPE   705
        LDPE   240

Polypacific

  Australia, Malaysia   Mirlex Pty.   50   PP Compounding   165

SunAllomer

  Japan   Showa Denko,   50   Polypropylene   800
   

Nippon Oil

    PP Compounding   110

Polymirae

  South Korea   Dailem, SunAllomer   42 % (3)     Polypropylene   1,540

 

(1) Represents the joint venture’s total capacity and not our proportional capacity.
(2) Reflects our current ownership percentage. Assuming the joint venture pays dividends over time, we anticipate our ownership will increase to a maximum of 25%.
(3) Reflects our direct (35%) and indirect ownership through SunAllomer.

 

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We have five polypropylene joint ventures, one PE joint venture, one joint venture that produces both polypropylene and PE and one joint venture that only produces PP compounds. Of the eight joint ventures, four are in Asia, three are in the Middle East and one is in Eastern Europe. These joint ventures provide us with additional income streams from cash dividends, licensing revenues, catalyst sales and marketing fees from selling joint venture products, as well as geographical diversification and access to local market skills and expertise. We believe that our technological leadership has enabled us to establish joint ventures in cost advantaged locations and developing regions with higher growth, including the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East. We generally license our polyolefin process technologies and supply catalysts to our joint ventures.

Through our international joint ventures, we intend to leverage our capital and participate in a larger, more diversified mix of projects where the synergies between our worldwide position and the local joint venture party’s strengths can result in improved operations and financial returns. Some of our joint ventures source cost advantaged raw materials from their local shareholders. In the Middle East, our joint venture in Saudi Arabia, SPC, operates a PDH unit and a polypropylene manufacturing facility in Al-Jubail Industrial City with an annual polypropylene capacity of almost 1.6 billion pounds, which includes the 2009 capacity expansion. We own 25% of this joint venture and market approximately 70% of the polypropylene produced annually by the joint venture.

In 2006, we formed two new joint ventures in Saudi Arabia. The first of these, SEPC, is with Tasnee & Sahara Olefins Company (“TSOC”) and has a new integrated PE manufacturing complex operating in Al-Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia. The ethylene cracker began production in the third quarter of 2008. One PE plant is based on our Hostalen process and produces HDPE, and the other is based on our Lupotech T technology and produces LDPE. The HDPE plant began operating in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the LDPE plant commenced operations in the second quarter of 2009. We own 25% of the joint venture, while the remaining 75% is owned by TSOC (which is owned by National Petrochemical Industrialization Company, also known as Tasnee Petrochemicals, our partner in its SPC joint venture, and Sahara Petrochemical Company, our partner in the Al-Waha joint venture).

Our second new joint venture in Saudi Arabia, Al-Waha, began initial production in the third quarter of 2009, operating polypropylene and PDH manufacturing plants in Al-Jubail Industrial City. We own 21% of the joint venture, with 75% owned by Sahara Petrochemical Company and a small percentage by another party. The JV uses our most advanced polypropylene technology, the Spherizone process. We initially are the exclusive marketer for polypropylene produced by the joint venture that is sold outside of Saudi Arabia.

HMC, our joint venture in Thailand with Thai state oil company PTT, operates a polypropylene plant with an annual capacity of 990 million pounds, and is constructing a new PDH plant with an annual capacity of 660 million pounds and a new polypropylene plant using our newest proprietary Spherizone technology with a capacity of 660 million pounds, both of which are expected to start up in 2010. We own 29% of this joint venture.

In Europe, our Orlen joint venture in Poland operates a polyolefin manufacturing facility with an annual polypropylene capacity of 880 million pounds and an annual PE capacity of 945 million pounds, including 705 million pounds of HDPE and 240 million pounds of LDPE. We own 50% of this joint venture and market all of the product sales outside of Poland.

We have a joint venture, PolyPacific Pty., which operates two PP compounding facilities, one in Australia and one in Malaysia, with annual PP compounding capacities of 110 million pounds and 55 million pounds, respectively. We own 50% of this joint venture, and the joint venture markets all of the PP compounds production.

In Japan, we have a joint venture, SunAllomer, which operates two polypropylene facilities with an annual capacity of 800 million pounds and a PP compounding facility with an annual PP compounding capacity of 110 million pounds. We own 50% of this joint venture and market a portion of the polypropylene.

 

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In South Korea, we have a joint venture, PolyMirae, which operates a polypropylene facility with an annual capacity of 1.54 billion pounds. We own 35% of this joint venture and another 7% via our participation in SunAllomer, which holds 15% of PolyMirae.

Raw Materials

Raw material cost is the largest component of the total cost for the production of ethylene and its co-products. The primary raw materials used in our European olefin facilities are heavy liquids and, for our Saudi joint venture facilities, NGLs. NGLs include ethane, propane and butane. The use of heavy liquid raw materials results in the production of a significant amount of co-products such as propylene, butadiene, and gasoline blending components, while the use of NGLs results in the production of a smaller amount of co-products, such as propylene.

The principal raw materials used by our polyolefin and Catalloy process resins businesses are propylene and ethylene. In Western Europe, we have the capacity to produce approximately 50% of the propylene requirements of our European polypropylene business and essentially all of the ethylene requirements of our European PE business. European propylene and ethylene requirements that are not produced internally are purchased pursuant to long-term contracts with third-party suppliers and are delivered via pipeline. Prices under these third-party contracts are market related and are negotiated monthly, and are generally based on published market indicators, normally with discounts.

In our wholly owned operations in Australia, greater than 90% of our propylene normally comes from third-party refinery grade propylene purchased under long-term contracts linked to Saudi or Singapore fuel markers and is processed at our integrated splitters located on each manufacturing site. Some of our international joint ventures receive propylene from their local shareholders under long-term contracts. The remaining supply for the joint ventures is purchased from local suppliers under long-term contracts and some spot purchases. For the new joint ventures, we aim to achieve integration of monomer and polymer production. For example, our first Saudi polyolefin joint venture, SPC, which commenced production in 2004, operates a PDH unit fed with competitively priced propane. The Al-Waha joint venture is based on the same structure, while the SEPC joint venture is based on an integrated complex, including a gas cracker utilizing cost advantaged Saudi Arabian propane and ethane.

The raw materials for polyolefins are, in general, commodity chemicals with numerous bulk suppliers and ready availability at competitive prices.

A significant portion of our raw materials for our PP compounds are polypropylene and other polymers (primarily Catalloy process resins). Our PP compounding facilities generally receive their polypropylene and other polymers directly from one of our wholly owned or joint venture facilities via truck or rail car. In addition, there are four sites (two in Europe, one in North America and one in South America) that have both polypropylene and PP compounding operations co-located, thereby minimizing product handling. PB-1 raw materials are sourced solely from external supply.

Industry Dynamics / Competition

After a relatively strong start in 2008, demand in late 2008 fell rapidly as the global economies slid quickly into a deep recession. The relatively depressed conditions continued through 2009 and are expected to continue into 2010. We estimate that ethylene operating rates for Europe were approximately 80% in 2009, and are forecasted to rise to 90% in 2014, while PE and polypropylene operating rates were each approximately 79% in 2009, and are forecasted to rise to 88% and 86%, respectively, in 2014. Capacity share figures for us and our competitors, discussed below, are based on completed production facilities and, where appropriate, include our proportionate share of joint venture facilities and certain long-term supply arrangements.

 

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Our ethylene rated capacity in Western Europe at December 31, 2009 was approximately 4.2 billion pounds per year, or approximately 8% of the 54 billion pounds per year of total Western Europe ethylene production capacity. Based on these published rated production capacities, we are the seventh largest producer of ethylene in Western Europe. In Western Europe, key ethylene competitors include INEOS, Dow, Polimeri Europa, Total S.A. (“Total”), SABIC, Shell, BASF and ExxonMobil.

Based on published data regarding polypropylene capacity, we believe that we are the largest producer of polypropylene in Western Europe as of December 31, 2009, with 5.4 billion pounds per year of capacity, or approximately 24% of the European capacity for polypropylene. Our largest competitors for sales of polypropylene are Polimeri Europa, Total, SABIC, INEOS and Dow.

With respect to PE, we believe that we are the largest producer of PE in Western Europe as of December 31, 2009, with 4.1 billion pounds per year of capacity, or approximately 12% of capacity for PE (HDPE and LDPE only), based on published data regarding PE capacity. Our largest competitors for sales of PE are INEOS, SABIC, Total, Polimeri Europe, Repsol, ExxonMobil and Dow.

We believe we are the largest PP compounds producer in the world with 2.3 billion pounds (which includes our proportionate share of joint ventures) of installed annual capacity as of December 31, 2009. Approximately 54% of our PP compounding capacity is in Europe, 20% is in North America, and 26% is in the rest of the world (including the capacity of our joint ventures). Our competitors for sales of PP compounds are SABIC, Borealis, ExxonMobil, Washington Penn, Mitsui, A. Schulman, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (“Sumitomo”) and many other independent companies.

Our 110 million pound PB-1 capacity competes with a limited number of smaller polybutene producers, of which Mitsui is the largest. The unique balance of flexibility and toughness of PB-1 in this application makes it fit for the high end of the piping market. In the specialty area, PB-1 competes with a number of proprietary and sophisticated polymers, plastomers and elastomers, depending on the specific application.

 

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Intermediates and Derivatives Segment

Overview

Our I&D segment produces and markets PO and its co-products and derivatives, acetyls, ethylene oxide and its derivatives and flavor and fragrance chemicals. PO co-products include SM and C 4 chemicals (TBA, oxyfuels (which is managed in the Refining and Oxyfuels segment), isobutylene and TBHP), and PO derivatives include PG, PGE and BDO. We believe that our proprietary PO and acetyls production process technologies provide us with a cost advantaged position for these products and their derivatives. In 2009, our I&D segment generated $3.8 billion of revenues (excluding inter-segment revenue).

Including joint venture facilities, we produce PO, its co-products and derivatives at two sites in Texas, two sites in The Netherlands, one in Japan and one in France. We produce our PO through two distinct technologies based on indirect oxidation processes that yield co-products. One process yields TBA as the co-product; the other process yields SM as the co-product. The two technologies are mutually exclusive, necessitating that a manufacturing facility be dedicated either to PO/TBA or to PO/SM. Isobutylene and TBHP are derivatives of TBA. MTBE and ETBE are other derivatives of TBA and are gasoline blending components reported in our Refining and Oxyfuels segment. PG, PGE and BDO are derivatives of PO. PG collectively refers to mono-propylene glycol (“MPG”), PG meeting U.S. pharmacopeia standards and several grades of dipropylene glycol (“DPG”) and tri-propylene glycol (“TPG”).

We also produce flavor and fragrance chemicals. Facilities in Georgia and Florida manufacture terpene-based fragrance ingredients and flavor ingredients, primarily for the oral care markets. We also supply products for use in a number of other applications, including chemical reaction agents, or initiators, for the rubber industry and solvents and cleaners, such as pine oil, for the hard surface cleaner markets.

The chart below shows our position and capacities in key I&D businesses:

LOGO

 

Sources: CMAI; LyondellBasell AF’s internal data

Note: Capacities are as of December 31, 2009. Positions are based on wholly owned capacity and pro rata share of joint venture capacity.

 

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The following table outlines:

 

   

the primary products of our I&D segment;

 

   

annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2009, unless otherwise noted; and

 

   

the primary uses for those products.

See “Item 3. Properties” for the locations where we produce the primary products of our I&D segment. Annual processing capacity as of December 31, 2009 was calculated by estimating the average number of days in a typical year that a production unit of a plant is expected to operate, after allowing for downtime for regular maintenance, and multiplying that number by an amount equal to the unit’s optimal daily output based on the design raw material mix. Because the processing capacity of a production unit is an estimated amount, actual production volumes may be more or less than the capacities set forth below. Except as indicated, capacities shown include 100% of the capacity of joint venture facilities.

 

Product

 

          Annual Capacity           

 

Primary Uses

Propylene Oxide (PO)

  4.6 billion pounds (1)   PO is a key component of polyols, PG, PGE and BDO

PO Co-Products:

   

Styrene Monomer (SM)

  5.1 billion pounds (2)   SM is used to produce plastics, such as expandable polystyrene for packaging, foam cups and containers, insulation products and durables and engineering resins

TBA Derivative Isobutylene

  1.4 billion pounds (3)   Isobutylene is a derivative of TBA used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber as well as fuel and lubricant additives, such as MTBE and ETBE

PO Derivatives:

   

Propylene Glycol (PG)

  1.2 billion pounds (4)   PG is used to produce unsaturated polyester resins for bathroom fixtures and boat hulls; lower toxicity antifreeze, coolants and aircraft deicers; and cosmetics and cleaners

Propylene Glycol Ethers (PGE)

  545 million pounds (5)   PGE are used as solvents for paints, coatings, cleaners and a variety of electronics applications

Butanediol (BDO)

  395 million pounds   BDO is used in the manufacture of engineering resins, films, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, coatings, solvents and adhesives

Acetyls:

   

Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM)

  700 million pounds   VAM is a petrochemical product used to produce a variety of polymers products used in adhesives, water-based paint, textile coatings and paper coatings

Acetic Acid

  1.2 billion pounds   Acetic acid is a raw material used to produce VAM, terephthalic acid (used to produce polyester for textiles and plastic bottles), industrial solvents and a variety of other chemicals

Methanol

  190 million gallons (6)   Methanol is a raw material used to produce acetic acid, MTBE, formaldehyde and several other products

 

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Product

 

          Annual Capacity           

 

Primary Uses

Ethylene Derivatives:

   

Ethylene Oxide (EO)

  0.8 billion pounds EO equivalents; 400 million pounds as pure EO (7)   EO is used to produce surfactants, industrial cleaners, cosmetics, emulsifiers, paint, heat transfer fluids and ethylene glycol

Ethylene Glycol (EG)

  0.7 billion pounds (7)   EG is used to produce polyester fibers and film, polyethylene terephthalate resin, heat transfer fluids and automobile antifreeze

Other Ethylene Oxide Derivatives

  225 million pounds   EO derivatives include ethylene glycol ethers and ethanolamines, and are used to produce paint and coatings, polishes, solvents and chemical intermediates

Other:

   

Flavor and Fragrance Chemicals (8)

    Flavor and fragrance chemicals include terpene-based fragrance ingredients and flavor ingredients, primarily for the oral care markets, and also include products used in applications such as chemical reaction agents, or initiators, for the rubber industry and solvents and cleaners, such as pine oil, for the hard surface cleaner markets

 

(1) Includes (1) 100% of the 385 million pounds of capacity of Nihon Oxirane Co. Ltd. (“Nihon Oxirane”), a joint venture of which we own 40%; (2) 1.5 billion pounds of capacity that represents Bayer Corporation’s (“Bayer”) share of PO production from the Channelview PO/SM I plant and the Bayport, Texas PO/TBA plants under the U.S. PO manufacturing joint venture (the “U.S. PO Joint Venture”) between Lyondell Chemical and Bayer; and (3) 100% of the 690 million pounds of capacity of the Maasvlakte PO/SM plant, which is owned by the European PO manufacturing joint venture (the “European PO Joint Venture”) with Bayer, as to which Bayer has the right to 50% of the production. Our net proportionate interest in PO capacity is approximately 2.5 billion pounds. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.”
(2) Includes (1) approximately 700 million pounds of SM production from the Channelview PO/SM II plant that is committed to unrelated equity investors under processing agreements; (2) 100% of the 830 million pounds of capacity of Nihon Oxirane; and (3) 100% of the 1.5 billion pounds of capacity of the Maasvlakte PO/SM plant. Our net proportionate interest in SM capacity, which includes the European PO Joint Venture with Bayer, is approximately 3.2 billion pounds. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.”
(3) Represents total high-purity isobutylene capacity and purified isobutylene capacity.
(4) PG capacity includes 100% of the approximately 220 million pounds of capacity of Nihon Oxirane. Our net proportionate interest in PG capacity is approximately 1 billion pounds. The capacity stated is MPG capacity. Smaller quantities of DPG and TPG are co-produced with MPG. At our facilities in the U.S. and Europe, these DPG and TPG products are purified and marketed. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.”
(5) Includes 100% of the 110 million pounds associated with a marketing arrangement with Shiny Chemical Co., Ltd. (“Shiny”).
(6) Represents 100% of the methanol capacity at the La Porte, Texas facility, which is owned by La Porte Methanol Company, a partnership owned 85% by us and 15% by Linde AG (“Linde”).
(7) Excludes the Beaumont, Texas facility owned by PD Glycol, a 50/50 partnership between Equistar Chemicals LP and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”). The PD Glycol facility has not operated since it was damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008 and will not operate in the future.
(8) With respect to flavor and fragrance chemicals, we frequently work closely with customers in developing products to satisfy the specific requirements of those customers, and capacity varies accordingly.

 

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Sales & Marketing / Customers

In 2009, no single I&D segment customer accounted for 10% or more of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues.

Including joint ventures, we produce PO, its co-products, and its derivatives at two sites in The Netherlands, two sites in the U.S., one site in France and one site in Japan. We estimate, based in part on published data, that worldwide demand for PO was approximately 13.3 billion pounds in 2009. More than 75% of that volume was consumed in the manufacture of three families of PO derivative products: polyols, glycols and glycol ethers. The remainder was consumed in the manufacture of performance products, including BDO and its derivatives.

We produce and deliver our PO and PO co-products through sales agreements, processing agreements and spot sales as well as product exchanges. We have a number of multi-year processing (or tolling) and sales agreements to mitigate the adverse impact of competitive factors and economic business cycles on demand for our PO. In addition, Bayer’s ownership interest in the U.S. PO Joint Venture, which operates four of the U.S. operating units, represents ownership of an in-kind portion of the PO production. Bayer also has the right to 50% of the production of one of the facilities in The Netherlands. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.” Our PO derivatives are sold through market-based sales contracts and spot sales. PO sold in the merchant market accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009.

Production levels at the PO/SM and PO/TBA co-product production facilities are primarily determined by the demand for PO and PO derivatives. The resulting production levels of co-product SM and TBA and its derivatives (isobutylene and TBHP), which are reported in the I&D segment, and MTBE and ETBE, (which are reported in the Refining and Oxyfuels segment) thus depend primarily on the demand for PO and PO derivatives and secondarily on the relative market demand for SM, isobutylene, MTBE and ETBE, as well as the operational flexibility of our multiple production facilities in meeting this demand. See “Item 1. Business—Refining and Oxyfuels Segment” for additional information about the production of MTBE and ETBE.

Based on published data, worldwide demand for SM in 2009 is estimated to have been approximately 52 billion pounds. SM accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009. We sell most of our SM production into the North American and European merchant markets and to Asian and South American export markets through long-term sales contracts and processing agreements. See “—Joint Venture Relationships.”

We purchase SM for resale, when necessary, to satisfy customer demand for this co-product above co-product production levels. Volumes of SM purchases made for resale can vary significantly from period to period. However, purchased volumes have not historically had a significant impact on profits.

Our I&D segment converts most of its TBA, which is produced as a co-product to the PO process, to isobutylene and sells some of the TBA into the market. Over half of the isobutylene from the I&D segment is reacted with methanol or ethanol to produce MTBE and ETBE, which is marketed by the Refining and Oxyfuels segment. The remaining isobutylene is converted and sold as high purity and purity grade isobutylene by the I&D segment. Isobutylene sales accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009.

Sales of our PO, its co-products, and its derivatives are made by us, Nihon Oxirane (a joint venture of which we own 40%) and their affiliates directly, and through distributors and independent agents located in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region. We have centralized certain sales and order fulfillment functions in regional customer service centers located in Houston, Texas, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and Hong Kong, China. We also have long-term contracts for distribution and logistics to ensure reliable and efficient supply to our customers. PO, PG and SM are transported by barge, ocean going vessel, pipeline, rail car and tank truck. BDO is primarily transported by tank truck and rail car.

 

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Acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer (“VAM”) are manufactured at a facility in La Porte, Texas, and are consumed internally, sold worldwide generally under multi-year contracts and sold on a spot basis. Acetic acid and VAM are shipped by barge, ocean going vessel, pipeline, rail car and tank truck. We have bulk storage arrangements in Europe and South America to better serve our customers’ requirements in those regions. Sales are made through a direct sales force, agents and distributors. Sales of acetyls, including VAM, collectively accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009.

We estimate based on published data that worldwide demand in 2009 for acetic acid and VAM was 20 billion pounds and 10 billion pounds, respectively.

Methanol is produced at a La Porte, Texas facility owned by La Porte Methanol Company, our 85%—owned joint venture with Linde. Each party to the joint venture receives its respective share of the methanol production. Our acetyls business uses the methanol as a raw material for acetic acid and also sells the methanol under annual contracts and on a spot basis to large U.S. customers. The product is shipped by barge and pipeline.

Ethyle oxide (“EO”) or EO equivalents, and EO’s primary derivative, ethylene gylcol (“EG”), are produced at a wholly owned facility located in Bayport, Texas. The Bayport facility also produces other derivatives of EO, principally glycol ethers and ethanolamines. A second facility, PD Glycol, was a 50/50 joint venture with DuPont and held an EO/EG asset in Beaumont, Texas. The plant has not operated since it was damaged during Hurricane Ike in September 2008 and will not operate in the future. By order dated August 11, 2009, the Bankruptcy Court approved an agreement between Equistar, PD Glycol and DuPont, which provided, among other things, that (i) certain agreements between Equistar Chemicals LP and PD Glycol are rejected; (ii) Equistar Chemicals LP’s general partnership interest in PD Glycol is converted into a limited partnership interest; and (iii) PD Glycol will be dissolved as expeditiously as commercially practicable.

EO and EG typically are sold under multi-year contracts, with market-based pricing. Glycol ethers and ethanolamines are sold primarily into the solvent and distributor markets at market prices. EO is shipped by rail car, and its derivatives are shipped by rail car, truck, isotank or ocean-going vessel. EO and EG sales accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009.

The vast majority of the ethylene derivative products are sold in North America and Asia, primarily through our sales organizations.

Joint Venture Relationships

The following table describes our I&D segment’s significant manufacturing joint venture relationships.

 

Name

  Location   Other Parties   LyondellBasell
Ownership
    Product   2009 Capacity (1)
(in millions of pounds unless noted)

U.S. PO Joint Venture

  Channelview, TX   Bayer        Propylene Oxide   1,500(3)
  Bayport, TX        

European PO Joint Venture

  Rotterdam,

The Netherlands

  Bayer   50   Propylene Oxide

Styrene Monomer

     690

1,480

PO/ SM II LP

  Channelview, TX   IPIC & BASF        Styrene Monomer     700(3)

Nihon Oxirane

  Chiba, Japan   Sumitomo   40   Propylene Oxide      385
        Styrene Monomer      830
        Propylene Glycol      220

Ningbo ZRCC LCC Ltd. (2)

  Ningbo, China   ZRCC   27   Propylene Oxide      600
        Styrene Monomer   1,300

La Porte Methanol

  La Porte, TX   Linde   85   Methanol   190 million gallons

 

(1) Unless otherwise noted, represents the joint venture’s total capacity and not our proportional capacity.
(2) Anticipated startup in mid-2010.
(3) Amount of off-take by other parties in the joint venture.

 

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On March 31, 2000, we contributed our Channelview, Texas, PO/SM I facility and our Bayport, Texas, PO/TBA facilities to the U.S. PO Joint Venture. Bayer’s ownership interest in the U.S. PO Joint Venture represented ownership of 1.5 billion pounds of PO production annually as of December 31, 2009. We take, in-kind, the remaining PO production and all co-product (SM and TBA) production from the U.S. PO Joint Venture. As part of the transaction, Lyondell Chemical and Bayer also formed a separate joint venture, the PO Technology Joint Venture, through which Bayer was granted a non-exclusive and non-transferable right to use certain of our proprietary PO technology in the U.S. PO Joint Venture. Under the terms of operating and logistics agreements, we operate the U.S. PO Joint Venture plants and arrange and coordinate the logistics of PO delivery from the plants. We do not share marketing or product sales with Bayer under the U.S. PO Joint Venture.

Lyondell Chemical and Bayer also formed a separate 50/50 joint venture, the European PO Joint Venture, for the construction and ownership of the Maasvlakte PO/SM plant near Rotterdam, The Netherlands, which began production in 2003. Each party takes in-kind 50% of the PO and SM production of the European PO Joint Venture.

Lyondell Chemical’s PO/SM II plant at the Channelview, Texas complex was created through a joint venture among Lyondell Chemical and unrelated equity investors. Lyondell Chemical retains a majority interest in the PO/SM II plant and is the operator of the plant. A portion of the SM output of the PO/SM II plant is committed to the unrelated equity investors under processing agreements. As of December 31, 2009, Lyondell Chemical had 700 million pounds of SM capacity committed to unrelated equity investors under these processing arrangements.

We have a 40% equity interest in Nihon Oxirane, a joint venture in Japan formed by Lyondell Chemical and Sumitomo. Since 1976, Nihon Oxirane has operated a PO/SM plant in Chiba, Japan. In 2005, Nihon Oxirane began production at its new PG plant in Chiba, Japan, with an annual PG capacity of 220 million pounds. Through the formation of Nihon Oxirane Company Asia (“NOCA”), we also will participate in marketing most of the PO capacity from a new 440 million pound facility constructed in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia by Sumitomo and Saudi Aramco, which began operations at the end of 2009. We have a 40% equity interest in NOCA.

During 2007, Lyondell Chemical announced the formation of a joint venture with Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd. (“ZRCC”) for the construction of a world-scale PO/SM facility in Ningbo, China, with completion of construction expected in 2010. The new facility will have an annual PO production capacity of 600 million pounds and an annual SM production capacity of 1.3 billion pounds. Lyondell Chemical contributed a license right to its proprietary PO/SM technology in exchange for approximately 27% ownership of the venture. We will jointly market all the PO manufactured by the new facility with ZRCC.

We also have a multi-year processing agreement, entered into by Lyondell Chemical and Shiny, whereby we provide the raw materials used to produce the PGE at Shiny’s PGE plant in Tainan, Taiwan. Shiny’s PGE plant, which is based on our technology, commenced production during 2007.

Raw Materials

The primary raw materials used for the production of PO and its co-products and derivatives are propylene, mixed butane, ethylene and benzene. The market prices of these raw materials historically have been related to the price of crude oil and its principal refinery derivatives, NGLs and natural gas, as well as market conditions for these materials. These materials are received in bulk quantities via pipeline or ocean going vessels.

In the U.S., we obtain a large portion of our propylene, benzene and ethylene raw materials needed for the production of PO and its co-products and derivatives internally from our ethylene and ethylene co-products facilities. Raw materials for the non-U.S. production of PO and its co-products and derivatives primarily are obtained from unrelated parties. We consume a significant portion of our internally-produced PO in the production of PO derivatives.

 

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We consume large volumes of mixed butane for the production of PO and its co-products and derivatives. We have invested in facilities, or entered into processing agreements with unrelated parties, to convert the widely available commodity, normal butane, to isobutane. We also are a large consumer of oxygen for our PO/TBA plants.

The cost of raw materials generally is the largest component of total production cost for PO and its co-products and derivatives. Generally, the raw material requirements for these businesses are purchased at market-based prices from numerous suppliers in the U.S. and Europe with which we have established contractual relationships, as well as in the spot market. The raw materials for these businesses are, in general, commodity chemicals with ready availability at competitive prices. Historically, raw material availability has not been an issue. However, in order to enhance reliability and competitiveness of prices and rates for supplies of raw materials, industrial gas and other utilities, we have long-term agreements and other arrangements for a substantial portion of our production requirements.

The primary raw materials required for the production of acetic acid are carbon monoxide and methanol. We purchase the carbon monoxide from Linde pursuant to a long-term contract under which pricing is based primarily on cost of production. La Porte Methanol Company, our 85%-owned joint venture, supplies all of the methanol requirements for acetyls production. Natural gas is the primary raw material required for the production of methanol.

In addition to ethylene, acetic acid is a primary raw material for the production of VAM. For the production of VAM, we obtain our entire requirements for acetic acid and ethylene from our internal production. In 2009, we used a large percentage of our acetic acid production to produce VAM.

Industry Dynamics / Competition

With respect to PO, its co-products and derivatives, competition is based on a variety of factors, including product quality and price, reliability of supply, technical support, customer service and potential substitute materials. Profitability is affected by the worldwide level of demand along with price competition, which may intensify due to, among other things, new industry capacity. From 2010 to 2014, approximately 1.9 billion pounds of new industry PO capacity, or approximately 10% of 2009 worldwide PO capacity, is expected to be added, with approximately half of these additions in the Middle East and China. During this period, the average annual world demand growth is expected to be approximately 4%. However, demand is a function of worldwide economic growth, which fluctuates. The PO demand growth rate also could be impacted by further development of alternative bio-based PO derivatives. It is not possible to predict accurately the changes in raw material costs, market conditions and other factors that will affect industry profitability in the future. After a relatively strong start in 2008, demand in late 2008 fell rapidly as the global economies slid quickly into a deep recession. The relatively depressed conditions continued through 2009 and are expected to continue into 2010. Worldwide PO operating rates were approximately 70% during 2009, and our current forecast is that it will rise to 92% in 2014. Capacity share figures for us and our competitors, discussed below, are based on completed production facilities and, where appropriate, include the proportionate share of joint venture facilities and certain supply arrangements.

Based on published data regarding PO capacity, we believe that, including our share of Nihon Oxirane and the European PO Joint Venture, we are the second largest producer of PO worldwide, with approximately 13% of the total worldwide capacity for PO. Our major worldwide competitors for sales of PO and its derivatives are Dow and Shell.

Based on published data regarding SM capacity, we believe that we are one of the largest producers of SM worldwide, with approximately 5% of the total worldwide capacity for SM as of December 31, 2009. We compete worldwide for sales of SM with many marketers and producers, among which are BASF, Dow, Shell and Total.

We believe that we are the fourth and fifth largest producer of acetic acid and VAM, respectively, each with approximately 5% of the total worldwide capacity as of December 31, 2009. Our primary competitors include Celanese and BP for acetic acid and Celanese, ZRCC, Dow and DuPont for VAM.

 

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Technology Segment

Overview

Access to appropriate production process technology and catalysts is a key requirement for polyolefin and chemicals producers. Our Technology segment develops and licenses industry leading polyolefin process technologies and provides associated engineering and other services. Our Technology segment further develops, manufactures and sells polyolefin catalysts, providing polyolefin manufacturers with the capability to produce polyolefins. We market our process technologies and our polyolefin catalysts to external customers and also use them for our own manufacturing operations. Our ability to offer a complete PE and polypropylene technology portfolio enables polyolefin manufacturers to have a single provider for polyolefin processes technologies and catalyst systems. In 2009, our Technology segment generated operating revenues of $436 million (excluding inter-segment revenue).

Our process licenses are structured to provide a standard core technology, with individual customer needs met by adding customized modules that provide the required capabilities to produce the defined production grade slate and plant capacity. For licenses involving proven technologies, we typically receive the majority of our license fees in cash at or before the date of customer acceptance. For these licenses, we generally recognize revenue upon delivery of the process design package and the related license. Each license agreement includes long-term confidentiality provisions to protect the technology. In addition to the basic license agreement, a range of services can also be provided including project assistance, training, start-up assistance of the plant and possible supply of resins from our production for pre-marketing by the licensee. We may also offer marketing and sales services. In addition, licensees generally continue to purchase polyolefin catalysts that are consumed in the production process, generally under long-term catalyst supply agreements with us.

The chart below shows our position and installed capacity share in key polyolefin technology businesses:

LOGO

 

Source: LyondellBasell AF’s internal estimates

Note: Capacities are as of December 31, 2008.

Process Technology Licensing

We are a leading licensor of polyolefin process technologies. Our polypropylene licensing portfolio includes our Spheripol and the more recently introduced Spherizone process technologies and the Metocene technology. Our PE licensing process portfolio focuses on the Lupotech T (high pressure tubular process for LDPE

 

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production), the Lupotech A (autoclave process mainly for ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”) copolymers), Hostalen (slurry process for multimodal HDPE production), and Spherilene (gas phase process for LLDPE to HDPE production) processes, all of which cover a wide range of PE products for the worldwide market. We also license a portfolio of chemical process technologies in the fields of olefin recovery, olefin conversion, aromatics extraction and acetyls.

Since the formation of Basell in 2000 and through December 31, 2009, we have sold licenses representing approximately 25 million tons of polyolefin capacity, which represents more than 40% of worldwide capacity growth. In 2009, we entered into licensing agreements representing more than one million tons of polyolefin capacity. Process licenses accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009.

Our Technology segment also provides technology services to our licensees. Such services include training and start-up assistance, engineering services for process and product improvements and manufacturing troubleshooting.

Polypropylene Process Technology

We license several polypropylene process technologies, including Spheripol , Spherizone and Metocene .

Our Spheripol technology produces homopolymers and random copolymers in a single stage and impact copolymers in a multi-stage process. We believe that Spheripol is the most widely used polypropylene production process in the world.

Spherizone , our newest process, commercialized in 2002 and introduced for licensing in 2003, is able to produce higher quality polypropylene and a wider product grade range than existing processes at similar operating cost. The Spherizone process introduces a single reactor concept, in which bimodality is created within one single reactor operating at different conditions between the different zones inside the reactor. The final product is a result of an intimate mixing of the different property determining phases at a “macro molecular” level.

Metocene polypropylene technology was introduced for licensing in 2006. This technology is used in the production of polypropylene based on single-site catalyst systems. Metocene technology can be adapted to virtually any polypropylene process, and its versatility expands the end use product range of conventional polypropylene. In 2009, Polymirae became the first licensee to commence commercial production of Metocene .

Polyethylene Processes Technology

The different families of PE (HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE) require specialized process technologies for production, which are available through our broad PE process licensing portfolio. The portfolio includes Lupotech , Spherilene and Hostalen process technologies.

Lupotech T is a leading high pressure, tubular reactor process for the production of LDPE. This high pressure technology does not use a catalyst system typical for low pressure processes, but rather peroxide-initiators to polymerize ethylene and optionally vinyl acetate (VAM) for EVA-copolymers. By adjusting the temperature profile along the reactor and adding different peroxide mixtures, process conditions are modified to produce the desired products. The process produces the entire melt flow ratio and density range of LDPEs with low investment costs and low utilities and raw material demand.

Lupotech A is a high pressure autoclave process using peroxide mixture for polymerization and is mainly utilized for specialty LDPE and for the production of EVA copolymers with high VAM content.

 

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Spherilene is an advanced swing gas phase process for the production of LLDPE, MDPE and monomodal and bimodal HDPE. This process represents a highly flexible technology platform for production of grades from low-cost commodity to the most sophisticated high performance PE. The process provides easier and lower cost product grade change and reduces environmental impact.

Hostalen is a leading low-pressure slurry cascade process for the production of high-end multimodal HDPE. This is desirable because a different product structure can be produced in each stage of the polymerization process, yielding products that are tailored for sophisticated end use applications in three main application fields: pipe, blow molding and film.

Chemical Process Technologies

We also offer for licensing several chemical process technologies, including Vacido , Glacido , Isomplus and Superflex .

Vacido is a fixed-bed tubular process for the production of high-quality VAM, from acetic acid and ethylene. It utilizes a proprietary heterogeneous catalyst system.

Glacido is a process technology for manufacturing of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol. It utilizes a Rhodium-based homogeneous catalyst system.

Isomplus is a skeletal isomerisation process to convert linear olefins into branched ones. A zeolite-based catalyst provides conversion of normal butenes and pentenes to isobutylene and isoamylene, respectively.

Superflex technology is a process for the production of propylene from less refined feedstock such as coker or fluid catalytic cracking unit light gasoline as well as mixed C 4 and C 5 streams. The process is based on a fluidized catalytic reactor.

We also offer process technology for recovery of butadiene, C 5 chemicals and aromatics.

Polyolefin Catalysts

Under the Avant brand, we are a leading manufacturer and supplier of polyolefin catalysts. Polyolefin catalysts accounted for less than 10% of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues in 2009. As a large polyolefin producer, approximately 30% of catalyst sales are inter-divisional. Polyolefin catalysts are packaged and shipped via road, sea or air to our customers.

We produce catalysts at two facilities in Germany, one facility in Italy and one facility in the U.S. Our polyolefin catalysts, which are consumed during the polyolefin production process and define the processing and mechanical properties of polyolefins, provide enhanced performance for our process technologies and are being developed to enhance performance when used in third-party process technologies. We also supply catalysts for producing sophisticated PEs.

One of our core competencies is our strength in the manufacturing and use of proprietary catalyst supports. Supports are a key ingredient in the production of high efficiency polyolefin catalysts that enhance process performance.

Our customers continually purchase polyolefin catalysts because they are consumed during the polyolefin production process. New licensees generally elect to enter into long-term catalyst supply agreements with us, as customers look primarily for top performance over an extended period of time and compatibility with the acquired technology. Our advanced catalysts provide enhanced performance for our process technologies and may also enhance performance when used in third-party processes.

 

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Sales & Marketing

In 2009, no single Technology segment customer accounted for 10% or more of LyondellBasell AF’s total revenues. We market our process technologies and catalysts to external customers and also use them for our own polyolefin manufacturing operations. Our ability to offer both PE and polypropylene technologies enables polyolefin manufacturers to have a single provider for polyolefin processes technologies and catalyst systems. We have a marketing and sales force dedicated to the Technology segment, including catalyst sales and customer technical support for licensees.

Industry Dynamics / Competition

We believe that competition in the polyolefin process licensing industry is based on the quality and efficiency of the process technology, product performance and product application, complemented by customer service and technical support. We are the leading licensor of polypropylene process technologies, and we believe we are the only licensor offering the full range of process technologies for production of all polypropylene and PE product families. Since the formation of Basell in 2000 through December 31, 2009, we have sold licenses representing approximately 25 million tons of capacity based on its six process technologies to polyolefin manufacturers. We estimate that approximately 43% of polypropylene and 35% of PE worldwide licensed capacity from 2003 through 2009 use our technologies. As of December 31, 2009, we estimate that over 200 polyolefin production lines use our licensed process technologies. Our major competitors in polypropylene technologies licensing are Dow Chemical, INEOS, Novelen Technology Holdings and Mitsui Chemicals. Our major competitors in PE technologies licensing are ChevronPhillips, INEOS, Mitsui Chemicals and Univation Technologies.

We are one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of polypropylene catalysts. We also supply catalysts for producing sophisticated PEs. Our major competitors in the worldwide catalyst business are Dow Chemical, BASF, Mitsui Chemicals, Toho Catalyst and WR Grace.

Research and Development

We develop and commercialize state-of-the-art chemicals and polyolefin process technologies, catalysts and products worldwide.

Our research and development activities are designed to improve our existing products and discover and commercialize new materials, catalysts and processes. These activities focus on product and application development, process development, catalyst development and fundamental polyolefin focused research.

We have four research and development facilities, each with a specific focus. Our facility in Frankfurt, Germany focuses on PE and metallocene catalysts. Our facility in Ferrara, Italy focuses on polypropylene, PB-1, PP compounds and Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Our facility in Cincinnati, Ohio focuses on polyolefin product and application development in North America. Our center in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania develops chemical catalysts and technologies.

Our financial performance and market position depend in substantial part on our ability to improve our existing products and discover and commercialize new materials, catalysts and processes. Our research and development activities are designed to deliver innovative and commercially relevant technologies at a competitive cost to our business segments. Our research and development is organized by core competence communities that manage and provide resources for projects, intellectual property and catalyst manufacturing. These include:

 

   

Catalyst systems: catalyst research to enhance our polyolefin polymer properties, catalyst and process performance, including Ziegler Natta, chromium and metallocene catalyst.

 

   

Manufacturing platforms: research to advance process development and pilot plant integration to industrialize technology with increased polymer properties.

 

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Product and application development: working directly with customers to provide new products with enhanced properties.

 

   

Processing testing and characterization: research to increase knowledge on polymers from production to processability.

 

   

Process design and support: research to reduce production and investment costs while improving processability.

 

   

Chemicals and fuels technologies: research to develop and improve catalysts for existing chemical processes and improve process unit operations.

We have core research and development projects that focus on initiatives in line with our strategic direction. These projects are closely aligned with our businesses and customers with a goal of commercialization of identified opportunities. Core projects currently include research and development in areas such as:

 

   

Polypropylene product development with emphasis on the newly implemented Spherizone process technology.

 

   

Next generation products from existing and in-development processes, using advanced catalyst technologies including metallocenes.

 

   

Enhanced catalyst and process opportunities to extend gas phase PE technology.

 

   

Enhanced catalysts and process opportunities for selected chemical technologies.

As of March 1, 2010, approximately 960 of our employees are directly engaged in research and development activities.

In addition to our research and development activities, we provide technical support to our customers. Our technical support centers are located in Bayreuth, Germany; Geelong, Australia; Lansing, Michigan; and Tarragona, Spain.

In 2009, 2008 and 2007, our research and development expenditures were $145 million, $194 million and $135 million, respectively. A portion of these expenses are related to technical support and customer service and are allocated primarily to the segments.

Intellectual Property

We maintain an extensive patent portfolio and continue to file new patent applications in the U.S. and other countries. As of December 31, 2009, we owned approximately 6,800 patents and patent applications worldwide. Our patents and trade secrets cover our processes, products and catalysts and are significant to our competitive position, particularly with regard to propylene oxide, intermediate chemicals, petrochemicals, flavor and fragrance chemicals, polymers and our process technologies such as Spheripol , Spherizone , Hostalen , Spherilene , Lupotech , Glacido , Vacido , Isomplus and Avant catalyst. We own globally registered and unregistered trademarks including the “LyondellBasell,” “Lyondell,” “Equistar” and “Houston Refining” trade names. While we believe that our intellectual property provides competitive advantages, we do not regard our businesses as being materially dependent upon any single patent, trade secret or trademark. Some of our heritage production capacity operates under licenses from third parties.

We rely on patent, copyright and trade secret laws of the U.S. and other countries to protect our investment in research and development, manufacturing and marketing. Our employees working on these technologies are required to enter into agreements, or are covered by other arrangements such as collective bargaining agreements, providing for confidentiality and the assignment of rights to inventions made by them while employed by us.

 

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Environmental Capital Expenditures

We (together with the industries in which we operate) are subject to extensive national, state, local and foreign environmental laws, regulations, directives, rules and ordinances concerning, and are required to have permits and licenses regulating, emissions to the air, discharges onto land or waters and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. In some cases, compliance with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations can only be achieved by capital expenditures. Regulatory-related capital expenditures at our facilities were $250 million, $202 million and $239 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and we estimate such expenditures to be approximately $233 million in 2010 and $229 million in 2011.

Our actual capital expenditures in 2009 include increased spending on projects related to air emission reductions, low sulfur fuels and wastewater management, principally at the U.S. Gulf Coast plants. Under the U.S. Clean Air Act Amendments (“Clean Air Act”), an eight-county gulf coast region in Texas was designated a severe non-attainment area for ozone by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”). Emission reduction controls were installed at the Houston Refinery and each facility in the region to comply with the November 2007 deadline. Also under the Clean Air Act, the EPA adopted new standards for gasoline that required refiners to produce a low sulfur gasoline by 2006 and ultra low sulfur diesel by the end of 2009. The Houston Refinery met the 2006 low sulfur gasoline compliance target and complied with a requirement to produce 80% of on-road diesel fuel as ultra low sulfur diesel by June 2006.

Stricter environmental, safety and health laws, regulations and enforcement policies could result in increased environmental capital expenditures by us above current estimates. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our Business—Our operations and assets are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety and other laws and regulations, which could result in material costs or liabilities.” For additional information regarding environmentally related capital expenditures, see “Item 2. Financial Information—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies—Liabilities for Environmental Remediation Costs.”

Employee Relations

As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately 14,860 full-time and part-time employees. Of these, approximately 6,120 (41%) were located in North America, approximately 7,750 (52%) were located in Europe and approximately 990 (7%) were in other locations.

As of December 31, 2009, approximately 930 of our employees located in North America are represented by labor unions. Approximately 50% of our unionized North American employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between Houston Refining LP and the United Steelworkers Union, which became effective on January 20, 2010 and expires on January 31, 2012.

The vast majority of our employees in Europe and South America are subject to staff council or works council coverage or collective bargaining agreements.

In addition to our own employees, we use the services of contractors in the routine conduct of our businesses. We believe our relations with our employees are good.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the following risk factors. If any of the possible events described below occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

This Registration Statement also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risks described below and elsewhere in this Registration Statement. See “Item 1. Business,” “Item 2. Financial Information—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Relating to Our Bankruptcy Cases and Emergence

Our actual financial results may vary significantly from the projections that were filed with the Bankruptcy Court.

In connection with our disclosure statement relating to the Plan of Reorganization (the “Disclosure Statement”), and the hearing to consider confirmation of the Plan of Reorganization, we prepared projected financial information to demonstrate to the Bankruptcy Court the feasibility of the Plan of Reorganization and our ability to continue operations upon our emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases. This projected financial information has been prepared by, and is the responsibility of, management of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has neither examined, compiled nor performed any procedures with respect to the accompanying projected financial information and, accordingly, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. The PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP report included in this document relates to the historical financial information of LyondellBasell A.F. It does not extend to the projected financial information and should not be read to do so. These projections were prepared solely for the purpose of the Bankruptcy Cases and have not been, and will not be, updated on an ongoing basis. These projections are not included in this Registration Statement and have not been incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and should not be relied upon in connection with the purchase or sale of ordinary shares. At the time they were prepared, the projections reflected numerous assumptions concerning our anticipated future performance and with respect to prevailing and anticipated market and economic conditions that were and remain beyond our control and that may not materialize. Projections are inherently subject to substantial and numerous uncertainties and to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and the assumptions underlying the projections and/or valuation estimates may prove to be wrong in material respects. Actual results may vary significantly from those contemplated by the projections that were prepared in connection with the Disclosure Statement and the hearing to consider confirmation of the Plan of Reorganization. The projections have not been included in this Registration Statement, are not incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and should not be relied upon in connection with the purchase or sale of ordinary shares.

Our financial condition and results of operations will not be comparable to the financial condition or results of operations reflected in our historical financial statements.

Since April 30, 2010, we have been operating our business under a new capital structure. In addition, as required by fresh-start accounting, at April 30, 2010 our assets and liabilities were recorded at fair value, based on values determined in connection with the implementation of our Plan of Reorganization, which are significantly different than amounts in LyondellBasell AF’s historical financial statements. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations from and after the Emergence Date will not be comparable to the financial condition or results of operations reflected in LyondellBasell AF’s historical financial statements included elsewhere in this Registration Statement.

The bankruptcy may have affected our relationship with key employees, suppliers, customers and others.

Our bankruptcy may have significantly harmed relationships we have with key customers, joint venture partners, suppliers, employees, hedging counterparties and others. Our ability to attract, motivate and retain key employees and managers also has been affected by the bankruptcy.

 

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Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness

We have a significant level of debt and we could incur additional debt in the future. Our debt could have significant consequences for our business and future prospects.

At April 30, 2010, we have approximately $7.2 billion of total consolidated debt, which represents approximately 45% of our total book capitalization. In addition, we have approximately $625 million of letters of credit outstanding.

Our debt and the limitations imposed on us by our financing arrangements could have significant consequences for our business and future prospects, including the following:

 

   

we may be required to dedicate a substantial portion, or all, of our cash flow from operations to payments of principal and interest on our debt;

 

   

we may not be able to obtain necessary financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements or other purposes and we may be required under the terms of those financing arrangements to use the proceeds of any financing we obtain to repay or prepay existing debt;

 

   

we may be exposed to risks inherent in interest rate fluctuations to the extent our borrowings are at variable rates of interest, which would result in higher interest expense in the event of increases in interest rates;

 

   

we could be more vulnerable during downturns in our business and be less able to take advantage of significant business opportunities and to react to changes in our business and in market or industry conditions; and

 

   

we may have a competitive disadvantage relative to our competitors that have less debt.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future, which is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. Our future cash flows may be insufficient to meet all of our debt obligations and other commitments and any insufficiency could negatively impact our business. To the extent we are unable to repay our indebtedness as it becomes due or at maturity with cash on hand, we will need to refinance our debt, sell assets or repay the debt with the proceeds from equity offerings. Additional indebtedness or equity financing may not be available to us in the future for the refinancing or repayment of existing indebtedness, and we may not be able to complete asset sales in a timely manner sufficient to make such repayments. In that case, we would be unable to make principal and interest payments, and our continued viability would be threatened.

Our interest expense also could increase if interest rates increase because we have significant financings with variable rates, including our Senior Term Loan Facility, U.S. ABL Facility and European Securitization Facility.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service our debt obligations; there can be no assurance that our post-emergence capital resources will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements.

Our ability to meet our obligations will depend upon our financial and operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and financial, business and other factors beyond our control. We may be unable to maintain a level of cash flows sufficient to permit us to meet our obligations. We have a significant level of debt, and we may incur additional debt in the future. Our debt could have significant consequences for our business and future business prospects.

We finance our ongoing working capital, capital expenditure, debt service and other funding requirements through a combination of cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations, borrowings under the U.S. ABL Facility, the European Securitization and other receivables securitization and financing arrangements. We will

 

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need to access the cash flow from our foreign subsidiaries on an efficient basis. At April 30, 2010, we had approximately $2.7 billion of cash and cash equivalents. We currently believe that our liquidity arrangements and cash on hand provide us with sufficient financing to meet our funding requirements, but we are subject to risks attendant to the cyclicality and volatility of our businesses which can materially impact our working capital needs. Among other things, we are subject to risks that our working capital requirements can spike with high oil prices.

If our cash flow from operations and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful and we cannot assure you that we would be able to implement such alternative measures on satisfactory terms or at all. Our debt instruments may limit our ability to effect such actions as well.

Failure to comply with covenants or to pay principal of, and interest on, indebtedness when due could result in an acceleration of debt.

A breach of covenants of or the failure to pay principal and interest when due under our debt or other financing could result in a default or cross-default under all or some of those instruments. If any such default or cross-default occurs, the applicable lenders or noteholders may elect to declare all outstanding borrowings, together with accrued interest and other amounts payable thereunder, to be immediately due and payable. In such circumstances, such lenders or noteholders may also have the right to terminate any commitments they have to provide further borrowings, and the counterparties under securitization programs or facilities may be entitled to terminate further purchases of interests in accounts receivable and receive all collections from previously sold interests until they have collected on their interests in those receivables, thus reducing our liquidity. In addition, following such an event of default, lenders or noteholders may have the right to proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure the obligations, which in some cases may include available cash. If the obligations under any material financing arrangement were to be accelerated, it is likely that we would not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments, and as a result we could be forced to again file for bankruptcy protection or liquidation.

Our debt or other financing arrangements contain a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These include covenants restricting, among other things, our ability to: (i) incur, assume or permit to exist indebtedness or guarantees; (ii) incur, assume or permit to exist liens; (iii) make loans and investments; (iv) make external dividends or distributions; (v) engage in mergers, acquisitions, and other business combinations; (vi) prepay, redeem or purchase certain indebtedness; (vii) make dispositions of assets; (viii) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (ix) enter into or permit to exist contractual obligations limiting the ability of certain restricted subsidiaries to make distributions, repay intercompany indebtedness, make loans or sell or transfer any property, in each case to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. or any of its restricted subsidiaries. There also is a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio contained in our U.S. ABL Facility that is applicable if availability under the facility falls below certain levels. We currently are in compliance with all of our covenants; however, the ability to meet financial requirements can be affected by events beyond our control and, over time, these covenants may not be satisfied.

The current instability and uncertainty in the worldwide financial markets have created increased counterparty risk.

We have exposure to various financial institutions under commodity hedging contracts and the risk of counterparty default is currently higher in light of existing capital market and economic conditions. Reduced liquidity or financial losses resulting from exposure to the risk of counterparties could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and financial condition.

 

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Our disclosure of our liquidity constraints and the Bankruptcy Cases reduced the availability of trade credit.

The public disclosure of our liquidity constraints and the Bankruptcy Cases impaired our ability to maintain normal credit terms with certain of our suppliers. As a result, we have been required to pay cash in advance to certain vendors and have experienced restrictions on the availability of trade credit, which further reduced our liquidity. We believe that since emergence from Chapter 11 on April 30, 2010, our ability to obtain and maintain normal credit terms has improved. However, it is possible that our liquidity could continue to be negatively effected by our having been in bankruptcy.

Risks Relating to Our Business

Disruptions in financial markets and the economic downturn continue to adversely affect our customers, and, therefore, our business.

Our results of operations have been and continue to be materially affected by adverse conditions in the financial markets and depressed economic conditions generally, both in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. The economic downturn in the businesses and geographic areas in which we sell our products substantially reduced demand for our products and resulted in decreased sales volumes. Recently, concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit and the instability of financial and credit markets in the U.S. and worldwide have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the global economy and markets. These factors, combined with volatile raw material prices, declining business and consumer confidence, increased unemployment and continuing financial market fluctuations, precipitated a worldwide economic recession that could continue for an extended period of time. The recession adversely affected our business because of a reduction in worldwide demand for our products, in particular from our customers in industrial markets generally and specifically in the automotive and housing industries. As a result of the weaker business environment, we have shut down certain production facilities and performed impairment reviews of our remaining productive assets. These actions resulted in charges of $696 million for asset write-offs, primarily related to a lease rejection, and $228 million for impairment of the carrying value of our investments in certain joint ventures in 2009 and $5,207 million of asset impairments during 2008, including a $4,982 million write-off of all our remaining goodwill in 2008. Additional asset impairments could occur in future periods. Adverse changes in our future estimated operating results could result in non-cash impairment charges in the future related to our assets.

Moreover, many of our customers and suppliers rely on access to credit to adequately fund their operations. Disruptions in financial markets and economic slowdown may adversely impact the ability of our customers to finance the purchase of our products as well as the creditworthiness of those customers. These same factors may also impact the ability and willingness of suppliers to provide us with raw materials for our business.

The cyclicality and volatility of the industries in which we participate may cause significant fluctuations in our operating results.

Our business operations are subject to the cyclical and volatile nature of the supply-demand balance in the chemical and refining industries, and our future operating results are expected to continue to be affected by this cyclicality and volatility. These industries historically have experienced alternating periods of capacity shortages leading to tight supply conditions, causing prices and profit margins to increase, followed by periods when substantial capacity is added, resulting in oversupply, declining capacity utilization rates and declining prices and profit margins. In addition to changes in the supply and demand for products, the volatility these industries experience occurs as a result of changes in energy prices and changes in various other economic conditions around the world. The cyclicality and volatility of the chemical and refining industries results in significant fluctuations in profits and cash flow from period to period and over the business cycles.

The global economic and political environment continues to be uncertain, and a decline in demand could place further pressure on our results of operations. In addition, new capacity additions, especially in Asia and the

 

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Middle East, are expected to lead to another period of oversupply and low profitability. The timing and extent of any changes to currently prevailing market conditions is uncertain and supply and demand may be unbalanced at any time. As a consequence, we are unable to accurately predict the extent or duration of future industry cycles or their effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations, and can give no assurances as to any predictions made herein with respect to the timing, extent or duration of future industry cycles.

As a result of such industry cycles, we may be required to reduce production at or idle certain facilities for an extended period of time or exit a business because of an oversupply of a particular product and/or a lack of demand for that particular product, or high raw material prices, which makes production uneconomical. We may also reduce production at certain of our facilities because we have either fixed or minimum off-take arrangements with joint ventures or third parties with respect to other facilities. Any decision to permanently close facilities or exit a business would result in impairment and other charges to earnings. Temporary outages sometimes last for several quarters or, in certain cases, longer, and could cause us to incur costs, including the expenses of maintaining and restarting these facilities. In addition, even though we may need to reduce production, we may still be required to continue to purchase or pay for utilities or raw materials under take-or-pay supply agreements. It is possible that factors such as increases in raw material costs or lower demand in the future will cause us to reduce operating rates, idle facilities or exit uncompetitive businesses.

Costs and limitations on supply of raw materials and energy may result in increased operating expenses.

The costs of raw materials and energy represent a substantial portion of our operating expenses, and energy costs generally follow price trends of, and vary with the market conditions for, crude oil and natural gas. These price trends may be highly volatile and cyclical. In the past, raw material and energy costs have experienced significant fluctuations that adversely affected our business segments. Moreover, fluctuations in currency exchange rates can add to this volatility.

There have been, and will likely continue to be, periods of time when we are unable to pass raw material and energy cost increases on to customers quickly enough to avoid adverse impacts on our results of operations. Our results of operations have been impacted by the volatility of these costs. Customer consolidation also has made it more difficult to pass along cost increases to customers. Cost increases also may increase working capital needs, which could reduce our liquidity and cash flow. In addition, when raw material and energy costs increase rapidly and are passed along to customers as product price increases, the credit risks associated with certain customers can be compounded. To the extent we increase our product sales prices to reflect rising raw material and energy costs, demand for products may decrease as customers reduce their consumption or use substitute products, which may have an adverse impact on our results of operations. See “—We sell products in highly competitive global markets and face significant price pressures.”

In addition, higher North American and European natural gas prices relative to natural gas cost-advantaged regions, such as the Middle East, could diminish the ability of many chemical producers to compete internationally since the price of natural gas and NGLs affects a significant portion of the industry’s raw materials and energy sources. This environment may cause a reduction in our exports from North America and Europe, and has in the past reduced, and may in the future reduce, the competitiveness of U.S. and European producers. This Middle East production may increase the competition for product sales within North America and Europe with respect to product which could otherwise be sold in other geographic regions if not for such regions’ natural gas cost advantage. This may result in lower margins in North America and Europe in the future.

Furthermore, across our business, there are a limited number of suppliers for some of our raw materials and utilities and, in some cases, the number of sources for and availability of raw materials and utilities is specific to the particular geographic region in which a facility is located. It is also common in the chemical and refining industries for a facility to have a sole, dedicated source for its utilities, such as steam, electricity and gas. Having a sole or limited number of suppliers may result in our having limited negotiating power, particularly in the case of rising raw material costs. Alternatively, where we have multiple suppliers for a raw material or utility, these

 

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suppliers may not make up for the loss of a major supplier. Any new supply agreements we enter into may not have terms as favorable as those contained in our current supply agreements. For some of our products, the facilities or distribution channels of raw material suppliers and utilities suppliers and our production facilities form an integrated system. This is especially true in the U.S. Gulf Coast where the infrastructure of the chemical and refining industries is tightly integrated such that a major disruption of supply of a given commodity or utility can negatively affect numerous participants, including suppliers of other raw materials.

If one or more of our significant raw material or utility suppliers were unable to meet its obligations under present supply arrangements, raw materials become unavailable within the geographic area from which they are now sourced, or supplies are otherwise disrupted, our businesses could suffer reduced supplies or be forced to incur increased costs for our raw materials or utilities, which would have a direct negative impact on plant operations. For example, hurricanes have in the past negatively affected crude oil and natural gas supplies, as well as supplies of other raw materials, utilities (such as electricity and steam), and industrial gases contributing to increases in operating costs and, in some cases, disrupting production. In addition, hurricane-related disruption of vessel, barge, rail, truck and pipeline traffic in the U.S. Gulf Coast area would negatively affect shipments of raw materials and product.

In addition, with increased volatility in raw material costs, our suppliers could impose more onerous terms on us, resulting in shorter payment cycles and increasing our working capital requirements.

External factors beyond our control may cause fluctuations in demand for our products and in our prices and margins.

External factors beyond our control may cause volatility in the price of raw materials and other operating costs, as well as significant fluctuations in demand for our products, and can magnify the impact of economic cycles on our businesses. Examples of external factors include:

 

   

supply of and demand for crude oil and other raw materials;

 

   

changes in customer buying patterns and demand for our products;

 

   

general economic conditions;

 

   

domestic and international events and circumstances;

 

   

competitor actions;

 

   

governmental regulation; and

 

   

severe weather and natural disasters.

Also, we believe that worldwide events have had in recent years, and may continue to have, an impact on our businesses. We currently license our technology to customers in the Middle East and have three joint ventures in Saudi Arabia. We also have offices in Egypt, Dubai and Turkey and third-party commercial representatives throughout the Middle East. The uncertainty surrounding the continuing military action in Iraq and the threat of further armed hostilities or acts of terrorism may impact our businesses in the Middle East or elsewhere, or the businesses of our customers.

In addition, a number of our products are highly dependent on durable goods markets, such as the construction and automotive markets, which also are cyclical and impacted by many of the external factors referenced above. Many of our products are components of other chemical products that, in turn, are subject to the supply-demand balance of both the chemical and refining industries and general economic conditions. The recent volatility of prices for crude oil and natural gas resulted in more volatile raw material and utility costs as compared to prior years. The impact of the factors cited above and others beyond our control may once again contribute to a slowdown in the business cycle or impact economic recovery, reducing demand and lowering operating rates and, ultimately, reducing our profitability.

 

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Further, volatility in costs and pricing can result in commercial disputes with customers and suppliers with respect to interpretations of complex contractual arrangements. Significant adverse resolution of any such disputes also could reduce our profitability.

We sell products in highly competitive global markets and face significant price pressures.

We sell our products in highly competitive global markets. Due to the commodity nature of many of our products, competition in these markets is based primarily on price and to a lesser extent on product performance, product quality, product deliverability, reliability of supply and customer service. As a result, we generally are not able to protect our market position for these products by product differentiation and may not be able to pass on cost increases to our customers.

In addition, we face increased competition from companies that may have greater financial resources and different cost structures or strategic goals than us, such as large integrated oil companies (many of which also have chemical businesses), government-owned businesses, and companies that receive subsidies or other government incentives to produce certain products in a specified geographic region. Increased competition from these companies, especially in our ethylene and refining businesses, could limit our ability to increase product sales prices in response to raw material and other cost increases, or could cause us to reduce product sales prices to compete effectively, which could reduce our profitability. Competitors that have greater financial resources than us may be able to invest significant capital into their businesses, including expenditures for research and development. In addition, specialty products we produce may become commoditized over time.

As a result of these competitive pressures, increases in raw material and other costs may not necessarily correlate with changes in prices for our products, either in the direction of the price change or in magnitude. In addition, our ability to increase product sales prices, and the timing of those increases, are affected by the supply-demand balances for our products, as well as the capacity utilization rates for those products. Timing differences in pricing between rising raw material costs, which may change daily, and contract product prices, which in many cases are negotiated only monthly or less often, sometimes with an additional lag in effective dates for increases, may reduce our profitability. Even in periods during which raw material prices decline, we may suffer decreasing profits if raw material price reductions occur at a slower rate than decreases in the selling prices of our products.

Interruptions of operations at our facilities may result in liabilities or lower operating results.

We own and operate large-scale facilities, and our operating results are dependent on the continued operation of our various production facilities and the ability to complete construction and maintenance projects on schedule. Material operating interruptions at our facilities, including interruptions caused by the events described below, may materially reduce the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility, or our business as a whole, during and after the period of such operational difficulties. In the past, we had to shut down plants on the U.S. Gulf Coast, including the temporary shutdown of the Houston Refinery, as a result of hurricanes striking the upper Texas coast.

In addition, because the Houston Refinery is our only North American refining operation, an outage at the refinery could have a particularly negative impact on our operating results. Unlike our chemical and polymer production facilities, which may at times have sufficient excess capacity to mitigate the negative impact of lost production at another similar facility of ours, we do not have the ability to increase refining production elsewhere in the U.S. in an effort to mitigate the negative impact on operating results resulting from an outage at the Houston Refinery.

Although we take precautions to enhance the safety of our operations and minimize the risk of disruptions, our operations, along with the operations of other members of the chemical and refining industries, are subject to

 

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hazards inherent in chemical manufacturing and refining and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes. These potential hazards include:

 

   

pipeline leaks and ruptures;

 

   

explosions;

 

   

fires;

 

   

severe weather and natural disasters;

 

   

mechanical failure;

 

   

unscheduled downtimes;

 

   

supplier disruptions;

 

   

labor shortages or other labor difficulties;

 

   

transportation interruptions;

 

   

remediation complications;

 

   

chemical and oil spills;

 

   

discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases;

 

   

storage tank leaks;

 

   

other environmental risks; and

 

   

terrorist acts.

Some of these hazards may cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment and environmental damage, and may result in suspension of operations, the shutdown of affected facilities and the imposition of civil or criminal penalties. Furthermore, except for claims that are addressed by the Plan of Reorganization, we also will continue to be subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace exposure, exposure of contractors on our premises as well as other persons located nearby, workers’ compensation and other matters.

We maintain property, business interruption, product, general liability, casualty and other types of insurance, including pollution and legal liability, that we believe are in accordance with customary industry practices, but we are not fully insured against all potential hazards incident to our business, including losses resulting from natural disasters, war risks or terrorist acts. Changes in insurance market conditions have caused, and may in the future cause, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies to increase substantially and, in some instances, for certain insurance to become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured, we might not be able to finance the amount of the uninsured liability on terms acceptable to us or at all, and might be obligated to divert a significant portion of our cash flow from normal business operations.

Further, because a part of our business involves licensing polyolefin process technology, our licensees are exposed to similar risks involved in the manufacture and marketing of polyolefins. Hazardous incidents involving our licensees, if they do result or are perceived to result from use of our technologies, may harm our reputation, threaten our relationships with other licensees and/or lead to customer attrition and financial losses. Our policy of covering these risks through contractual limitations of liability and indemnities and through insurance may not always be effective. As a result, our financial condition and results of operation would be adversely affected, and other companies with competing technologies may have the opportunity to secure a competitive advantage.

 

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Our crude oil supply agreement with PDVSA Oil is subject to the risk of enforcing contracts against non-U.S. commercial affiliates of a sovereign nation and political, force majeure and other risks.

Our crude oil supply agreement with PDVSA Oil provides for the purchase and supply of 215,000 barrels per day of heavy, high sulfur crude oil (approximately 81% of the refining capacity at the Houston Refinery). The contract runs through July 31, 2011 and automatically renews annually subject to either party’s right to terminate at the end of a term by giving 12 months’ notice. There are risks associated with reliance on PDVSA Oil for supplies of crude oil and with enforcing the provisions of contracts with companies such as PDVSA Oil that are non-U.S. commercial affiliates of a sovereign nation. For example, currently and from time to time in the past, PDVSA Oil has declared itself in a force majeure situation and subsequently reduced deliveries of crude oil purportedly based on announced OPEC production cuts. All of the crude oil supplied by PDVSA Oil under the crude oil contract is produced in Venezuela, and it is impossible to predict how governmental policies may change under the current or any subsequent Venezuelan government. In addition, there are risks associated with enforcing judgments of U.S. courts against entities whose assets are located outside of the U.S. and whose management does not reside in the U.S. Any modification, breach or termination of the crude oil contract, or any interruption in this source of crude oil on its current terms, may adversely affect us, as alternative crude oil supplies with similar margins may not always be available for purchase and may require modifications to the Houston Refinery that may result in significant costs or down time. In addition, the Venezuelan government has in recent times taken control of assets of foreign firms. As these firms pursue international arbitration awards as a result of these takings, our crude supply from PDVSA Oil could be threatened or interrupted by any awards in favor of these foreign firms that contemplate confiscation of PDVSA Oil crude supplies.

Certain activities related to a project raise compliance issues under U.S. law.

We have identified an agreement related to a project in Kazakhstan under which a payment was made in late 2008 that raises compliance concerns under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”). We have engaged outside counsel to investigate these activities, under the oversight of a special committee established by the Supervisory Board, and to evaluate internal controls and compliance policies and procedures. We made a voluntary disclosure of these matters to the U.S. Department of Justice in late 2009 and are cooperating fully with that agency. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter at this time or whether we will discover other matters raising compliance issues, including under other statutes. In this respect, we may not have conducted our business in compliance with the FCPA and may not have had policies and procedures in place adequate to ensure compliance. We cannot reasonably estimate any potential penalty that may arise from these matters. We are in the process of adopting and implementing more stringent policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter at this time since our investigations are ongoing. Violations of these laws could result in criminal and civil liabilities and other forms of relief that could be material to us.

Our non-U.S. operations conduct business in countries subject to U.S. economic sanctions and certain activities raise compliance issues under U.S. law.

Certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries conduct business in countries subject to U.S. economic sanctions, including Iran. U.S. laws and regulations prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in business activities, in whole or in part, with sanctioned countries, organizations and individuals. The U.S. Congress is considering legislation that, if adopted, might result in U.S. sanctions being imposed on non-U.S. entities doing business with Iran. We intend to comply with all applicable sanctions laws and regulations and are adopting certain more significant compliance policies and procedures. These business activities present a potential risk that could subject the company to civil and criminal penalties. In connection with our continuing review of compliance risks in this area, we recently identified certain activities that raise compliance issues under applicable sanctions laws and regulations. We have made voluntary disclosure of these matters to the U.S. Treasury Department and we intend to cooperate fully with that agency. We cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter at this time since our investigations are ongoing. Violations of these laws could result in criminal and civil liabilities and other forms of relief that could be material to us.

 

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We are addressing certain significant deficiencies with respect to our internal controls.

In connection with our ongoing internal control reviews during the second half of 2009, our management identified three significant deficiencies in our internal control process. These deficiencies related to (i) segregation of duties related to freight contracting at our Houston Refinery, (ii) supervision and training of our internal accounting staff with respect to recording of our equity investments in joint ventures and (iii) inadequate support for review and reconciliation of a consolidation entry. We are remediating these deficiencies through changes in personnel; improved training; changes from manual to automated controls; and implementation of additional control procedures. These deficiencies did not have a material impact on our financial results or operations; however, there can be no assurance that we will not identify internal control deficiencies in the future or that any such identified deficiencies will not have a material impact on our operating results or financial statements.

Our operations could be adversely affected by labor relations.

Approximately 930 of our employees located in North America and the vast majority of our employees located in Europe and South America are represented by labor unions and work councils. Our operations have been in the past, and may be in the future, significantly and adversely affected by strikes, work stoppages and other labor disputes. Approximately 50% of our unionized North American employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between Houston Refining LP and the United Steelworkers Union, which became effective on January 20, 2010 and expires on January 31, 2012.

Our operations and assets are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety and other laws and regulations, which could result in material costs or liabilities.

We cannot predict with certainty the extent of future liabilities and costs under environmental, health and safety and other laws and regulations and whether any such liabilities and costs will be material. We also may face liability for alleged personal injury or property damage due to exposure to chemicals or other hazardous substances at our current or former facilities or chemicals that we manufacture, handle or own. In addition, because our products are components of a variety of other end-use products, we, along with other members of the chemical industry, are inherently subject to potential claims related to those end-use products. Although claims of the types described above have not historically had a material impact on our operations, a substantial increase in the success of these types of claims could result in the expenditure of a significant amount of cash by us to pay claims, and could reduce our operating results.

We (together with the industries in which we operate) are subject to extensive national, regional, state and local environmental laws, regulations, directives, rules and ordinances concerning, and are required to have permits and licenses regulating, emissions to the air, discharges onto land or surface waters or into groundwater and the generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances and waste materials. Many of these laws and regulations provide for substantial fines and potential criminal sanctions for violations, and such permits and licenses are subject to renewal, modification and in some circumstances, revocation. Some of these laws and regulations are subject to varying and conflicting interpretations. In addition, some of these laws and regulations require us to meet specific financial responsibility requirements. We generally expect that regulatory controls worldwide will become increasingly more demanding, including lower ozone ambient air standards in the U.S. and additional requirements related to climate change in the U.S. and other areas of the world where we operate, but cannot accurately predict future developments, such as increasingly strict environmental laws, and inspection and enforcement policies, as well as higher compliance costs, which might affect the handling, manufacture, use, emission or disposal of products, other materials or hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Stricter environmental, safety and health laws, regulations and enforcement policies could result in increased costs and liabilities to us or limitations on our operations, and could subject our handling, manufacture, use, reuse or disposal of substances or pollutants to more rigorous scrutiny than at present.

 

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For example, under the European Union (“EU”) Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (“IPPC”), EU Member State governments are to adopt rules and implement an environmental permitting program relating to air, water and waste for individual facilities. While the EU countries are at varying stages in their respective implementation of the IPPC permit program, we have submitted all necessary IPPC permit applications required to date, and in some cases received completed permits from the applicable government agency. However, we do not know with certainty what future IPPC permits will require, or the costs of compliance with the IPPC permit program. The EU also has passed legislation governing the registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals (Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, or “REACH”). Under REACH, we are required to register chemicals and gain authorization for the use of certain substances. As an importer of chemicals and materials from outside the EU, we are subject to additional registration obligations. Legislation or rulings similar to REACH may also be adopted outside the EU Member States, which could add to our obligations. Some risk of environmental costs and liabilities is inherent in our operations and products, and there is no assurance that material costs and liabilities will not be incurred.

Environmental laws may have a significant effect on the nature and scope of cleanup of contamination at current and former operating facilities and at other sites at which hazardous substances generated by our current or former subsidiaries were disposed, the costs of transportation and storage of raw materials and finished products and the costs of the storage and disposal of wastewater. In the U.S., the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (“CERCLA”) may impose joint and several liability for the costs of remedial investigations and cleanup actions, as well as damages to natural resources, on the entities that generated hazardous substances, arranged for disposal of the hazardous substances, transported to or selected the disposal sites and the past and present owners and operators of such sites. All such responsible parties (or any one of them, including us) may be required to bear all of such costs regardless of fault, the legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. Under the EU Environmental Liability Directive, EU Member States may require the remediation of soil and groundwater contamination in certain circumstances, under the “polluter pays principle.” The scope of events and circumstances that could trigger remediation requirements and the level of remediation required vary from Member State to Member State. Similar environmental laws and regulations that have been or may be enacted in other countries outside of the U.S. may impose similar liabilities and costs upon us.

We also have liabilities under the U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and various U.S. state and non-U.S. government regulations related to several current and former plant sites. Some of our manufacturing sites have an extended history of industrial chemical manufacturing and use, including on-site waste disposal. We are aware of soil, groundwater and surface water contamination at some of our sites, and we may find contamination at other sites in the future. It is anticipated that corrective measures will be necessary to comply with federal and state requirements with respect to some of these facilities. We also are responsible under applicable environmental laws for a portion of the remediation of certain off-site waste disposal facilities. Prior to the filing of the Bankruptcy Cases, we contributed funds to the cleanup of several waste sites throughout the U.S. under CERCLA. We also have been named as a Potentially Responsible Party (“PRP”) under CERCLA or similar laws at several other sites. Our policy is to accrue remediation expenses when it is probable that such efforts will be required and the related expenses can be reasonably estimated. Estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation are necessarily imprecise due to such factors as the continuing evolution of environmental laws and regulatory requirements, the availability and application of technology, the identification of presently unknown remediation sites, uncertainties relating to the choice and cost of remedial actions at various sites and the allocation of costs among the potentially responsible parties under applicable statutes. If actual expenditures exceed the amounts accrued, that could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. For further discussion regarding environmental matters and related accruals, see “Item 1. Business—Environmental Capital Expenditures,” Note 25 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Note 18 to its unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

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In addition to the matters described above, we are subject to other material regulatory requirements that could result in higher operating costs, such as regulatory requirements relating to the security of our facilities, and the transportation, exportation or registration of our products. Although we have compliance programs and other processes intended to ensure compliance with all such regulations, we are subject to the risk that our compliance with such regulations could be challenged. Non-compliance with certain of these regulations could result in the incurrence of additional costs, penalties or assessments that could be material.

We may incur substantial costs to comply with, and demand for our products may be reduced by, climate change legislation and regulatory initiatives.

There has been a broad range of proposed or promulgated state, national and international laws focusing on greenhouse gas (“GHG”) reduction. These proposed or promulgated laws apply or could apply in countries where we have interests or may have interests in the future. After the international meetings in Copenhagen, laws in this field continue to evolve and, while they are likely to be increasingly widespread and stringent, at this stage it is not possible to accurately estimate either a timetable for implementation or our future compliance costs relating to implementation.

Within the framework of EU emissions trading, we were allocated certain allowances of carbon dioxide per year for the affected plants of our European sites for the 2005 to 2007 period. For the second trading period (2008 to 2012), a number of our chemical plants are included in the Europe-wide trading system. We expect to incur additional costs as a result of the existing emissions trading scheme and could incur additional costs in relation to any future carbon or other greenhouse gas emission trading schemes. The costs could be higher to the extent that we decide to sell credits that we need in the future.

In the U.S., the EPA recently issued its final endangerment finding that is expected to lead to the agency promulgating federal GHG regulations and emissions limits under the Clean Air Act, even without Congressional action. The EPA has issued mandatory GHG reporting requirements which could lead to further obligations. The recent EPA action could be a precursor to further federal regulation of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases, and may affect the outcome of other climate change lawsuits pending in United States federal courts in a manner unfavorable to our industry. In any event, some form of regulation is likely to be forthcoming at the United States federal level or the state level with respect to GHG emissions, and such regulation could result in the creation of additional costs in the form of taxes or required acquisition or trading of emission allowances.

Compliance with these or other changes in laws, regulations and obligations that create a GHG emissions trading scheme or GHG reduction policies generally could significantly increase our costs or reduce demand for products we produce. Depending on the nature of potential regulations and legislation, any future laws and regulations could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, and could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Legislative and other actions have eliminated substantially all U.S. demand for MTBE.

Substantially all refiners and blenders have discontinued the use of MTBE in the U.S., partly as a result of U.S. federal governmental initiatives to increase use of bio-ethanol in gasoline as well as some state legislation to reduce or ban the use of MTBE. Accordingly, we are marketing our U.S.-produced MTBE for use outside of the U.S. However, there are higher distribution costs and import duties associated with exporting MTBE outside the U.S., and the increased supply of MTBE may reduce profitability of MTBE in these export markets. Our U.S.-based and European-based MTBE plants generally have the flexibility to produce either MTBE or ETBE to accommodate market needs. We produce and sell ETBE to accommodate growing demand for bio-based fuels in Europe, Japan and elsewhere in the world. There is a risk that such markets may ban or stop the use of MTBE or ETBE. As a result, we may, in the future, be required to produce an alternative gasoline blending component to either MTBE or ETBE, the profit contribution of which may be significantly lower than that historically realized on MTBE or ETBE.

 

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Our international operations are subject to exchange rate fluctuations, exchange controls, political risks and other risks relating to international operations.

We have substantial international operations, which are subject to the risks of doing business on a global level, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, transportation delays and interruptions, war, terrorist activities, epidemics, pandemics, political and economic instability and disruptions, restrictions on the transfer of funds, the imposition of duties and tariffs, import and export controls, changes in governmental policies, labor unrest and current and changing regulatory environments. These events could reduce the demand for our products, decrease the prices at which we can sell our products, disrupt production or other operations, require substantial capital and other costs to comply, and/or increase security costs or insurance premiums, all of which could reduce our operating results. In addition, we obtain a substantial portion of our principal raw materials from international sources that are subject to these same risks. Our compliance with applicable customs, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations or any other laws or regulations to which we may be subject could be challenged. Furthermore, these laws may be modified, the result of which may be to prevent or limit subsidiaries from transferring cash to us. For geographic data, see Note 29 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Furthermore, we may experience difficulty enforcing agreements in certain jurisdictions. In jurisdictions where bankruptcy laws and practices may vary, we may experience difficulty collecting receivables through the applicable legal systems. We are subject to certain existing, and may be subject to possible future, laws that limit or may limit our activities while some of our competitors may not be subject to such laws, which may adversely affect our competitiveness.

In addition, we generate revenues from export sales and operations that may be denominated in currencies other than the relevant functional currency. Exchange rates between these currencies and functional currencies in recent years have fluctuated significantly and may do so in the future. Future events, which may significantly increase or decrease the risk of future movement in currencies in which we conduct our business, cannot be predicted. We also may hedge certain revenues and costs using derivative instruments to minimize the impact of changes in the exchange rates of those currencies compared to the respective functional currencies. It is possible that fluctuations in exchange rates will result in reduced operating results.

Significant changes in pension fund investment performance or assumptions relating to pension costs may adversely affect the valuation of pension obligations, the funded status of pension plans, and our pension cost.

Our funding policy for pension plans is to accumulate plan assets that, over the long run, will approximate the present value of projected benefit obligations. Our pension cost is materially affected by the discount rate used to measure pension obligations, the level of plan assets available to fund those obligations at the measurement date and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. Significant changes in investment performance or a change in the portfolio mix of invested assets may result in corresponding increases and decreases in the valuation of plan assets, particularly equity securities, or in a change of the expected rate of return on plan assets. Any change in key actuarial assumptions, such as the discount rate, would impact the valuation of pension obligations, affecting the reported funded status of our pension plans as well as the net periodic pension cost in the following fiscal years. Certain of our current pension plans are underfunded. As of December 31, 2009, our pension plans were underfunded by $1,140 million. Any declines in the fair values of the pension plans assets could require additional payments by us in order to maintain specified funding levels. Our pension plans are subject to legislative and regulatory requirements of applicable jurisdictions, which could include, under certain circumstances, local governmental authority to terminate the plan. See Note 23 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Note 16 to its unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

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Many of our businesses depend on our intellectual property. Our future success will depend in part on our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, and our inability to do so could reduce our ability to maintain our competitiveness and margins.

We have a significant worldwide patent portfolio of issued and pending patents. These patents, together with proprietary technical know-how, are significant to our competitive position, particularly with regard to PO, performance chemicals, petrochemicals, flavor and fragrance chemicals, and polymers, including process technologies such as Spheripol, Spherizone, Hostalen, Spherilene, Lupotech T and Lupotech G and Avant catalyst family technology rights. We rely on the patent, copyright and trade secret laws of the U.S. and other countries to protect our investment in research and development, manufacturing and marketing. However, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property without authorization. Proceedings to protect these rights could be costly and we may not prevail.

The protection afforded by patents varies from country to country and depends upon the type of patent and its scope of coverage. While a presumption of validity exists with respect to patents issued to us, our patents may be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. In addition, if any pending patent application filed by us does not result in an issued patent, or if patents are issued to us, but such patents do not provide meaningful protection of our intellectual property, then our ability to exploit our intellectual property may be adversely affected. Furthermore, as patents expire, the products and processes described and claimed under those patents become generally available for use by competitors. Our continued growth strategy may also bring us to regions of the world where intellectual property protection may be limited and difficult to enforce. In addition, patent rights may not prevent our competitors from developing, using or selling products that are similar or functionally equivalent to our products. Moreover, our competitors or other third parties may obtain patents that restrict or preclude our ability to lawfully produce or sell our products in a competitive manner, which could result in significantly lower revenues, reduced profit margins or loss of market share.

We also rely upon unpatented proprietary know-how and continuing technological innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. While it is our policy to enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties to protect our intellectual property, these confidentiality agreements may be breached, may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or proprietary know-how, or adequate remedies may not be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of our trade secrets and know-how. In addition, others could obtain knowledge of our trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal or illegal means.

The failure of our patents or confidentiality agreements to protect our processes, apparatuses, technology, trade secrets or proprietary know-how could result in significantly lower revenues, reduced profit margins and cash flows and/or loss of market share. Additionally, we may be subject to claims that our technology, patents or other intellectual property infringes on a third party’s intellectual property rights. Unfavorable resolution of these claims could either result in our being restricted from delivering the related service or result in a settlement that could be material to us.

The continued integration of the historical Lyondell Chemical businesses with the historical Basell businesses may be extremely time-consuming and the associated expected synergies and savings may not be realized.

The process of effectively integrating the historical Basell and Lyondell Chemical businesses into one business continues to require significant managerial and financial resources. The costs and time required to integrate these businesses into one organization could cause the interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, the activities of any one, or several, of the operations of the constituent entities. Furthermore, the combination of the Lyondell Chemical and Basell businesses has significantly increased our size and has also substantially increased the scope and complexity of our operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively manage the enlarged operation, or achieve the desired profitability from the combination of the Lyondell Chemical and Basell businesses. A failure to successfully integrate Lyondell Chemical with Basell’s legacy business operations within the expected time frame could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We have also undertaken significant and aggressive fixed cost reduction programs. Since the beginning of 2008, we have shut down or announced planned shutdowns of either units or entire facilities, including, in North America, three polypropylene sites, one olefin site, one ethylene glycol site, one PE site, one PP compounding site and one PP compounding unit and announced our intention to shutdown another polypropylene site. In Europe, we have closed one PE site, one PE unit and one polypropylene unit and announced our intention to shutdown another polypropylene site. We continue to evaluate our asset portfolio and may initiate further rationalization, depending on market conditions. Furthermore, we have expanded our cost reduction program to be broader and more substantial in anticipation of continued weak market conditions in olefins, polyolefins and refining. The key components of the program include reducing staff, rationalizing our worldwide asset base, restructuring our contracts and realizing savings in procurement and logistics. The full benefits of these programs may be difficult to realize and any short term synergies and savings realized may not be sustainable in the long term. Losses of key personnel pursuant to any employee reduction programs, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Shared control or lack of control of joint ventures may delay decisions or actions regarding the joint ventures.

A portion of our operations currently are, and may in the future be, conducted through joint ventures, where control may be exercised by or shared with unaffiliated third parties. We cannot control the actions of our joint venture partners, including any nonperformance, default or bankruptcy of joint venture partners. The joint ventures that we do not control may also lack adequate internal controls systems.

In the event that any of our joint venture partners do not observe their joint venture obligations, it is possible that the affected joint venture would not be able to operate in accordance with our business plans or that we would be required to increase our level of commitment in order to give effect to such plans. As with any such joint venture arrangements, differences in views among the joint venture participants may result in delayed decisions or in failures to agree on major matters, potentially adversely affecting the business and operations of the joint ventures and in turn our business and operations.

Our results of operations could be adversely affected by litigation and other commitments and contingencies.

We face risks arising from various unasserted and asserted litigation matters, including, but not limited to, product liability, patent infringement, antitrust claims, and claims for third party property damage. We have also noted a nationwide trend in purported class actions against chemical manufacturers generally seeking relief such as medical monitoring, property damages, off-site remediation and punitive damages arising from alleged environmental torts without claiming present personal injuries. We have also noted a trend in public and private nuisance suits being filed on behalf of states, counties, cities and utilities alleging harm to the general public. Various factors or developments can lead to changes in current estimates of liabilities such as a final adverse judgment, significant settlement or changes in applicable law. A future adverse ruling or unfavorable development could result in future charges that could have a material adverse effect on us. An adverse outcome in any one or more of these matters could be material to our results of operations.

In the ordinary course of business, we may make certain commitments, including representations, warranties and indemnities relating to current and past operations, including those related to divested businesses and issue guarantees of third party obligations. If we were required to make payments as a result, they could exceed the amounts accrued, thereby adversely affecting our results of operations.

A small number of investors own a substantial portion of our ordinary shares, and their interests in LyondellBasell Industries N.V. may conflict with your interests.

Based on current information available to us, LeverageSource (Delaware), LLC (an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, LLC (together with its affiliates, “Apollo”)), Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P. (“Ares”) and AI International Chemicals S.a.r.l., as assigned by AI LBI Investments LLC, each an affiliate of

 

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Access Industries (“Access Industries” and, together with Apollo and Ares, the “Major Shareholders”) collectively own approximately 44.1% of our outstanding ordinary shares.

As long as the Major Shareholders and any other substantial shareholder own, directly or indirectly, a substantial portion of our outstanding shares, they will be able to exert significant control over us, including:

 

   

the composition of our board of directors and, through it, any determination with respect to our business;

 

   

direction and policies, including the appointment and removal of officers;

 

   

the determination of incentive compensation, which may affect our ability to retain key employees;

 

   

any determinations with respect to mergers or other business combinations;

 

   

our acquisition or disposition of assets;

 

   

our financing decisions and our capital raising activities;

 

   

the payment of dividends;

 

   

conduct in regulatory and legal proceedings; and

 

   

amendments to our articles of association.

Additionally, our Articles of Association state that our Supervisory Board will consist of at least nine members. Our Supervisory Board currently consists of eight members, three of whom were nominated by Apollo; one of whom was nominated by Access Industries; and one of whom was nominated by Ares. The remaining initial Supervisory Board members will be independent. Until April 30, 2011 and thereafter for so long as the Major Shareholders own specified percentages of our ordinary shares, they will be entitled to nominate members of the Supervisory Board. See “Item 4. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”

The Major Shareholders, in the event that they act collectively, also may have the ability to elect or remove and replace a majority of the members of our Supervisory Board without calling a meeting of the shareholders. The concentration of ownership may also make some transactions more difficult or impossible without their support or more likely with their support. The interests of any of the Major Shareholders, any other substantial shareholder or any of their respective affiliates could conflict with or differ from our interests or the interests of shareholders. For example, the concentration of ownership held by the Major Shareholders could delay, defer or prevent a change of control of our company or impede a merger, takeover or other business combination which may otherwise be favorable for us. The Major Shareholders, a substantial shareholder or any affiliate thereof may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.

Risks Associated with Our Common Stock

The trading price of our ordinary shares may fluctuate and trading in the ordinary shares may be limited, which might lead to shareholders not being able to sell their ordinary shares at a reasonable price or at all.

Prior to the listing of our class A ordinary shares and our class B ordinary shares on the NYSE, there has been only a limited market for our ordinary shares. We cannot assure you that an active trading market in our ordinary shares will develop or be sustained. If such a market fails to develop or be sustained, this could adversely affect the liquidity and price of our ordinary shares, as well as increase their price volatility. Accordingly, we cannot assure investors of the liquidity of any such market, any ability to sell the ordinary shares or the prices that may be obtained for the ordinary shares.

The trading price of our ordinary shares may experience volatility and may fluctuate, depending upon many factors beyond our control. The trading price of our ordinary shares may be significantly affected by, among

 

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others the following factors: (i) our actual or anticipated operational results, (ii) the level of our debt, (iii) future issues of ordinary shares, (iv) changes in, or our failure to meet, securities analysts’ expectations, (v) general market conditions and the factors listed above under “—Risks Relating to Our Business.”

Uncertainty in enforcing U.S. judgments against The Netherlands corporations, directors and others could create difficulties for holders of our securities in enforcing any judgments obtained against us.

We are a company organized under the laws of The Netherlands and a significant portion of our assets are located outside the U.S. In addition, members of our Management and Supervisory Boards may be residents of countries other than the U.S. As a result, effecting service of process on each person may be difficult, and judgments of U.S. courts, including judgments against us or members of our Management or Supervisory Boards predicated on the civil liability provisions of the federal or state securities laws of the U.S., may be difficult to enforce. Because there is no treaty between certain countries and The Netherlands providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, some countries’ judgments are not automatically enforceable in The Netherlands or in the United States, where the principal market for our shares is located. In addition, it is uncertain as to whether a court in one country would impose civil liability on us or on the members of our Management and Supervisory Boards in an original action brought against us or our management or supervisory directors in a court of competent jurisdiction in another country and predicated solely upon the securities laws of that other country.

We are subject to Dutch law and the rights of our ordinary shareholders may be different from those rights associated with companies governed by other laws.

As a result of being organized under the laws of The Netherlands, our corporate structure as well as the rights and obligations of our ordinary shareholders may be different from the rights and obligations of shareholders in companies incorporated in other jurisdictions. Resolutions of the general meeting of shareholders may be taken with majorities different from the majorities required for adoption of equivalent resolutions in, for example, Delaware companies. Additionally, like other Dutch companies, our articles of association and our board charter contain control-enhancing rights that may have the effect of preventing, discouraging or delaying a change of control.

In addition, Dutch law provides certain obligations on companies that are domiciled in The Netherlands and whose shares are admitted to trading on a “regulated market,” as well as on certain shareholders of such companies. The NYSE may qualify as a regulated market, in which case these laws will apply to us and to certain of our shareholders. Among other things, these laws may require shareholders to notify the Dutch financial markets regulator (Authoriteit Financiële Markten, or AFM) of their holding of ordinary shares and changes to their holding if they increase or decrease their shareholding over or below 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75% and 95% of our ordinary shares and may require certain shareholders that acquire 30% or more of the voting rights attached to our ordinary shares, subject to certain exceptions, acting alone or in concert with others, to make an unconditional offer to all our shareholders. See “Item 11. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered—Description of Certain Provisions of Dutch Law.”

Risks Relating to Tax Matters

We have a risk of being classified as a controlled foreign corporation, which could adversely affect any 10% U.S. shareholder.

As a company incorporated in The Netherlands, we would be classified as a “controlled foreign corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes if:

 

   

any “United States person” (as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “U.S. Tax Code”)) possesses, directly, indirectly, or constructively, at least 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of our ordinary shares (each such person, a “10% U.S. shareholder”), and

 

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the sum of the percentage ownership by all 10% U.S. shareholders exceeds 50% (by voting power or value) of our ordinary shares.

Because controlled foreign corporation status depends upon the identity of our shareholders and their respective stock ownership, there can be no assurance that LyondellBasell Industries N.V. will not be treated as a controlled foreign corporation for any taxable year. In the event that such a determination were made, all 10% U.S. shareholders would be subject to taxation under Subpart F of the U.S. Tax Code. The ultimate consequences of this determination are fact-specific to each 10% U.S. shareholder, but could include possible taxation of such 10% U.S. shareholder on a pro rata portion of our income, even in the absence of any distribution of such income.

Based on information currently available to us, including information about the Major Shareholders, we do not believe we are a controlled foreign corporation at this time.

U.S. anti-inversion rules may apply to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. resulting in certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.

The United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) could seek to apply section 7874 of the U.S. Tax Code to treat LyondellBasell Industries N.V. as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes if, in connection with our emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases, the former creditors and shareholders of our top U.S. holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (our “U.S. Group”) received at least 80% of the stock issued in our emergence from Chapter 11 by reason of holding claims against those entities. Application of the 80% test could result in significantly increased U.S. federal income tax liability to us.

Alternatively, the IRS could seek to impose U.S. federal income tax on our U.S. subsidiaries’ “inversion gain” if, in connection with our emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases, the former creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group received at least 60%, but less than 80%, of the stock issued in our emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases by reason of holding such claims. Inversion gain generally includes gain from the transfer of stock or properties (other than inventory) and certain licensing income; tax on inversion gain generally cannot be offset by net operating losses, foreign tax credits or other tax attributes.

The 80% and 60% calculations are subject to certain adjustments. Although no assurance can be given that the IRS would not take a contrary position regarding section 7874’s application or that such position, if asserted, would not be sustained, we believe that the stock issued in connection with our emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases that is attributable to the value of claims against our companies outside the U.S. Group exceeds 40% of all stock issued for any claims against us, making section 7874 inapplicable to us under the numerical stock ownership tests described above. In addition, we believe that strong arguments can be made that section 7874 should not in any event apply to us because of the business activities that we and our affiliates conduct in The Netherlands.

 

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ITEM 2. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data of LyondellBasell AF should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes for the year ended December 31, 2009 included elsewhere in this Registration Statement and “—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” below. The selected financial data of LyondellBasell AF as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were derived from the unaudited consolidated financial statements that are included elsewhere in this Registration Statement. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements were prepared on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements contained in this Registration Statement and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the financial information contained in those statements. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of financial results to be achieved in future periods, and the results for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

 

     Year ended December 31,     Quarter ended
March 31,
 
     2009     2008     2007 (a)     2006     2010     2009  
    

(in millions)

 

Results of Operations Data:

            

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 30,828      $ 50,706      $ 17,120      $ 13,175      $ 9,755      $ 5,900   

Interest expense

     (1,795     (2,476     (353     (332     (411     (445

Income (loss) from equity investments (b)

     (181     38        162        130        55        (20

Income (loss) from continuing operations (c)

     (2,866     (7,336     661        396        10        (1,012

Balance Sheet Data:

            

Total assets

     27,761        28,651        39,728        9,549        27,585        27,430   

Short-term debt

     6,182        774        2,415        779        6,675        5,613   

Long-term debt

     305        304        21,541        3,223        304        304   

Cash and cash equivalents

     558        858        560        830        537        690   

Accounts receivable

     3,287        2,585        4,165        2,041        3,642        2,710   

Inventories

     3,277        3,314        5,178        1,339        3,590        2,872   

Working capital

     4,436        3,237        5,019        1,900        5,019        3,899   

Liabilities subject to compromise

     22,494        —          —          —          22,058        10,466   

Cash Flow Data:

            

Cash provided by (used in):

            

Operating activities

     (787     1,090        1,180        1,034        (373     (571

Investing activities

     (611     (1,884     (11,899     (535     (127     (173

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

     (779     (1,000     (411     (263     (139     (197

Financing activities

     1,101        1,083        10,416        (190     490        601   

 

(a) Results of operations and cash flow data reflect the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical from December 21, 2007. Balance sheet data include Lyondell Chemical balances as of December 31, 2007. Results of operations and cash flow data for the year ended December 31, 2006 do not reflect Lyondell Chemical, and balance sheet data as of December 31, 2006 does not reflect Lyondell Chemical.
(b) Loss from equity investments for the year ended December 31, 2009 includes pre-tax charges of $228 million for impairment of the carrying value of our investments in certain joint ventures.
(c)

Loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 included after-tax charges of $1,925 million related to reorganization items and $11 million for impairments of goodwill and other assets and $228 million for the impairment of the carrying value of our investments in certain joint ventures, partially offset by $78 million of involuntary conversion gains related to insurance proceeds for damages sustained in 2005 at a polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany. Loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2008 included after-tax charges of $4,982 million related to the impairment of goodwill,

 

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$816 million to adjust the value of inventory to market value and $146 million, primarily for impairment of the carrying value of the Berre Refinery, all of which were partially offset by $51 million of involuntary conversion gains related to insurance proceeds for damages sustained at the Münchsmünster polymers plant. Income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2007 included after-tax benefits of $130 million from the $200 million break-up fee related to a proposed merger with the Huntsman group, partially offset by after tax-charges of $95 million related to the in-process research and development acquired in the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, and $13 million related to asset impairments of the carrying value of a plant in Canada and capitalized engineering costs for a new polymers plant in Germany. Income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2006 included after-tax asset impairment charges of $27 million primarily for goodwill related to a 2005 acquisition of an ethylene business in France. After-tax amounts included herein have been tax effected using the U.S. statutory rate of 35%.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the related notes thereto and the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Registration Statement. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors.

In reviewing the following discussion and analysis, certain points concerning the historical and future results of operations of LyondellBasell AF should be considered:

 

   

LyondellBasell AF acquired Lyondell Chemical on December 20, 2007. Operating results prior to such date in 2007 do not include the results of Lyondell Chemical. Some significant changes in operating results are due to the effects of the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, rather than changes in the business performance of LyondellBasell AF’s predecessor, Basell. As a result, the financial information for 2008 is generally not comparable to 2007. Moreover, on January 6, 2009, April 24, 2009 and May 8, 2009, the Debtors filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11. The effects of operating the businesses of the Debtors as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court likely affected operations in ways that would make 2009 more difficult to compare with 2008.

 

   

As a result of its restructuring, LyondellBasell AF reassessed segment reporting based on its management structure. Based on this analysis, LyondellBasell AF concluded that management is focused on the Refining and Oxyfuels segment; the O&P—Americas segment; the O&P—EAI segment; the I&D segment; and the Technology segment. See “—Segment Analysis” below for a description of the segments.

 

   

LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated operating results, which are discussed in “—Overview” and “—Results of Operations” below, are determined using both the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) and last in, first out (“LIFO”) methods of accounting to determine inventory cost. The LIFO method is used for certain U.S. inventories to maintain consistency with LyondellBasell AF’s U.S. federal income tax treatment of those inventories (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009). This discussion is supplemented by a discussion of LyondellBasell AF’s segment operating results under “—Segment Analysis” below. For purposes of evaluating segment results, management reviews operating results determined using current cost, which approximates results using the LIFO method of accounting for inventory. We adopted the LIFO method of accounting for inventory on a company-wide basis upon emergence from bankruptcy and applied fresh-start accounting.

 

   

In addition to comparisons of operating results with the same period in the prior year, LyondellBasell AF has included, as additional disclosure, certain “trailing quarter” comparisons of fourth quarter 2009

 

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operating results to third quarter 2009 operating results. The businesses in which we operate are highly cyclical and experience some seasonality. We believe trailing quarter comparisons may offer important insight into current business direction.

 

   

After tax amounts referred to in the discussion herein are tax effected using the U.S. statutory rate of 35%.

References to industry benchmark prices or costs, including the weighted average cost of ethylene production, are generally to industry prices and costs reported by CMAI, except that references to industry benchmarks for refining and oxyfuels market margins are to industry prices reported by Platts and crude oil and natural gas benchmark price references are to Bloomberg.

As of the Emergence Date, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. became the owner and operator of substantially the same business LyondellBasell AF operated before the emergence. The discussion of financial information in this Item 2 relates to LyondellBasell AF prior to emergence. LyondellBasell AF was a global manufacturer of chemicals and plastics, a refiner of crude oil, including heavy, high-sulfur crude oil, a significant producer of gasoline blending components and a licensor of technology processes. LyondellBasell AF has five reporting segments: Refining and Oxyfuels, O&P—Americas, O&P—EAI, I&D and Technology.

The performance of LyondellBasell AF’s business is driven by, among other things, global economic conditions generally and their impact on demand for our products, raw material and energy prices, and industry-specific issues, such as production capacity. Additionally, the business is subject to the cyclicality and volatility seen in the chemicals and refining industries generally. While the global financial crisis and recession, and other factors discussed below, contributed to the filing under Chapter 11, industry analysts believe many of LyondellBasell AF’s products are near or at their trough levels and forecast cyclical upside in the coming years. LyondellBasell AF saw some favorable developments in late 2009 that may continue to be reflected in its 2010 performance, such as continued delays in the construction of Middle Eastern and Asian production capacity which was expected to exacerbate current excess capacity issues, raw material pricing improvements and extensive government intervention globally. However, there can be no assurance that these positive developments will continue or that there will not be further adverse developments.

Chapter 11 Filing

The global financial crisis and recession created substantial uncertainty for the global economy and the markets in which LyondellBasell AF operated. By December 2008, it became apparent that LyondellBasell AF was experiencing a substantial tightening in liquidity, as the significant decline in crude oil and raw material prices negatively affected the availability of borrowing under LyondellBasell AF’s asset-based working capital and credit facilities. This, coupled with the simultaneous decline in demand for LyondellBasell AF’s products, resulted in a further deterioration of LyondellBasell AF’s liquidity.

In December 2008, LyondellBasell AF entered into agreements with the lenders under an interim loan agreement extending the payment dates for certain payments due in December 2008. LyondellBasell AF also hired advisors in December 2008, including a Chief Restructuring Officer, to assist in evaluating the strategic options available to LyondellBasell AF and continued to work collaboratively with its lenders and other parties to extend payment dates and restructure its debt obligations.

On January 6, 2009, certain of LyondellBasell AF’s U.S. subsidiaries and one of its European holding companies, Basell Germany Holdings GmbH (“Germany Holdings”), filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court. In addition, voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 were filed by LyondellBasell AF and its general partner, LyondellBasell AF GP S.à r.l. on April 24, 2009 and by thirteen additional U.S. subsidiaries on May 8, 2009. All 94 of these Bankruptcy Cases were jointly administered under the caption “ In re Lyondell Chemical Company, et al ,” and the Debtors continued to operate their businesses and

 

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manage their properties as “debtors in possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court.

Although under applicable non-bankruptcy law the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases constituted an event of default under many of the debt agreements of LyondellBasell AF and many of its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates, and an event of termination under certain of their asset-based facilities, the ability of the lenders to enforce their rights under the credit facilities and the ability of other creditors to seek payment of prepetition liabilities or to take actions against the Debtors under other agreements was stayed with respect to the Debtors in substantially all cases in accordance with applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Moreover, the termination provisions in many agreements with the Debtors triggered by the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases were not enforceable under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. During the Bankruptcy Cases, the Debtors replaced certain of their asset-based facilities through new, debtor in possession, or “DIP,” financing. In addition, certain secured lenders entered into forbearance agreements with respect to the exercise of certain remedies under the amended and restated prepetition senior secured credit agreement and bridge loan, each originally dated as of December 20, 2007. For additional information on the DIP financing and the amendments thereto, see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009.

In connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, on January 7, 2009 LyondellBasell AF received Bankruptcy Court authorization to obtain emergency post-petition financing in an aggregate amount of up to $100 million, which matured on January 9, 2009. The Debtors received Bankruptcy Court approval of DIP financing, which provided senior secured super priority debtor-in-possession financing facilities in an aggregate amount of up to $8,040 million on March 1, 2009, with an option to increase one of the facilities by up to $460 million through the addition of new lenders. Of this total, $3,250 million consisted of new funding under a term loan facility; $3,250 million represented a dollar-for-dollar roll-up, or conversion, of previously outstanding senior secured loans; and up to $1,540 million, subject to a borrowing base, represented a new asset-based facility. In March and July 2009, new lenders were added, increasing the DIP financing by an aggregate $80 million, to $8,120 million.

On April 8, 2010, in connection with the anticipated emergence from Chapter 11 proceedings,

 

   

LBI Escrow Corporation (“LBI Escrow”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

 

   

issued $2,250,000,000 of 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 and €375,000,000 of Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (collectively, the “Senior Secured Notes”), the proceeds of which were placed in escrow pending release on the Emergence Date,

 

   

entered into a $500,000,000 Senior Term Loan Facility and borrowed $500,000,000 thereunder, which was placed in escrow pending release on the Emergence Date, and

 

   

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. entered into the $1,750,000,000 U.S. ABL Facility, none of which has been drawn.

On the Emergence Date, LBI Escrow merged with and into Lyondell Chemical, which became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. As a result, Lyondell Chemical replaced LBI Escrow as the issuer of the Senior Secured Notes and the borrower under the $500,000,000 Senior Term Loan Facility.

The consummation of the Plan of Reorganization significantly de-levered our capital structure. As of the Emergence Date, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. had approximately $7.2 billion of total consolidated debt and approximately $2.7 billion of cash and cash equivalents.

As part of the Plan of Reorganization, the Debtors developed and finalized a new long range plan, which encompasses reductions in the total workforce and the closure of at least 10 or more manufacturing sites, many of which have already been announced, and at least 20 offices, including research and development sites. The planned reduction in workforce currently includes more than 3,000 employees, or approximately 17% of the

 

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employees in all subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF, and 1,800 contractors, or approximately 30% of contractors of all subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF. In April 2009, the Debtors announced a voluntary separation program for eligible U.S. employees and in May 2009 announced voluntary separation programs for The Netherlands and Germany.

Overview

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 versus Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

Global market conditions continued their improvement from late 2009 in the first quarter 2010. Industry operating rates and sales volumes improved during the course of the first quarter 2010, and compared favorably to the first quarter 2009. Demand improved in the durable goods sector of the global economy, including the housing and automotive markets.

The first quarter of 2009 was negatively impacted by significant economic uncertainty and resulting lower demand and reduced operating rates as well as margin and price volatility. In contrast, the first quarter of 2010 was characterized by an improving global economy and areas of good performance related to expanding demand. Additionally, certain portions of LyondellBasell AF’s business benefited from planned and unplanned disruptions of competitors.

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus Year Ended December 31, 2008

Although global market conditions improved in 2009 compared to late 2008, market conditions for the full year 2009 were significantly weaker than in the prior year. Demand was particularly weak in durable goods market sectors, including housing and automotive markets. Similarly, while industry operating rates and sales volumes improved during the course of 2009 compared to the levels experienced in late 2008, for the full year 2009 they were below the levels experienced for the full year 2008, despite the significant decline in business activity late in 2008.

Refining margins were significantly lower in 2009 compared to 2008 as a result of weak demand for distillates, such as diesel and heating oil. Heavy crude oil refining margins were also negatively affected by a contraction in the differential between the price of light and heavy crude oil. After peaking at a record-setting level in mid-2008, prices for crude oil and NGLs on average were significantly lower in 2009. In 2009, chemical product margins also generally declined because of the weaker pricing environment and lower average sales prices. An exception was the U.S. PE market, which experienced strong export demand and higher product margins during the latter half of 2009.

LyondellBasell AF’s underlying operating results in 2009, compared to 2008, primarily reflected the negative effects of significantly lower product margins and sales volumes. These were partly offset by the benefits of lower fixed costs, strong margins for LyondellBasell AF’s propylene oxide and advanced polyolefin products and higher U.S. PE margins. A substantial portion of the lower product margins was due to refining operations, while the lower sales volumes were concentrated in the base chemicals and polymers products and reflected the weakness in demand. The lower fixed costs resulted from LyondellBasell AF’s aggressive cost reduction program.

Net income in 2009 also reflected charges related to LyondellBasell AF’s planned reorganization under Chapter 11, including professional fees, write-offs of plant asset values, contract rejection claims, employee severance costs and other costs associated with the Chapter 11 proceedings and plant closures. For a detailed description of reorganization charges, see “—Results of Operations” below.

Net income in 2008 included charges for asset impairments, reflecting declines in the value of inventory, goodwill and other intangible assets, as markets weakened and product sales prices and margins declined significantly at the end of 2008.

 

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Year ended December 31, 2008 versus Year Ended December 31, 2007

Compared to 2007, the 2008 business environment for refiners and manufacturers of chemicals and polymers was marked by significant volatility in crude oil and raw material prices and, in the latter part of the year, a rapid deterioration in the global economy. During 2007, benchmark crude oil prices steadily rose to then-record levels in December 2007. During 2008, these benchmark crude oil prices continued to increase through June 2008, rising nearly 50%. Benchmark heavy crude refining margins benefited from strong demand for diesel fuel and the cost differential between light crude oil and heavy crude oil, while margins for fuels products, such as MTBE and ETBE, benefited from high gasoline prices. However, the significant escalation of crude oil and raw material prices put downward pressure on chemical and polymer product margins and upward pressure on working capital requirements.

The second half of 2008 was pivotal, marked by a number of significant events, including a fourth quarter contraction of the U.S. and Western European economies of 6.3% and 5.9%, respectively; a 70% decrease in crude oil prices; two U.S. Gulf Coast hurricanes; an extended maintenance turnaround at the Houston Refinery that was prolonged by a crane incident; and a crisis in the global financial markets. Demand in markets for LyondellBasell AF’s products was significantly lower in the fourth quarter 2008 as customers reduced inventories. At the same time, the rapid decline in crude oil and raw material prices negatively impacted inventory carrying values.

LyondellBasell AF had an operating loss in 2008 compared to a profit in 2007, despite the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical and the addition of fuels products to its product portfolio. The 2008 operating loss was primarily due to asset impairment losses, reflecting declines in the value of inventory, goodwill and other intangible assets as well as the significant decline in market conditions that led to substantial erosion of product profit margins, lower sales volumes and plant operating rates.

LyondellBasell AF’s operating loss in 2008 was also adversely affected by lost production at its Houston Refinery attributable to a major planned maintenance turnaround; a fluid catalytic cracker (“FCC”) unit upgrade and catalyst changes; unplanned maintenance on the Houston Refinery’s FCC unit; an incident involving a contractor company’s crane at the Houston Refinery in July 2008, which in turn lead to a re-scoping and time extension of the major maintenance turnaround; and finally, an approximately two- to three-week period in September 2008 when substantially all of LyondellBasell AF’s U.S. Gulf Coast operations were temporarily off-line as a result of Hurricane Ike.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 versus Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

Revenues —LyondellBasell AF had revenues of $9,755 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to revenues of $5,900 million in the first quarter 2009. The $3,855 million increase in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009 was primarily due to higher demand and reflected the effect of higher sales volumes and higher average product sales prices.

Cost of Sales —LyondellBasell AF’s cost of sales were $9,130 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to $5,792 million in the first quarter 2009. Cost of sales in the first quarter 2010 included a charge of $23 million for plant closure and other costs related to a polypropylene plant in Terni, Italy. The remaining increase was primarily due to higher raw material and utility costs, as well as the effect of higher sales volumes. The higher raw material costs reflect the effects of higher crude oil and NGL-based raw material prices.

SG&A Expenses —Selling, general and administrative expenses were $217 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to $207 million in the first quarter 2009. The increase was primarily due to unfavorable currency exchange rate effects on costs of non-U.S. operations as the U.S. dollar weakened versus the euro.

 

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Operating Income (Loss) —LyondellBasell AF had operating income of $367 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to an operating loss of $141 million in the first quarter 2009. The increase reflected higher sales volumes and product margins due to stronger global market conditions in the first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter 2009.

Interest Expense —Interest expense was $411 million in the first quarter 2010 and $445 million in the first quarter 2009. The $34 million decrease in interest expense was primarily due to the reclassification of approximately $10,000 million of debt to liabilities subject to compromise as a result of the Chapter 11 filing, partially offset by $40 million of higher interest expense on the debtor in possession financing. LyondellBasell AF’s contractual interest expense was $663 million and $557 million for the first quarter 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Other Income (Expense), net— LyondellBasell AF had other expense, net, of $198 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to other income, net, of $90 million in the first quarter of 2009. Other expense in the first quarter 2010 included $202 million of unrealized foreign exchange losses. Other income in the first quarter 2009 included involuntary conversion gains of $72 million, representing partial settlements of outstanding insurance claims related to damages sustained in 2005 at the polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany.

Reorganization Items —LyondellBasell AF had a credit of $207 million related to reorganization items in the first quarter 2010 compared to expense related to $948 million of reorganization items in the first quarter 2009. Reorganization items in 2010 included adjustments of $321 million, primarily related to estimated claims, including a $136 million reduction of environmental remediation liabilities, partially offset by $81 million of professional fees, damages related to the rejection of executory contracts of $28 million and plant closure costs of $9 million. Reorganization items in 2009 included charges of $612 million to write off the carrying value of assets related to the shutdown of the olefins plant at Chocolate Bayou, Texas and $50 million related to the long-term idling of the ethylene glycol facility in Beaumont, Texas; severance charges of $139 million; professional fees of $62 million; and a $30 million charge for the write off of deferred debt issuance costs related to senior notes that otherwise would have matured in 2015.

Income Tax —The effective income tax rate for the first quarter 2010 was 54.5%, resulting in tax expense of $12 million on pretax income of $22 million. The 2010 effective income tax rate was higher than the statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the effects of non-deductible costs relating to the Chapter 11 filings and the recognition of valuation allowances established to reduce deferred tax assets not expected to be realized. The increased tax rate was partially offset by tax exempt income in jurisdictions other than the U.S. The effective income tax rate for the first quarter 2009 was 29.8%, resulting in a tax benefit of $432 million on a pretax loss of $1,444 million. The 2009 effective income tax rate was lower than the statutory 35% rate primarily due to the effects of non-deductible costs relating to the filings under Chapter 11.

 

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Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations —LyondellBasell AF had income of $10 million from continuing operations in the first quarter 2010 compared to a loss of $1,012 million from continuing operations in the first quarter 2009. The following table summarizes the major components contributing to income (loss) from continuing operations:

 

     For the three months ended  

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
    March 31,
2009
 

Operating income (loss)

   $ 367      $ (141

Income (loss) from equity investments

     55        (20

Interest expense, net

     (409     (425

Other income (expense), net

     (198     90   

Reorganization items

     207        (948

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     12        (432
                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 10      $ (1,012
                

Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax —LyondellBasell AF had a loss from discontinued operations of $4 million in the first quarter 2009 related to the toluene diiscoyanate (“TDI”) business sold in September 2008.

Year Ended December 31, 2009 versus Year Ended December 31, 2008 and Year Ended December 31, 2008 versus December 31, 2007

Revenues —LyondellBasell AF had revenues of $30,828 million in 2009 compared to revenues of $50,706 million in 2008 and $17,120 million in 2007. The $19,878 million decrease in 2009 compared to 2008 reflected the effect of significantly lower sales prices and sales volumes due to lower crude oil and natural gas prices and weaker demand. LyondellBasell AF’s revenues increased by $33,801 million, or 67%, in 2008 and $990 million, or 6%, in 2007 solely as a result of LyondellBasell AF’s acquisition of Lyondell Chemical in 2007 and the Berre Refinery in 2008. The remaining $775 million, or 5%, increase in 2008 revenues reflected higher average sales prices partially offset by the effect of lower sales volumes.

Cost of Sales —LyondellBasell AF’s cost of sales were $29,372 million in 2009 compared to $48,780 million in 2008 and $15,196 in 2007. The $19,408 million decrease in 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily due to lower market prices for crude oil, crude oil-based and NGLs raw materials; lower fixed and variable costs; and lower sales volumes and operating rates, reflecting the weak demand. The increases in 2008 and 2007 reflected the acquisitions of Lyondell Chemical and the Berre Refinery, which added $34,313 million and $1,045 million, respectively, to cost of sales. The remaining increase of $316 million, or 2%, in 2008 primarily reflected higher raw material and energy costs compared to 2007.

SG&A Expenses —Selling, general and administrative expenses were $850 million in 2009 compared to $1,197 million in 2008 and $740 million in 2007. The $347 million decrease in 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily the result of LyondellBasell AF’s 2009 cost reduction program and a favorable effect from changes in currency exchange rates. Currency exchange rates had a favorable effect on costs of non-U.S. operations as the U.S. dollar strengthened versus the euro in 2009 compared to 2008. LyondellBasell AF’s SG&A expenses in 2008 included $564 million of expenses related solely to the Lyondell Chemical and the Berre Refinery acquisitions. Excluding SG&A costs of the acquired companies, SG&A decreased by $107 million in 2008 compared to 2007, primarily due to the favorable currency translation effects of a stronger U.S. dollar in 2008.

In-process Research and Development —LyondellBasell AF recognized a $95 million charge for in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) related to the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical. For a discussion of IPR&D, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Operating Income —LyondellBasell AF had operating income of $317 million in 2009 compared to an operating loss of $5,928 million in 2008 and operating income of $934 million in 2007. Results in 2009 compared to 2008 reflected the benefits of LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program, offset by the unfavorable effects of lower product margins, sales volumes, and currency exchange rates on non-U.S. operating income. Results in 2008 were impacted by charges of $4,982 million and $225 million, respectively, for impairment of goodwill related to the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical and the carrying value of the Berre Refinery; and a charge of $1,256 million to adjust LyondellBasell AF’s inventory to market value. The remainder of the decrease in operating income in 2008 was primarily due to lower product margins and the effect of lower sales volumes across all business segments compared to 2007. The declines in product margins and sales volumes in 2008 were attributable to the negative effects of Hurricane Ike and the refinery turnaround as well as to the higher cost of raw materials.

Interest Expense —Interest expense was $1,795 million in 2009 compared to $2,476 million in 2008 and $353 million in 2007. The decrease in interest expense in 2009 was primarily due to various debt instruments becoming subject to compromise as a result of the Chapter 11 filing. LyondellBasell AF’s contractual interest expense was $2,720 million for 2009, $2,476 million for 2008 and $353 million for 2007. The increase in interest expense in 2008 was primarily due to an increase in debt used to fund the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical in December 2007, including the $7,506 million of debt retained by Lyondell Chemical. Interest expense in 2008 also included a $55 million non-cash charge related to the termination of an interest rate swap.

Other Income, net— LyondellBasell AF had other income, net, of $325 million in 2009 compared to $113 million in 2008 and $127 million in 2007. In 2009 and 2008, LyondellBasell AF recognized involuntary conversion gains of $120 million and $79 million, respectively, representing partial insurance settlements of outstanding insurance claims related to damages sustained in 2005 at the polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany, and foreign exchange gains of $113 million and $20 million, respectively, as a result of changes in currency exchange rates. Other income, net, in 2009 also included benefits totaling $72 million resulting from indemnifications received from previous plant owner for employee benefit and environmental remediation costs related to plant closures and a $15 million gain related to settlement of a U.K. pension claim. Other income, net, in 2007 included the benefit from a $200 million break-up fee related to the proposed merger with Huntsman, partially offset by a $57 million charge related to a 2005 exit fee from a U.K. pension plan.

Reorganization Items —LyondellBasell AF had reorganization items totaling $2,961 million in 2009, including charges for the write-off of assets associated with a lease rejection; damage claims related to certain executory contracts; the net write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs, premiums and discounts; environmental liabilities; professional fees associated with the Chapter 11 proceedings; shutdown costs related primarily to the shutdown of its olefins plant at Chocolate Bayou, Texas and its EG facility in Beaumont, Texas; as well as employee severance and other costs. For additional information on reorganization items, see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Income Tax —LyondellBasell AF’s effective income tax rate for 2009 was 33%, resulting in a tax benefit of $1,411 million on a pretax loss of $4,277 million. The 2009 estimated annual effective income tax rate was lower than the statutory 35% rate primarily due to the effects of non-deductible costs partially related to the voluntary filings of petitions for relief under Chapter 11, and the provision of valuation allowances in jurisdictions where future tax benefits are not expected to be recognized. The negative rate impact was partially offset by the recognition of tax benefits related to a favorable tax ruling in The Netherlands. During 2008, LyondellBasell AF had a tax benefit of $848 million on a pretax loss of $8,184 million. The effective income tax rate of 10.4% in 2008 primarily reflected the effect of goodwill impairment charges, which are not deductible for tax purposes, and the provision of valuation allowances in jurisdictions where future tax benefits are not expected to be realized. The effective income tax rate of 29.7% in 2007 primarily reflected the effect of decreases in statutory and other tax rates in Germany and Italy partly offset by the effect of the purchased IPR&D charge, which was not deductible for tax purposes.

 

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Income (loss) from Continuing Operations —LyondellBasell AF had a loss of $2,866 million in 2009 compared to a loss of $7,336 million in 2008 and income of $661 million in 2007. The following table summarizes the major components contributing to the income (loss) from continuing operations:

 

     For the twelve months ended
December 31,
 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007  

Operating income (loss)

   $ 317      $ (5,928   $ 934   

Income (loss) from equity investments

     (181     38        162   

Interest expense, net

     (1,777     (2,407     (283

Other income, net

     325        113        127   

Reorganization items

     (2,961     —          —     

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (1,411     (848     279   
                        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ (2,866   $ (7,336   $ 661   
                        

In 2009, the loss from equity investments for the O&P—EAI segment included charges of $228 million for impairment of the carrying value of LyondellBasell AF’s equity investments in certain joint ventures. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009 for more information on equity investments in joint ventures.

The table below summarizes some of the items of special note with regards to LyondellBasell AF’s income (loss) from continuing operations for the periods shown:

 

     For the twelve months ended
December 31,
 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007  

Pretax charges (benefits):

      

Impairments

   $ 245      $ 5,207      $ 20   

Reorganization items

     2,961        —       

Inventory valuation adjustment to market value

     127        1,256        —     

Huntsman breakage fee

     —          —          (200

Management fees

     —          —          100   

Purchased IPR&D

     —          —          95   

Benefit from employee pension and post-retirement plan amendments

     —          —          (48

Merger and acquisition costs

     —          —          46   

Interest rate swap termination—Structured Financing Transaction

     —          55        —     

Hurricane costs

     5        55        —     

Gains related to insurance settlements

     (120     (79     —     

Provisions for uncollectible accounts receivable

     18        47        (14
                        

Total pretax income effect

     3,236        6,541        (1

Tax effect of above items

     (1,133     (546     34   

Decrease in non-U.S. statutory tax rates

     —            (117
                        

Total

   $ 2,103      $ 5,995      $ (84
                        

Impairments in 2009 include an adjustment related to prior periods which increased LyondellBasell AF’s income from operations and net income for the three-month period ended December 31, 2009, by $65 million. The adjustment related to an overstatement of goodwill impairment in 2008.

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax —LyondellBasell AF had income from discontinued operations of $1 million and $15 million, respectively, in 2009 and 2008 related to the sale of a toluene di-isocyanate business in September 2008.

 

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Fourth Quarter 2009 versus Third Quarter 2009

LyondellBasell AF had a loss from continuing operations of $852 million in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to $649 million in the third quarter 2009 as lower underlying operating results were more than offset by the effects of lower reorganization and impairment charges. Underlying operating results were lower in the fourth quarter 2009 due to lower margins on chemical products and the effect of lower oxyfuels sales volumes and margins. The fourth quarter 2009 included after tax charges of $644 million and $11 million related to reorganization items and impairments, respectively, compared to $603 million and $140 million, respectively, in the third quarter 2009. The fourth quarter 2009 impairment charges primarily related to emissions allowances, while the third quarter 2009 impairment charges related to the carrying value of certain equity investments as a result of weak current and projected market conditions.

Segment Analysis

The following tables reflect selected financial information for LyondellBasell AF’s reportable segments for the periods indicated. Operating income (loss) is reported on a current cost basis for segment reporting.

 

     For the twelve months  ended
December 31,
    For the three months
ended March 31,
 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007     2010     2009  
     (millions)  

Sales and other operating revenues:

          

Refining and Oxyfuels segment

   $ 11,439      $ 18,362      $ 478      $ 3,415      $ 2,225   

O&P—Americas segment

     10,530        16,412        2,817        3,020        1,513   

O&P—EAI segment

     7,437        13,489        13,145        3,119        2,475   

I&D segment

     3,778        6,218        429        1,316        769   

Technology segment

     523        583        497        110        122   

Other, including intersegment eliminations

     (2,879     (4,358     (246     (1,225     (1,204
                                        

Total

   $ 30,828      $ 50,706      $ 17,120      $ 9,755      $ 5,900   
                                        

Operating income (loss) (a):

          

Refining and Oxyfuels segment

   $ (357   $ (2,378   $ 21      $ (128   $ (44

O&P—Americas segment

     169        (1,355     61        145        (101 )  

O&P—EAI segment

     (13     220        934        71        (74

I&D segment

     250        (1,915     (42     123        78   

Technology segment

     210        202        152        31        50   

Other, including intersegment eliminations

     29        (134     (248     (59     (9

Current cost adjustment

     29        (568     56        184        (41
                                        

Total

   $ 317      $ (5,928   $ 934      $ 367      $ (141
                                        

Income (loss) from equity investments:

          

O&P—Americas segment

   $ 7      $ 6      $ 12      $ 4      $ (2

O&P—EAI segment

     (172     34        150        52        (11

I&D segment

     (16     (2     —          (1     (7
                                        

Total

   $ (181   $ 38      $ 162      $ 55      $ (20
                                        

 

(a) Certain data for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 were revised. See Note 29 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Refining and Oxyfuels Segment

Overview —The Refining and Oxyfuels segment produces refined petroleum products, including gasoline, ultra low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, aromatics, lubricants and oxygenated fuels, or oxyfuels, such as MTBE, ETBE

 

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and alkylate. Our full-conversion Houston Refinery processes heavy, high sulfur Venezuelan crude oil supplied under a long-term contract with PDVSA Oil. Under the crude oil contract the refinery purchases 230,000 barrels per day of heavy, high sulfur crude oil, which constitutes approximately 86% of its rated crude oil refining capacity of 268,000 barrels per day. In early 2009, the Houston Refinery exercised an option to reduce the contractual volume to 215,000 barrels per day through July 31, 2011. The pricing under the crude oil contract is market-based. The Houston Refinery generally purchases the balance of its crude oil requirements on the spot market.

On April 1, 2008, LyondellBasell AF completed the purchase of the Berre Refinery. The Berre Refinery provides raw materials for one of LyondellBasell AF’s European sites that operates a world-scale steam cracker and polypropylene and PE plants, as well as a butadiene extraction unit at Berre l’Etang and a PE plant at nearby Fos sur Mer. The Berre Refinery’s products include naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, heating oil and bitumen.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 versus Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

In the first quarter 2010, benchmark heavy crude refining margins averaged higher compared to the first quarter 2009, primarily due to an increase in the differential between the cost of heavy and light crude oil during the latter part of the quarter.

The following table sets forth the Refining and Oxyfuels segment’s sales and other operating revenues, operating loss and sales volumes for certain gasoline blending components for the applicable three-month periods:

 

     For the three months ended  

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
    March 31,
2009
 

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 3,415      $ 2,225   

Operating loss

     (128     (44

Sales Volumes, in millions

    

Gasoline blending components—MTBE/ETBE (gallons)

     189        205   
                

Crude processing rates (thousands of barrels per day):

    

Houston Refining

     263        269   
                

Berre Refinery

     73        86   
                

Market margins—$ per barrel

    

WTI—2-1-1

     6.85        9.64   

WTI Maya

     8.94        4.46   
                

Total

     15.79        14.10   
                

Urals—4-1-2-1

     5.91        6.96   
                

Market margins—cents per gallon

    

ETBE—NWE

     49.10        46.38   
                

Revenues —The Refining and Oxyfuels segment had revenues of $3,415 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to $2,225 million in the first quarter 2009. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher average sales prices, partly offset by the effect of lower sales volumes for refining and oxyfuels products. Unplanned outages at a Houston refinery processing unit contributed to the lower volumes at the Houston refinery.

 

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Operating Loss —The Refining and Oxyfuels segment had an operating loss of $128 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to an operating loss of $44 million in the first quarter 2009. Operating results in the first quarter 2009 included a $48 million benefit from the settlement of hedging activity at the Houston refinery related to distillates. The underlying operating results in the first quarter of 2010 for the Houston refinery reflected higher maintenance costs related to planned and unplanned outages, which negatively impacted production of higher margin ultra low sulfur diesel, partially offset by lower distribution costs. Lower product margins as well as planned maintenance contributed to lower operating results for the Berre refinery in the first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter 2009. Operating income for oxyfuels was lower in the first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter 2009 due primarily to the effect of lower sales volumes and higher costs related to ethanol purchases. Sales volumes in the first quarter 2010 were negatively impacted by a delay of a large shipment at quarter end.

In May 2010, a fire was experienced in one of the crude distillation units at the Houston refinery. The affected unit has a throughput capacity of approximately 140,000 barrels per day. As a result of the fire, the crude distillation unit was down for repair for approximately six weeks. Management does not believe that the impact of the fire and the resulting shut down will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.; however, it is likely that the Refining and Oxyfuels segment’s results of operations for the second quarter 2010 will be negatively impacted.

Year Ended December 31, 2009 versus Year Ended December 31, 2008

Benchmark refining margins for 2009 were lower compared to 2008, generally reflecting the weaker global economy and consequent weaker demand for gasoline and distillate products, such as diesel and heating oil. The weaker demand resulted in lower prices for light crude oil, while OPEC-mandated production cuts resulted in lower supplies of heavy crude oil and lower price discounts relative to light crude oil. Both factors compressed the price differential between light and heavy crude oil. Benchmark margins for oxyfuels in 2009 were comparable to 2008.

Refining and Oxyfuels segment operating results in 2009 primarily reflected the effects of significantly lower U.S. refining margins compared to the same period in 2008. The operating results of the Berre Refinery, which was acquired on April 1, 2008, reflected the weak distillate markets in 2009. Operating results in 2009 benefited from higher margins for gasoline blending components and lower utility and fixed costs, but were negatively affected by outages of some of the Houston Refinery’s sulfur recovery units during the second quarter 2009 and of a crude unit during the fourth quarter 2009. As a result of LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program, fixed costs were significantly lower in 2009 compared to 2008.

In 2008, as further discussed below, operating results were negatively impacted by lost production at the Houston Refinery due to the effects of a hurricane and a scheduled maintenance turnaround of one of the Houston Refinery’s crude trains and coker units during the third quarter 2008 that was delayed by an incident involving a contractor’s crane and an unplanned second quarter 2008 outage of a FCC unit.

Year Ended December 31, 2008 versus Year Ended December 31, 2007

During 2008, the Refining and Oxyfuels segment comprises the refining and fuels businesses of Lyondell Chemical, acquired on December 20, 2007, and, beginning on April 1, 2008, the Berre Refinery.

Benchmark heavy crude refining margins in 2008 benefited from strong demand for diesel fuel and the cost differential between light crude oil and heavy crude oil, while margins for oxyfuels products, MTBE and ETBE, benefited from high gasoline prices.

During 2008, the Refining and Oxyfuels segment benefited from strong margins for heavy crude at the Houston Refinery and for the segment’s oxyfuels products. The operating results for the Berre Refinery were

 

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break-even. Operating results were negatively affected by planned and unplanned outages at the Houston Refinery.

A maintenance turnaround at the Houston Refinery in 2008 was scheduled for one of the refinery’s crude trains and coker units. As a result of an incident in July 2008, involving a contractor company’s crane, and Hurricane Ike later in the third quarter 2008, the coker unit was not restarted until early December 2008. In addition, operating results in the 2008 period were negatively impacted by the unplanned outage of a fluid catalytic cracker unit and other operating units at the Houston Refinery, all of which resulted in lost production and additional maintenance costs.

The following table sets forth the Refining and Oxyfuels segment’s sales and other operating revenues, operating income and sales volumes for certain gasoline blending components for the applicable periods. The 2007 period reflects the acquired Lyondell Chemical refining and oxyfuels business beginning December 21, 2007.

 

     For the twelve months  ended
December 31,

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 11,439      $ 18,362      $ 478

Operating income (loss)

     (357     (2,378     21

Sales volumes, in millions

      

Gasoline blending components—MTBE/ETBE (gallons)

     831        1,018        39
                      

Crude processing rates (thousands of barrels per day):

      

Houston Refining

     244        222        279
                      

Berre Refinery (1)

     86        102        —  
                      

 

(1) Berre Refinery purchased April 1, 2008

The following table shows market refining margins for the U.S. and Europe and ETBE margins in Northwest Europe (“NWE”). In the U.S., WTI, is a light crude oil, while “Maya” is a heavy crude oil. In Europe, “Urals—4-1-2-1” is a measure of West European refining margins.

 

     For the twelve months  ended
December 31,
     2009    2008    2007

Market margins—$ per barrel

        

WTI—2-1-1

   6.98    12.37    13.37

WTI Maya

   5.18    15.71    12.41
              

Total

   12.16    28.08    25.78
              

Urals—4-1-2-1

   5.57    10.98    8.67
              

Market margins—cents per gallon

        

ETBE—NWE

   68.86    68.61    53.33
              

Revenues —The Refining and Oxyfuels segment had revenues of $11,439 million in 2009 compared to revenues of $18,362 million in 2008 and $478 million in 2007. The decrease in revenues in 2009 from 2008 was primarily due to lower sales prices, partially offset by higher sales volumes at the Houston Refinery. The decrease in 2009 also was mitigated by the effect of a full year of operation of the Berre Refinery, which was acquired April 1, 2008. The 2007 period reflects the revenues of the acquired Lyondell Chemical refining and oxyfuels business beginning December 21, 2007.

 

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Operating Income —The Refining and Oxyfuels segment had an operating loss of $357 million in 2009 compared to an operating loss of $2,378 million in 2008 and operating income of $21 million in 2007. Operating results in 2009 were negatively affected by lower crude refining margins, partially offset by lower utility costs due to lower natural gas prices and lower fixed costs. The latter reflected LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program. The lower refining margins were primarily attributable to U.S. refining markets, although margins were lower for both the Houston and Berre refineries.

In 2008, operating results were negatively impacted by scheduled maintenance turnarounds of crude and coker units and the related July 2008 crane incident at the Houston Refinery, as well as by operating disruptions related to Hurricane Ike by an estimated $205 million. In addition to the turnaround and hurricane effects, operating results were negatively affected by an estimated $220 million as a result of lost production due to unplanned maintenance at the Houston Refinery’s FCC and other operating units. Operating results were also negatively impacted by impairment charges against goodwill of $2,305 million and other assets of $218 million and inventory valuation adjustments of $442 million.

The 2007 period reflected the operating results of the acquired Lyondell Chemical refining and oxyfuels business from December 21, 2007.

Fourth Quarter 2009 versus Third Quarter 2009

The Refining and Oxyfuels segment had an operating loss of $200 million in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to $33 million in the third quarter 2009. Operating results in the fourth quarter 2009 primarily reflected the negative effects of lower sales volumes for oxyfuels and the Houston Refinery. In addition to seasonality, the lower oxyfuels sales volumes reflected the fourth quarter 2009 conversion of a U.S. facility from MTBE production to ETBE production and a fourth quarter 2009 maintenance turnaround at a facility in France. The lower Houston Refinery volumes reflected a scheduled maintenance turnaround of a crude and coker unit as well as an unplanned 10-day outage of a crude unit.

Olefins and Polyolefins—Americas Segment

Overview —The O&P—Americas segment manufactures and markets olefins, including ethylene and its co-products, primarily propylene, butadiene and aromatics, which include benzene and toluene, as well as ethanol; and polyolefins, which include PE, comprising HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE, and polypropylene and Catalloy process resins. The manufacturing and marketing is generally in the Americas, which includes the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South America.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 versus Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

The first quarter of 2009 was characterized by reduced demand and operating rates related to economic uncertainty. In contrast, the first quarter of 2010 benefitted from stronger product demand and late in the quarter results further benefitted from competitor operating issues. Ethylene margins improved significantly as a result of the improved supply demand balance created by these operating issues.

Ethylene Raw Materials— Benchmark crude oil and natural gas prices generally have been indicators of the level and direction of movement of raw material and energy costs for ethylene and its co-products in the O&P—Americas segment. Ethylene and its co-products are produced from two major raw material groups:

 

   

crude oil-based liquids, including naphthas, condensates, and gas oils, the prices of which are generally related to crude oil prices; and

 

   

NGLs, principally ethane and propane, the prices of which are generally affected by natural gas prices.

 

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Although the prices of these raw materials are generally related to crude oil and natural gas prices, during specific periods the relationships among these materials and benchmarks may vary significantly.

In the U.S., we have the ability to shift our ratio of raw materials used in the production of ethylene and our co-products to take advantage of the relative costs of heavy liquids and NGLs.

During the first quarter 2010, production economics continued to favor NGLs. During March 2010, approximately 70% of LyondellBasell AF’s U.S. ethylene production was from NGLs, predominantly ethane. However, as prices for co-products increased during the quarter, selected heavy liquid feedstocks became more competitive, especially for LyondellBasell AF’s crackers located on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The following table shows the average U.S. benchmark prices for crude oil and natural gas for the applicable three-month periods, as well as benchmark U.S. sales prices for ethylene and propylene, which is produced and sold or consumed internally. The benchmark weighted average cost of ethylene production, which is reduced by co-product revenues, is based on CMAI’s estimated ratio of heavy liquid raw materials and NGLs used in U.S. ethylene production and is subject to revision:

 

     Average Benchmark Price and Percent
Change Versus Prior Year  Period Average
 
     For the three months ended
March 31,
      
     2010    2009    Change  

Crude oil—dollars per barrel

   78.88    43.31    82

Natural gas—dollars per million BTUs

   5.36    4.22    27

Weighted average cost of ethylene production—cents per pound

   34.29    23.82    44

United States—cents per pound

        

Polyethylene (high density)

   83.33    59.67    40

Ethylene

   52.33    31.50    66

Polypropylene

   87.83    51.50    71

Propylene—polymer grade

   61.50    24.83    148

The following table sets forth the O&P—Americas segment’s sales and other operating revenues, operating income (loss) and selected product sales volumes for the periods indicated:

 

     For the three months ended  

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   March 31,
2009
 

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 3,020    $ 1,513   

Operating income (loss)

     145      (101

Income (loss) from equity investments

     4      (2

Production Volumes, in millions of pounds

     

Ethylene

     2,019      1,988   

Propylene

     755      676   

Sales Volumes, in millions of pounds

     

Polypropylene

     615      541   

Polyethylene

     1,339      1,236   

Revenues —Revenues of $3,020 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to revenues of $1,513 million in the first quarter 2009. The increase in revenue of $1,507 million primarily reflects higher product sales prices across the segment and the effect of higher ethylene and polyethylene sales volumes. As noted above, benchmark sales prices in the first quarter of 2010 were higher on average compared to the first quarter 2009.

 

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Operating Income (Loss) —The O&P—Americas segment had operating income of $145 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to an operating loss of $101 million in the first quarter 2009. The increase of $246 million primarily reflects higher ethylene margins and sales volumes. These higher product margins and sales volumes were partially offset by lower polyethylene product margins, which were negatively impacted by significant ethylene price increases in the first quarter 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Results for polypropylene, including Catalloy , improved by approximately $10 million compared to the first quarter 2009.

Year Ended December 31, 2009 versus Year Ended December 31, 2008

While improving during the course of 2009 after a collapse of the market in the second half of 2008, ethylene market demand in the U.S. remained weak, resulting in lower industry operating rates in 2009 compared to rates in the 90% to 95% range during 2008. Ethylene margins contracted as benchmark sales prices decreased more than the benchmark weighted average cost of ethylene production. Polyolefins markets were weaker in 2009 compared to 2008 with the notable exception of U.S. PE markets, which benefited from strong export demand during 2009.

The O&P—Americas segment operating results for 2009 primarily reflect the strong PE export markets in 2009, lower olefins product margins and lower fixed costs. As a result of weak ethylene demand during late 2008 and the first half of 2009, LyondellBasell AF idled and subsequently shut down the Chocolate Bayou olefins plant, near Alvin, Texas. LyondellBasell AF also idled and subsequently restarted the La Porte, Texas olefins plant in January 2009. Polyolefins product results for 2009 reflected strong PE export markets in 2009, which benefited PE product margins and sales volumes. However, other polyolefins product markets were weaker and resulted in net lower sales volumes compared to 2008. As a result of LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program, fixed costs were significantly lower in 2009 compared to 2008.

In the third quarter 2008, operating results were negatively impacted by lost production at certain U.S. Gulf Coast plants due to the effects of a hurricane.

Year Ended December 31, 2008 versus Year Ended December 31, 2007

In 2008, the O&P—Americas segment included the olefins and polyolefins businesses of Lyondell Chemical, which were acquired on December 20, 2007.

During 2008, U.S. ethylene producers using crude oil-based raw materials experienced pressure on product margins as increases in average benchmark ethylene and co-product sales prices failed to keep pace with increases in average raw material costs. Benchmark prices of crude oil-based liquid raw materials averaged higher in 2008, despite the significant decline in crude oil prices in the latter part of 2008 from the record levels reached in mid-2008. Polyolefins markets experienced weakened demand during 2008 compared to 2007. The slowdown of the global economy, the crises in financial markets and the third quarter 2008 U.S. Gulf Coast hurricanes had the most significant negative effects on demand.

The O&P—Americas segment’s underlying operating results declined in 2008 compared to 2007, despite the acquisition of the Lyondell Chemical business, due to the significant volatility in raw material costs. Higher raw material costs and declines in polyolefin sales prices during 2008 compared to 2007 put pressure on polyolefin product margins. Furthermore, the rapid decline in crude oil prices, particularly in the fourth quarter 2008, resulted in adjustments of the inventory values to reflect their lower market value. Operating results were also negatively affected by Hurricane Ike, which resulted in lost production and additional costs in 2008.

Ethylene Raw Materials

During 2009, production economics favored NGLs. As a result, LyondellBasell AF increased its use of NGLs and minimized liquids consumption at its U.S. plants. This included the above-noted permanent shutdown of LyondellBasell AF’s liquids-based Chocolate Bayou facility. During 2009, approximately 70% of LyondellBasell AF’s U.S. ethylene production was produced from NGLs.

 

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The following table shows the average U.S. benchmark prices for crude oil and natural gas for the applicable periods, as well as benchmark U.S. sales prices for ethylene and propylene, and certain PE and polypropylene products. The benchmark weighted average cost of ethylene production, which is reduced by co-product revenues, is based on CMAI’s estimated ratio of heavy liquid raw materials and NGLs used in U.S. ethylene production and is subject to revision.

 

     Average Benchmark Price and Percent Change Versus Prior Year Period Average  
     For the twelve months  ended
December 31,
         For the twelve months  ended
December 31,
      
     2009    2008    Change     2008    2007    Change  

Crude oil—dollars per barrel

   61.58    99.51    (38.1 )%    99.51    72.23    37.8

Natural gas—dollars per million BTUs

   3.78    8.86    (57.3 )%    8.86    6.81    30.1

Weighted average cost of ethylene production—cents per pound

   26.21    45.39    (42.0 )%    45.39    37.93    19.0

United States—cents per pound

                

Polyethylene—(high density)

   66.50    86.42    (23.1 )%    86.42    73.25    18.0

Ethylene

   33.94    58.50    (42.0 )%    58.50    48.75    20.0

Polypropylene

   64.42    87.63    (26.5 )%    87.63    77.08    13.7

Propylene—polymer grade

   37.92    59.96    (36.8 )%    59.96    50.41    18.9

As indicated in the table above, 2009 average natural gas and crude oil prices decreased significantly compared to 2008. NGLs have been the favored raw material in ethylene production in the U.S. during much of 2009 as NGL prices have been lower relative to crude oil, and prices for heavy liquid ethylene co-products such as propylene have generally not been high enough to economically justify heavy liquid cracking.

The following table sets forth the O&P—Americas segment’s sales and other operating revenues, operating income, income from equity investments and selected product sales volumes. The 2007 period includes the acquired Lyondell Chemical olefins and polyolefins business from December 21, 2007.

 

     For the twelve months ended
December 31,

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008     2007

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 10,530    $ 16,412      $ 2,817

Operating income (loss)

     169      (1,355     61

Income from equity investments

     7      6        12

Production volumes, in millions of pounds

       

Ethylene

     8,129      7,990        9,012

Propylene

     2,913      3,975        5,049

Sales volumes, in millions of pounds

       

Polypropylene

     2,509      2,928        3,300

Polyethylene

     5,593      5,256        377

Revenues —Revenues were $10,530 million in 2009 compared to $16,412 million in 2008 and $2,817 million in 2007. The decrease in 2009 revenues reflects the effect of lower product sales prices and net lower sale volumes. The net lower sales volumes in 2009 were a result of lower sales volumes for polypropylene and ethylene and co-products, partly offset by higher sales volumes for PE, which benefited from the strong U.S. export markets. The 2007 period includes the revenues of the acquired Lyondell Chemical olefins and polyolefins business from December 21, 2007.

Operating Income —The O&P—Americas segment had operating income of $169 million in 2009 compared to an operating loss of $1,355 million in 2008 and operating income of $61 million in 2007. The

 

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underlying operations of the O&P—Americas segment in 2009 reflected the benefit of lower fixed costs, resulting from LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program, partially offset by net lower product margins and the effect of net lower sales volumes. Operating results for 2008 were negatively affected by the estimated $120 million impact of lost production due to Hurricane Ike, and related costs of $39 million, including a $7 million pretax charge for impairment of the carrying value of assets; inventory valuation adjustments of $619 million; and goodwill impairment charges of $624 million.

The 2007 period includes the operating results for the acquired Lyondell Chemical olefins and polyolefins business from December 21, 2007.

Fourth Quarter 2009 versus Third Quarter 2009

The O&P—Americas segment had operating income of $69 million in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to $132 million in the third quarter 2009. The decline in fourth quarter 2009 operating results was primarily due to lower product margins and, to a lesser extent, lower sales volumes. The lower product margins were primarily due to seasonally lower PE product margins, which had been particularly strong in the third quarter 2009, partly offset by higher product margins for olefins. The lower sales volumes in the fourth quarter were primarily due to olefins and reflected the effects of a maintenance turnaround at an ethylene facility in the fourth quarter 2009. Fourth quarter 2009 results also were negatively impacted by a $29 million after-tax charge for impairment of the carrying value of certain emission allowances.

Olefins and Polyolefins—Europe, Asia, International Segment

Overview —The O&P—EAI segment manufactures and markets olefins, including ethylene and propylene, primarily for its internal consumption and butadiene; and polyolefins, which include PE, comprising HDPE and LDPE and polypropylene, as well as PP compounds, Catalloy process resins and PB-1 polymers. The manufacturing and marketing is generally in Europe, Asia and other regions outside of the Americas with the exception of PP compounds and PB-1, which are manufactured and marketed globally by the O&P—EAI segment.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 versus Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

During the first quarter 2010, the O&P–EAI segment experienced higher olefins and polyethylene product margins and higher sales volumes across most products, as compared to the first quarter 2009, which had reflected the effects of global economic uncertainty.

Demand for ethylene in Europe improved in the first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter 2009. Ethylene margins improved as benchmark ethylene sales prices increased more than the benchmark weighted average costs of ethylene production during the first quarter 2010. Ethylene captive consumption increased in the first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter 2009 due to higher downstream demand, which in turn resulted in higher operating rates, despite a planned turnaround of an ethylene production facility. Ethylene and butadiene product margins increased, primarily due to the improved economic environment resulting in improved supply and demand balances.

PE product margins in Europe were higher, while PE sales volumes strengthened, particularly in the International regions.

The sales volumes for PP Compounds increased as a result of higher demand, primarily from the automotive industry. The benefit of increased PP Compounds sales volumes was partly offset by lower margins in the first quarter 2010. Margins in the first quarter of 2009 benefited as raw material prices decreased significantly.

 

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Ethylene Raw Materials— In Europe, heavy liquids are the primary raw materials for LyondellBasell AF’s ethylene production.

The following table shows the average West Europe benchmark prices for Brent crude oil, a heavy liquid raw material, for the applicable periods, as well as benchmark West Europe prices for ethylene and propylene, which LyondellBasell AF produces and consumes internally or purchases from unrelated suppliers, and certain polyethylene and polypropylene products:

 

     Average Benchmark Price and Percent
Change Versus Prior Year  Period Average
 
     For the three months ended
March 31,
      
     2010    2009    Change  

Brent crude oil—dollars per barrel

   77.79    56.29    38

Weighted average cost of ethylene production—€0.01 per pound

   28.97    22.07    31

Western Europe—€0.01 per pound

        

Polyethylene (high density)

   51.41    37.50    37

Ethylene

   41.58    26.99    54

Polypropylene (homopolymer)

   51.33    34.32    50

Propylene

   38.93    20.90    86

Average Exchange Rate—$U.S. to €

   1.3849    1.3044    6

The following table sets forth the O&P—EAI segment’s sales and other operating revenues, operating income, income from equity investments and selected product sales volumes.

 

     For the three months ended  

Millions of dollars

     March 31,  
2010
     March 31,  
2009
 

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 3,119    $ 2,475   

Operating income (loss)

     71      (74

Income (loss) from equity investments

     52      (11

Production Volumes, in millions of pounds

     

Ethylene

     861      785   

Propylene

     509      468   

Sales Volumes, in millions of pounds

     

Polypropylene

     1,590      1,591   

Polyethylene

     1,364      1,117   

Revenues —Revenues increased in the first quarter 2010 to $3,119 million compared to $2,475 million in the first quarter 2009, primarily due to higher sales prices. Revenues also benefitted from increased sales volumes across most products with particular improvement from PP compounding. Additionally, revenues benefitted from the favorable effect of changes in currency exchange rates as the euro strengthened 7% versus the U.S. dollar.

Operating Income (Loss) —The O&P—EAI segment had operating income of $71 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to an operating loss of $74 million in the first quarter 2009. The increase in the first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter 2009 primarily reflects the effects of higher olefin and polyethylene product margins. Additionally, the first quarter 2010 benefitted from increased PP compounds sales volumes. Fixed costs increased in the first quarter 2010 due to unfavorable currency effects and the timing of corporate allocations.

 

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Year Ended December 31, 2009 versus Year Ended December 31, 2008

Although ethylene market demand in Europe improved during the course of 2009, demand remained weak, resulting in lower industry operating rates in the range of 75% to 80%, compared to rates in the 85% to 90% range in 2008 prior to the fourth quarter downturn. Ethylene margins contracted as benchmark sales prices decreased more than the benchmark weighted average cost of ethylene production. Global polyolefin markets were considerably weaker in 2009 compared to 2008. The general weakness in global polyolefin markets resulted in lower sales volumes, due to weaker demand, and lower product margins, as selling prices decreased significantly.

The O&P—EAI segment operating results for 2009 reflected the negative effects of significantly lower product margins compared to 2008 for olefins products, while polyolefin product results for 2009 reflected generally weaker global polyolefin markets, resulting in lower sales volumes across all polyolefins product lines and net lower product margins compared to 2008. As a result of LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program, fixed costs were significantly lower in 2009, partly offsetting the negative effects of the weak markets.

Year Ended December 31, 2008 versus Year Ended December 31, 2007

During 2008 compared to 2007, European producers using crude oil-based raw materials experienced lower profitability as increases in average benchmark product sales prices failed to keep pace with increases in average raw material costs. Despite the significant decline in crude oil prices in the latter part of 2008 from the record levels reached in mid-2008, benchmark prices of crude oil-based liquid raw materials averaged higher in 2008 compared to 2007. Additionally, the polyolefins markets experienced weakened demand during 2008 compared to 2007 due primarily to the slowdown of the global economy and the crises in financial markets.

The O&P—EAI segment’s underlying operating results declined in 2008 compared to 2007 due to the significant volatility in raw material costs and the decline in polyolefin demand. Higher raw material costs and declines in average polyolefin sales prices during 2008, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2008, put pressure on polyolefin product margins, which were only partially offset by higher olefins margins. The rapid decline in crude oil prices, particularly in the fourth quarter 2008, resulted in adjustments of the inventory values to reflect their lower market value.

Ethylene Raw Materials

The following table shows the average West Europe benchmark prices for Brent crude oil for the applicable periods, as well as benchmark West Europe prices for ethylene and propylene, and certain PE and polypropylene products. During 2009, contract benchmark prices for ethylene and propylene were set on a monthly basis, compared to prior years when they were set on a quarterly basis.

 

    Average Benchmark Price and Percent Change Versus Prior Year  Period Average  
    For the twelve months ended
December 31,
        For the twelve months ended
December 31,
     
    2009   2008   Change     2008   2007   Change  

Brent crude oil—dollars per barrel

  68.30   101.83   (32.9 )%    101.83   71.56   42.3

Weighted average cost of ethylene production—€0.01 per pound

  18.74   31.01   (39.6 )%    31.01   27.47   12.9

Western Europe—€0.01 per pound

           

Polyethylene (high density)

  42.90   58.51   (26.7 )%    58.51   57.30   2.1

Ethylene

  33.41   50.00   (33.2 )%    50.00   40.99   22.0

Polypropylene (homopolymer)

  39.92   54.15   (26.3 )%    54.15   55.28   (2.0 )% 

Propylene

  27.66   43.55   (36.5 )%    43.55   38.96   11.8

Average Exchange Rate—€ to $US

  1.3972   1.4739   (5.2 )%    1.4739   1.3808   6.7

 

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The following table sets forth the O&P—EAI segment’s sales and other operating revenues, operating income, income from equity investments and selected product sales volumes.

 

     For the twelve months ended
December 31,

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008    2007

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 7,437      $ 13,489    $ 13,145

Operating income

     (13     220      934

Income (loss) from equity investments

     (172     34      150

Production Volumes, in millions of pounds

       

Ethylene

     3,503        3,615      3,953

Propylene

     2,149        2,135      2,477

Sales volumes, in millions of pounds

       

Polypropylene

     6,858        7,023      8,131

Polyethylene

     4,943        4,821      4,669

Revenues —Revenues were $7,437 million in 2009 compared to $13,489 million in 2008 and $13,145 million in 2007. The decrease in 2009 revenues compared to 2008 reflects the effect of lower product sales prices, net lower sale volumes and the unfavorable effects of changes in currency exchange rates as the U.S. dollar averaged higher in relation to the euro in 2009 compared to 2008. Lower 2009 polypropylene and ethylene co-product sales volumes were partly offset by higher sales volumes for PE and ethylene products. In 2008, product prices were essentially flat or slightly higher across the segment compared to 2007, although the positive impact to revenues was partly offset by the effect of significantly lower polypropylene volumes compared to 2007.

Operating Income —The O&P—EAI segment had an operating loss of $13 million in 2009 compared to income of $220 million in 2008 and $934 million in 2007. In 2009, the underlying operations of the O&P—EAI segment reflected significantly lower net product margins and lower sales volumes, primarily in Europe, which were partly offset by the benefit of lower fixed costs compared to 2008. The lower fixed costs were primarily a result of LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program. In 2008, operating income primarily reflected the negative effect of higher raw material costs on olefin and polyolefin margins as well as the effect of lower sales volumes compared to 2007.

Income (loss) from equity investments —The O&P—EAI segment recognized a $172 million loss in 2009 and income of $34 million and $150 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively, from its equity investments. The 2009 loss was primarily due to recognition of a $228 million after-tax impairment of the carrying value of LyondellBasell AF’s investment in certain joint ventures as a result of weak then current and projected market conditions. This loss was based on estimates of fair values developed in connection with LyondellBasell AF’s estimation of its reorganization enterprise value. The decrease in 2008 compared to 2007 reflected the weaker global markets for polyolefins.

Fourth Quarter 2009 versus Third Quarter 2009

The O&P—EAI segment had an operating loss of $43 million in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to operating income of $118 million in the third quarter 2009. The decline in fourth quarter 2009 operating results was primarily due to lower product margins, higher fixed costs and, to a lesser extent, the unfavorable effects of changes in currency exchange rates as the U.S. dollar strengthened in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter 2009.

Intermediates and Derivatives Segment

Overview —The I&D segment manufactures and markets PO; PO co-products, including SM and TBA; TBA derivative, isobutylene; and PO derivatives, including PG, PGE and BDO; ethylene derivatives, including EG, EO and other EO derivatives; acetyls, including VAM, acetic acid and methanol; and flavors and fragrances.

 

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 versus Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

First quarter 2010 I&D operating results primarily reflected higher sales volumes for most products and improved results for intermediates C 4 products compared to the first quarter 2009. The higher sales volumes were primarily due to improved first quarter 2010 demand for PO and PO derivatives, ethylene derivatives and other intermediate chemical products. LyondellBasell AF’s propylene oxide business benefitted from planned and unplanned competitor downtime as the market for durable goods end-uses strengthened. Demand for durable goods in the 2009 period was negatively impacted by inventory corrections and reductions in production in response to market uncertainty during that time. Product margins, which were particularly strong in the 2009 period, were lower in the first quarter 2010 due to higher raw materials costs.

In the first quarter 2009, due to lower PO demand, two of LyondellBasell AF’s PO facilities remained idled, having been initially idled in late 2008. In mid-May 2009, LyondellBasell AF restarted one of the idled PO facilities, which is located in Europe and is part of LyondellBasell AF’s joint venture with Bayer. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 for more information relating to the joint venture. The second PO facility restarted in September 2009.

The following table sets forth the Intermediates & Derivatives segment’s sales and other operating revenues, operating income, loss from equity investments and selected product sales volumes:

 

     For the three months ended  

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
    March 31,
2009
 

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 1,316      $ 769   

Operating income

     123        78   

Loss from equity investments

     (1     (7

Sales Volumes, in millions of pounds

    

PO and derivatives

     869        680   

EO and derivatives

     265        223   

Styrene

     589        394   

Acetyls

     289        224   

C 4 chemicals

     472        290   

Revenues —Revenues were $1,316 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to $769 million in the first quarter 2009. The 70% increase in revenue reflects the effect of higher product sales prices and higher sale volumes across most products, particularly for PO and PO derivatives. Revenues in the first quarter 2010 also reflected the favorable effect of changes in currency exchange rates as the U.S. dollar was weaker relative to the euro compared to the first quarter 2009.

Operating Income —The I&D segment had operating income of $123 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to operating income of $78 million in the first quarter 2009. Operating results in the first quarter 2010 reflected the effect of higher sales volumes across most products and higher product margins for C 4 products, partially offset by lower product margins for PO and PO derivative as well as other intermediate products, compared to the first quarter 2009.

Year Ended December 31, 2009 versus Year Ended December 31, 2008

While improving during the course of 2009 following the significant decrease in late 2008, markets for PO and PO derivatives, ethylene derivatives and other intermediate chemical products generally experienced overall weaker demand in 2009 compared to 2008, particularly in durable goods markets.

The I&D segment operating results in 2009 primarily reflected the negative effects of lower sales volumes compared to 2008. As a result of LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program, fixed costs were significantly

 

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lower in 2009, partly offsetting the negative effects of the weak markets. Product margins were relatively stable. In response to lower PO demand, LyondellBasell AF temporarily idled two PO facilities in late 2008. In mid-May 2009, LyondellBasell AF restarted one of the idled PO facilities, which is located in Europe and is part of LyondellBasell AF’s joint venture with Bayer (see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The second PO facility restarted in September 2009.

In the third quarter 2008, operating results were negatively impacted by lost production at certain U.S. Gulf Coast plants due to the effects of a hurricane.

Year Ended December 31, 2008 versus Year Ended December 31, 2007

In 2008, the I&D segment included the intermediates and derivatives businesses of Lyondell Chemical, which were acquired on December 20, 2007.

As noted previously, during 2008 U.S. and European chemical producers experienced significantly higher raw material costs compared to 2007, which put pressure on product margins.

The operating results for the I&D segment declined in 2008 compared to 2007 due to the significant volatility in raw material costs. Operating results also were negatively impacted by the rapid decline in crude oil prices, particularly in the fourth quarter 2008, resulting in adjustments to inventory values to reflect their lower market value. Finally, as a result of Hurricane Ike, the I&D segment lost production and incurred additional costs, further contributing to the decline in 2008.

The following table sets forth the I&D segment’s sales and other operating revenues, operating income, income from equity investments and selected product sales volumes. The 2007 period includes the acquired Lyondell Chemical intermediate & derivatives business from December 21, 2007.

 

     For the twelve months ended
December 31,
 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007  

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 3,778      $ 6,218      $ 429   

Operating income (loss)

     250        (1,915     (42

Loss from equity investments

     (16     (2     —     

Sales volumes, in millions of pounds

      

PO and derivatives

     2,695        2,997        103   

EO and & derivatives

     1,231        1,387        72   

Styrene

     2,291        3,183        126   

Acetyls

     1,213        1,197        34   

C 4 chemicals

     1,401        1,597        45   

Revenues —Revenues were $3,778 million in 2009 compared to $6,218 million in 2008 and $429 million in 2007. The decrease in 2009 revenues compared to 2008 reflects the effect of lower product sales prices and net lower sale volumes, a trend which began in the latter part of 2008. The unfavorable effects of changes in currency exchange rates as the U.S. dollar averaged higher in relation to the euro in 2009 compared to 2008 also contributed to the decrease. The 2007 period includes the revenues of the acquired Lyondell Chemical intermediates and derivatives segment business from December 21, 2007.

Operating Income —The I&D segment had operating income of $250 million in 2009 compared to operating losses of $1,915 million in 2008 and $42 million in 2007. Results in 2009 reflect the positive impact of lower fixed costs as a result of LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program and lower utility costs due to lower natural gas prices in 2009 compared to 2008. Product margins in 2009 were flat compared to 2008, as lower product prices were offset by lower raw material costs. Results in 2008 were negatively impacted by charges of

 

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$1,992 million for impairment of goodwill related to the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical and downward inventory valuation adjustments of $65 million. The 2007 period includes the operating results of the acquired Lyondell Chemical intermediates & derivatives business from December 21, 2007.

Fourth Quarter 2009 versus Third Quarter 2009

The I&D segment had operating income of $59 million in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to $72 million in the third quarter 2009. The decline in fourth quarter 2009 operating results was primarily due to lower product margins and the effect of lower sales volumes, partially offset by the benefit of lower fixed costs. The lower product margins were primarily a result of increased raw material and utility costs in the fourth quarter.

Technology Segment

Overview —The Technology segment primarily develops and licenses polyolefin process technologies and develops, manufactures and sells polyolefin catalysts. The Technology segment, which is largely based in Europe, sells licenses denominated in U.S. dollars and euros. The mix of U.S. dollar and euro contracts and the resulting effect of changes in currency exchange rates can have a significant effect on segment results.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 versus Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

The following table sets forth the Technology segment’s sales and other operating revenues and operating income for the applicable three month periods:

 

     For the three months ended

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   March 31,
2009

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 110    $ 122

Operating income

     31      50

Revenues —The Technology segment had revenues of $110 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to $122 million in the first quarter 2009. The decrease in the first quarter 2010 compared to the first quarter 2009 was primarily due to lower process license revenue, partly offset by higher catalyst sales volumes.

Operating Income —The Technology segment had operating income of $31 million in the first quarter 2010 compared to operating income of $50 million in the first quarter 2009. The decrease in the first quarter 2010 was primarily due to the effects of lower licensing revenue, partly offset by the effect of higher catalyst sales volumes.

Year Ended December 31, 2009 versus Year Ended December 31, 2008

Technology segment results for 2009 were primarily affected by lower license revenue, reflecting weaker global markets compared to 2008. The segment results also reflected the negative effects of changes in currency exchange rates as the U.S. dollar strengthened versus the euro. The 2009 results benefited from lower research and development expense, reflecting LyondellBasell AF’s cost reduction program and a government subsidy. Higher catalyst sales volumes also contributed to the 2009 results.

Year Ended December 31, 2008 versus Year Ended December 31, 2007

During 2008, the Technology business segment benefited from recognizing more licenses in revenue. The unfavorable effect of lower sales volumes and prices on catalyst sales in 2008 was substantially offset by the favorable effects of changes in currency exchange rates, as the euro averaged 7% higher versus the U.S. dollar in 2008 compared to 2007.

 

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The following table sets forth the Technology segment’s sales and other operating revenues and operating income.

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008    2007

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 523    $ 583    $ 497

Operating income

     210      202      152

Revenues —The Technology segment had revenues of $523 million in 2009 compared to $583 million in 2008 and $497 million in 2007. The decrease in revenues in 2009 compared to 2008 reflected lower license revenues, partly offset by the effect of higher catalyst sales, and the negative effect of currency exchange rates on non U.S. operations as the U.S. dollar strengthened versus the euro. In 2008, the increase in the Technology segment revenues compared to 2007 was primarily due to the effects of the weaker U.S. dollar, which favorably affected non U.S. operations, partly offset by lower sales volumes and prices on catalyst sales.

Operating Income —The Technology segment had operating income of $210 million in 2009, $202 million in 2008 and $152 million in 2007. The increase in operating income in 2009 was primarily the result of higher catalysts sales volumes, partly offset by an unfavorable effect from changes in currency exchange rates. Currency exchange rates had an unfavorable effect on operating income as the U.S. dollar strengthened versus the euro in 2009 compared to 2008. The increase in operating income in 2008 compared to 2007 was primarily the result of higher licensing activity, particularly in the first quarter of 2008, and the favorable effect of currency exchange rates, partially offset by lower product margins and the effect of lower sales volumes for catalysts.

Fourth Quarter 2009 versus Third Quarter 2009

The Technology segment had operating income of $62 million in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to $31 million in the third quarter 2009. The increase was primarily due to higher licensing income, partly offset by the effect of lower sales volumes for catalysts.

Financial Condition

The following table summarizes operating, investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2010     2009  

Source (use) of cash:

    

Operating cash flow

   $ (373   $ (571

Investing cash flow

     (127     (173

Financing cash flow

     490        601   

Operating Activities —Operating activities used cash of $373 million and $571 million in the first quarter 2010 and 2009, respectively. The use of cash in the first quarter 2010 primarily reflected the increases in accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable; payments for reorganization items; and certain annual payments relating to sales rebates, employee bonuses and property taxes. Partially offsetting the increases were higher earnings and lower vendor prepayments in the first quarter 2010. The use of cash in the first quarter 2009 reflected the effects of prepayments required by third parties as a result of the Chapter 11 filing and certain annual payments relating to sales rebates, employee bonuses and property taxes.

In the first quarter 2010, the main components of working capital—accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable—used cash of $742 million compared to providing cash of $429 million in the first quarter 2009. The increase in these components of working capital consisted of primarily a $480 million increase in accounts receivable due to higher sales volumes and a $384 million increase in inventory primarily due to the timing and receipts of crude oil shipments and additions to inventory in preparation for maintenance at a U.S. olefins plant scheduled for the second quarter of 2010. The increases were partially offset by a $122 million increase in accounts payable due to the higher costs of feedstocks.

 

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The main components of working capital in the first quarter 2009 primarily reflected the effects of selling finished product from inventory while LyondellBasell AF reduced operating rates, partially offset by decreases in accounts payable due to less favorable payment terms and lower costs of feedstocks. Working capital in the first quarter 2009 was also negatively affected by a $503 million required payment to terminate the accounts receivable securitization program.

Investing Activities —Investing activities used cash of $127 million in the first quarter 2010 and $173 million in the first quarter 2009. The cash used in the first quarter 2010 included $139 million of capital expenditures, partially offset by $12 million in proceeds from a money market fund that had suspended rights to redemption in 2008. The cash used in the first quarter 2009 was primarily related to capital expenditures, partially offset by proceeds from the sale of assets and insurance claims related to damages sustained in 2005 at the polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany.

The following table summarizes capital expenditures for the periods indicated:

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,

Millions of dollars

       2010            2009    

Capital expenditures by segment:

     

O&P—Americas

   $ 30    $ 34

O&P—EAI

     59      117

I&D

     4      4

Refining and Oxyfuels

     35      31

Technology

     10      10

Other

     1      1
             

Total capital expenditures by segment

     139      197

Less:

     

Contributions to PO Joint Ventures

     —        —  
             

Consolidated capital expenditures of LyondellBasell AF's continuing operations

   $ 139    $ 197
             

The above capital expenditures excludes costs of major periodic maintenance and repair activities, including turnarounds and catalyst recharges, of $74 million and $20 million, in the first quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Financing Activities —Financing activities provided cash of $490 million in the first quarter 2010 and $601 million in the first quarter 2009. In the first quarter of 2010, LyondellBasell AF borrowed $525 million under the DIP revolving credit facility and made payments of $13 million related to the extension of the DIP financing facilities. LyondellBasell AF made a mandatory $12 million quarterly amortization payment under its Dutch Tranche A Dollar Term Loan, $3 million of which was related to DIP financing, and made additional repayments of $3 million related to other financings in the first quarter 2010.

In the first quarter of 2009, LyondellBasell AF borrowed $2,167 million under the term loan portion of the DIP financing arrangement, receiving net proceeds of $2,050 million. In addition, LyondellBasell AF borrowed $810 million under the $1,570 million DIP ABL facility, receiving net proceeds of $711 million. The borrowing was repaid in full during the first quarter 2009.

The Chapter 11 filing constituted a termination event under the asset-based credit facilities in the U.S., and LyondellBasell AF used $880 million of the net proceeds under the DIP financing arrangement to repay $766 million and $114 million outstanding under the previous inventory-based credit facility and the North American accounts receivable securitization program, respectively. Additionally, as noted under “—Operating Activities,” LyondellBasell AF used $503 million to repurchase outstanding accounts receivable sold under its

 

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previous receivables securitization facility. LyondellBasell AF also repaid a $100 million demand note related to emergency postpetition funding; $45 million (70 million Australian dollars) outstanding under an Australian term loan; and made net repayments of $404 million related to the European receivables securitization program, which was not terminated, and was amended and restated in March 2009. During the first quarter of 2009, LyondellBasell AF also made a mandatory $6 million quarterly amortization payment under one of its facilities, $2 million of which was related to DIP financing, and borrowed $9 million related to a letter of credit presented for payment under its Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility.

The following table summarizes LyondellBasell AF’s operating, investing and financing activities for the periods presented, and reflects the consolidation of Lyondell Chemical from December 21, 2007.

 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007  

Source (use) of cash:

      

Operating cash flow

   $ (787   $ 1,090      $ 1,180   

Investing cash flow

     (611     (1,884     (11,899

Financing cash flow

     1,101        1,083        10,416   

Operating Activities —The primary changes in operating cash flow generally are caused by changes in working capital, the main components of which are accounts receivable and inventory, net of accounts payable. Operating activities used cash of $787 million in 2009, and provided cash of $1,090 million in 2008 and $1,180 million in 2007. The use of cash in 2009 primarily reflects a $573 million increase in cash used by the main components of working capital and $329 million of cash used for vendor prepayments. The vendor prepayments were required by certain third parties as a result of LyondellBasell AF’s Chapter 11 filing.

Changes in the main components of working capital used cash of $573 million in 2009 and provided cash of $747 million in 2008. The increase in cash used by the main components of working capital in 2009 primarily reflected a $503 million required repayment to terminate an accounts receivable securitization program in early 2009. Operationally, cash used by the main components of working capital increased by only $70 million, despite the effect of rising prices during 2009, as LyondellBasell AF focused on reducing working capital levels.

In 2008, the main components of working capital provided cash of $747 million compared to $216 million in 2007. The increase in 2008 primarily reflected the effects of declining crude oil prices on sales prices and the value of inventory; the disruptive effects of Hurricane Ike on LyondellBasell AF’s U.S Gulf Coast operations; and the planned and unplanned outages related to the Houston Refinery turnaround. Other factors impacting the main components of working capital included a general tightening of trade credit in the industry and the delay, in December 2008, of certain payments.

Cash from operating activities decreased $90 million in 2008 compared to 2007. The main components of working capital provided an additional $531 million of cash in 2008 that was more than offset by the effects of lower 2008 earnings and certain one-time payments in 2008 related to the acquired Lyondell Chemical operations.

Investing Activities —Investing activities used cash of $611 million in 2009, $1,884 million in 2008, and $11,899 million in 2007. The cash used in 2009 primarily included $779 million of capital expenditures, partially offset by proceeds from insurance claims and sales of assets of $120 million and $20 million, respectively, and $23 million from a net reduction of short-term investments. The cash provided by insurance claims related to damages sustained in 2005 at the polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany.

The cash used in 2008 was primarily related to business acquisitions and capital expenditures, partially offset by proceeds from the sales of assets and from insurance claims related to the polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany. Acquisitions in 2008 included the April 2008 acquisition of the Shell oil refinery, inventory and associated infrastructure and businesses at the Berre Refinery for a preliminary purchase price of

 

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$766 million and the February 2008 acquisition of Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc., a leading supplier of polypropylene compounds in North America, for $134 million (see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Cash payments related to the purchase of the Berre Refinery totaling $927 million included $536 million paid at closing and $373 million paid for final adjustment of working capital. Asset sales included the September 2008 sale of the toluene diisocyanate business for proceeds of €77 million ($113 million) and the July 2008 sale of a Canadian plant for proceeds of $18 million. The cash used in 2007 was primarily related to the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical.

As a result of financial difficulties experienced by major financial institutions beginning in the latter part of 2008, LyondellBasell AF received notice that rights of redemption had been suspended with respect to a money market fund in which LyondellBasell AF had invested approximately $174 million. LyondellBasell AF had been advised that additional redemptions were forthcoming, and has received redemptions totaling $160 million through December 31, 2009, including $23 million in 2009 and $137 million in 2008, and an additional $12 million in January 2010.

The following table summarizes capital expenditures for 2009, 2008 and 2007 as well as 2010 planned capital spending.

 

Millions of dollars

   Plan
2010
   2009    2008    2007

Capital expenditures by segment:

           

Refining and Oxyfuels

   $ 157    $ 167    $ 196    $ 4

O&P—Americas

     170      142      201      42

O&P—EAI

     285      411      509      333

I&D

     49      23      66      6

Technology

     53      32      33      26

Other

     11      6      24      —  
                           

Total capital expenditures by segment

     725      781      1,029      411

Less:

           

Contributions to PO Joint Ventures

     7      2      29      —  
                           

Consolidated capital expenditures of LyondellBasell AF’s continuing operations

   $ 718    $ 779    $ 1,000    $ 411
                           

The capital expenditures for 2010, 2009 and 2008 exclude costs of major periodic turnarounds of $154 million, $39 million and $164 million, respectively. The turnarounds excluded from the 2007 period were immaterial.

The 2009 and 2008 capital expenditures include expenditures to rebuild the polymers plant in Münchmünster, Germany, which are partially offset by insurance proceeds. The capital spending of Lyondell Chemical is included prospectively from December 21, 2007.

Financing Activities —Financing activities provided cash of $1,101 million in 2009, $1,083 million in 2008 and $10,416 million in 2007. In 2009, LyondellBasell AF borrowed $2,167 million under a DIP financing arrangement, receiving net proceeds of $2,089 million and subsequently paid additional bank fees of $97 million. In addition, LyondellBasell AF paid fees of $93 million related to the issuance of the DIP ABL Facility, and at December 31, 2009 had $325 million of net borrowings outstanding under this facility.

The Chapter 11 filing constituted a termination event under the asset-based credit facilities in the U.S., and LyondellBasell AF used $880 million of the net proceeds under the DIP financing arrangement to repay $766 million and $114 million outstanding under the previous inventory-based credit facility and the North American accounts receivable securitization program, respectively, and, as noted above under “—Operating Activities,” used $503 million to repurchase outstanding accounts receivable sold under LyondellBasell AF’s previous $1,150 million receivables securitization facility. In addition, LyondellBasell AF repaid a $100 million demand note related to emergency post-petition funding.

 

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In 2009, LyondellBasell AF made net repayments totaling $201 million under its European receivables securitization program, which was amended and restated in March 2009. LyondellBasell AF repaid $45 million (70 million Australian dollars) outstanding under an Australian term loan and $11 million of other loans, including $6 million outstanding under an Argentinean bank loan, and also made mandatory quarterly amortization payments of the Dutch Tranche A Dollar Term Loan totaling $24 million, $6 million of which was related to the DIP financing.

A non-debtor subsidiary of LyondellBasell AF entered into an accounts receivable factoring agreement in 2009 and received $24 million of proceeds. Also in 2009, LyondellBasell AF received $18 million of proceeds from an Argentinean bank loan and borrowed $17 million related to a letter of credit presented for payment under the prepetition senior secured revolving credit facility.

LyondellBasell AF also had other cash used by financing activities of $21 million, which primarily reflected the effects of bank overdrafts.

The cash provided in 2008 primarily reflected a net $1,510 million borrowed under the credit facilities offset by $384 million of long-term debt repayments. The borrowings were used to fund the business acquisitions described in “—Financial Condition—Investing Activities” above.

The $10,416 million of cash provided in 2007 primarily reflected issuance of long-term debt to finance the purchase of Lyondell Chemical, offset by repayments of related long-term debt and restricted cash of $1,371 million. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009. LyondellBasell AF also paid dividends of $522 million in 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Chapter 11 Proceedings —During the Chapter 11 proceedings, LyondellBasell AF satisfied its liquidity and capital requirements primarily with cash from operations, DIP financing and European Securitization arrangements. The Chapter 11 proceedings caused uncertainty in our relationships with customers, suppliers, hedging counterparties, vendors and others with whom we conduct business.

At December 31, 2009, LyondellBasell AF had cash and cash equivalents of $558 million. In addition, LyondellBasell AF had availability of $1,946 million under its DIP financing arrangements. At December 31, 2009, borrowings outstanding under the DIP ABL facility totaled $325 million and outstanding letters of credit totaled $424 million, which includes a $200 million letter of credit issued to secure appeal bonds posted in connection with the BASF lawsuit (see “Item 8. Legal Proceedings” for a discussion of the BASF lawsuit). The borrowing base was $1,620 million after giving effect to a $100 million minimum unused availability requirement.

Total short-term and long-term debt, including current maturities of debt not subject to compromise, was $6,984 million as of December 31, 2009.

In early 2009, after certain of LyondellBasell AF’s subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for protection under Chapter 11 on January 6, 2009, LyondellBasell AF received notices of termination for all of its interest rate swap agreements, including notional amounts of $2,350 million under which LyondellBasell AF’s variable rate, long-term debt would effectively have been converted to fixed rate debt and $365 million of cross-currency swaps.

At March 31, 2010, LyondellBasell AF had cash and cash equivalents of $537 million. In addition, LyondellBasell AF had availability of $1,240 million under its DIP financing arrangements, including $1,083 million under the DIP term loan facility and $157 million under the DIP ABL facility. There were net borrowings of $850 million under the DIP ABL facility and outstanding letters of credit totaled $613 million at March 31, 2010. The borrowing base was $1,620 million, after giving effect to a $100 million minimum unused availability requirement.

Total short-term and long-term debt, including current maturities of debt not subject to compromise, was $7,466 million as of March 31, 2010.

 

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Prepetition Indebtedness

Immediately prior to the Debtors’ filing for relief under Chapter 11, LyondellBasell AF’s debt primarily consisted of outstanding amounts under debt instruments that are referenced in Notes 16, 19 and 21 to its Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. The treatment of such existing prepetition debt is discussed in Notes 3, 4, 16, 19 and 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements —LyondellBasell AF was a party to a $1,150 million accounts receivable securitization facility that was scheduled to mature in December 2012 and that had some characteristics of an off-balance sheet arrangement. The accounts receivable securitization facility terminated as a result of the Chapter 11 filing and was repaid, in full, on January 9, 2009, using proceeds from the DIP Financing. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional accounts receivable information.

Contractual and Other Obligations —The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2009, LyondellBasell AF’s minimum payments for long-term debt, including current maturities, short-term debt, and contractual and other obligations for the next five years and thereafter. With certain noted exceptions, liabilities that were subject to compromise in the bankruptcy proceedings are excluded. As further discussed below, the ultimate settlement of the following obligations and the liabilities subject to compromise is dependent upon approval of LyondellBasell AF’s Plan of Reorganization and its emergence from bankruptcy.

 

           Payments Due By Period  

Millions of dollars

   Total     2010    2011    2012    2013    2014    Thereafter  

Total debt

   $ 6,984      $ 6,679    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 305   

Interest on total debt

     693        299      24      24      24      24      297   

Pension benefits:

                   

PBO

     2,778        212      151      159      209      165      1,882   

Assets

     (1,638     —        —        —        —        —        (1,638
                         

Funded status

     1,140                    

Other post-retirement benefits

     353        24      24      24      26      26      229   

Advances from customers

     323        145      19      12      67      43      37   

Other

     509        21      11      16      15      8      438   

Deferred income taxes

     2,081        26      79      95      175      167      1,539   

Other obligations:

                   

Purchase obligations:

                   

Take-or-pay contracts

     16,599        1,998      1,994      1,994      1,932      1,927      6,754   

Other contracts

     34,944        9,695      6,375      4,092      3,934      3,751      7,097   

Operating leases

     1,992        267      227      189      168      148      993   
                                                   

Total

   $ 65,618      $ 19,366    $ 8,904    $ 6,605    $ 6,550    $ 6,259    $ 17,933   
                                                   

Total Debt —Total debt includes the DIP financing agreements and long- and short-term credit facilities and debt obligations of LyondellBasell AF’s non-Debtor subsidiaries, and excludes $18,370 million of debt classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise.”

Interest —LyondellBasell AF’s debt and related party debt agreements contain provisions for the payment of monthly, quarterly or semi-annual interest at a stated rate of interest over the term of the debt. As a result of the Bankruptcy Cases, a substantial portion of the Debtor’s prepetition debt was classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise.” The Debtors were obligated to pay interest, at the non-default rate, on the outstanding amounts under the prepetition senior secured credit facility not designated as roll-up loans, subject to certain minimum liquidity tests. The interest payments in the above table do not include projected interest payments for that portion of the prepetition senior secured credit facility included in “Liabilities subject to compromise.” Payment

 

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obligations on debt and related party debt agreements not classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” are reflected in the table above.

Pension Benefits —LyondellBasell AF maintains several defined benefit pension plans, as described in Note 23 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. At December 31, 2009, the projected benefit obligation for LyondellBasell AF’s pension plans, including Equistar and Millennium plans, exceeded the fair value of plan assets by $1,140 million. Subject to future actuarial gains and losses, as well as actual asset earnings, LyondellBasell AF, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, will be required to fund the $1,140 million, with interest, in future years. LyondellBasell AF’s pension contributions were $52 million in 2009, $80 million in 2008 and $63 million in 2007. Required contributions are expected to be approximately $96 million in 2010. Estimates of pension benefit payments through 2014 are included in the table above. At December 31, 2009, these obligations are classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise.” Their ultimate settlement depends upon approval of LyondellBasell AF’s Plan of Reorganization and LyondellBasell AF’s emergence from bankruptcy.

Other Post-Retirement Benefits —LyondellBasell AF provides other post-retirement benefits, primarily medical benefits to eligible participants, as described in Note 23 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. Other post-retirement benefits are unfunded and are paid by LyondellBasell AF as incurred. Estimates of other post-retirement benefit payments through 2014 are included in the table above.

Advances from Customers —LyondellBasell AF received advances from customers in prior years in connection with long-term sales agreements under which LyondellBasell AF is obligated to deliver product primarily at cost-based prices. These advances are treated as deferred revenue and will be amortized to earnings as product is delivered over the remaining terms of the respective contracts, which primarily range from 4 to 13 years. The unamortized long-term portion of such advances totaled $287 million as of December 31, 2009.

Other —Other primarily consists of accruals for environmental remediation costs, obligations under deferred compensation arrangements, and anticipated asset retirement obligations. See “—Critical Accounting Policies” below for a discussion of obligations for environmental remediation costs.

Deferred Income Taxes —The scheduled settlement of the deferred tax liabilities shown in the table is based on the scheduled reversal of the underlying temporary differences. Actual cash tax payments will vary dependent upon future taxable income.

Purchase Obligations —LyondellBasell AF is party to various obligations to purchase products and services, principally for raw materials, utilities and industrial gases. These commitments are designed to assure sources of supply and are not expected to be in excess of normal requirements. The commitments are segregated into take-or-pay contracts and other contracts. Under the take-or-pay contracts, LyondellBasell AF is obligated to make minimum payments whether or not it takes the product or service. Other contracts include contracts that specify minimum quantities; however, in the event that LyondellBasell AF does not take the contractual minimum, it is only obligated for any resulting economic loss suffered by the vendor. The payments shown for the other contracts assume that minimum quantities are purchased. For contracts with variable pricing terms, the minimum payments reflect the contract price at December 31, 2009. The table excludes contracts that were rejected as part of the bankruptcy process. Claims related to such rejected contracts are included in “Liabilities subject to compromise.”

Operating Leases —LyondellBasell AF leases various facilities and equipment under noncancelable lease arrangements for various periods. See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for related lease disclosures. The table excluded leases that were rejected as part of the bankruptcy process. Claims related to such rejected leases are included in “Liabilities subject to compromise.”

 

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Overview of Capital Structure

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. had approximately $3.6 billion of cash, cash equivalents and available capacity under its U.S. ABL Facility at April 30, 2010. At April 30, 2010, there were no borrowings under the U.S. ABL Facility and outstanding letters of credit totaled $625 million.

The consummation of the Plan of Reorganization on the Emergence Date created a significantly de-levered capital structure as compared to the structure before filing for and during bankruptcy. LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s total short-term and long-term debt, including current maturities, was $7,244 million as of April 30, 2010.

In conjunction with the emergence from Chapter 11, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., through its wholly owned subsidiary, LBI Escrow, raised $3,250 million of first priority debt, including $2,250 million and €375 million of senior secured notes in a private placement and borrowings of $500 million under a senior secured term loan facility. On April 30, 2010, Lyondell Chemical was merged with and replaced LBI Escrow as issuer of the senior secured notes and the senior secured term loan facility. The net proceeds from the sale of the notes and borrowings under the term loan, together with a new European securitization facility and proceeds from a $2,800 million rights offering, were used to repay and replace certain existing debt, including the DIP financing arrangements of LyondellBasell AF and an existing European securitization facility, and to make certain related payments.

Rights Offering —As part of the emergence from Chapter 11, approximately 563.9 million ordinary shares of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. were issued under the Plan of Reorganization, including 300 million shares of class A ordinary shares issued in exchange for allowed claims. Approximately 263.9 million shares of class B ordinary shares were issued in connection with a rights offering for gross proceeds of $2,800 million.

Senior Secured Notes —On April 8, 2010, LBI Escrow issued $2,250 million of 8% senior secured notes due 2017 and €375 million of 8% senior secured notes due 2017 (collectively, the “Senior Secured Notes”). Interest on the Senior Secured Notes will accrue at a rate of 8% per annum and will be payable on May 1 and November 1, beginning on November 1, 2010. As noted above, Lyondell Chemical was merged with and replaced LBI Escrow as the issuer of the Senior Secured Notes.

The Senior Secured Notes are jointly and severally, and fully and unconditionally, guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and, subject to certain exceptions, each existing and future wholly owned U.S. restricted subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. other than Lyondell Chemical (the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and, together with LyondellBasell Industries N.V., the “Guarantors”).

The Senior Secured Notes rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior debt of Lyondell Chemical and the Guarantors, except that the notes and guarantees rank junior to obligations of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Senior Secured Notes.

The Senior Secured Notes and guarantees are secured by

 

   

a first priority lien on substantially all of Lyondell Chemical’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ existing and future property and assets (other than the assets securing the U.S. ABL Facility);

 

   

a first priority lien on the capital stock of all U.S. Subsidiary Guarantors of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.;

 

   

a first priority lien on 65% of the capital stock of the first-tier non-U.S. subsidiaries of Lyondell Chemical or of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.;

 

   

a second-priority lien on the accounts receivables, inventory, related contracts and other rights and assets related to the foregoing and proceeds that secure the U.S. ABL Facility on a first priority basis;

subject, in each case, to certain exceptions and permitted liens.

 

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The Senior Secured Notes are redeemable by Lyondell Chemical prior to maturity at certain specified redemption premiums, depending on when the notes are redeemed.

The Senior Secured Notes contains covenants, subject to certain exceptions, that restrict, among other things,

 

   

debt and lien incurrences;

 

   

investments;

 

   

certain restricted payments;

 

   

sales of assets and mergers; and

 

   

affiliate transactions.

Several of the restrictive covenants will be suspended if LyondellBasell Industries N.V. receives an investment grade rating from two rating agencies. The Senior Secured Notes do not require LyondellBasell Industries N.V. to maintain compliance with any specific financial covenants.

Senior Term Loan Facility— On April 8, 2010, LBI Escrow entered into a six-year, $500 million senior term loan facility (the “Senior Term Loan Facility”) and received net proceeds of $495 million. Lyondell Chemical became the issuer under the facility in connection with its merger with LBI Escrow.

Borrowings under the Senior Term Loan Facility bear interest at either (a) a LIBOR rate adjusted for certain additional costs or (b) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of the administrative agent’s prime rate, the federal funds effective rate plus 0.5%, or one-month LIBOR plus 1.0% (the “Base Rate”), in each case plus an applicable margin.

The Senior Term Loan Facility is guaranteed, jointly and severally, and fully and unconditionally, on a senior secured basis, initially by the Guarantors. Subject to permitted liens and other exceptions, Lyondell Chemical’s obligations and guarantees will be secured on a pari passu basis with the Senior Secured Notes by perfected first priority security interests in the collateral securing the Senior Secured Notes and by a second priority security interest in the collateral securing the ABL Facility described below.

The Senior Term Loan Facility contains covenants that are substantially similar to the Senior Secured Notes. The Senior Term Loan Facility does not require LyondellBasell Industries N.V. to maintain compliance with any specific financial covenants.

U.S. ABL Facility— On April 8, 2010, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. entered into a $1,750 million U.S. asset-based lending facility (the “U.S. ABL Facility”), under which funds were available upon emergence from bankruptcy to Lyondell Chemical, Equistar, Houston Refining, and LyondellBasell Acetyls, the borrowers under the facility. Letters of credit in the amount of $625 million that were outstanding under the DIP ABL Facility at the Emergence Date were transferred to the new U.S. ABL Facility.

Borrowings under the U.S. ABL Facility bear interest at the Base Rate or LIBOR, plus an applicable margin, and the lenders are paid a commitment fee on the average daily unused commitments.

Obligations under the U.S. ABL Facility are guaranteed jointly and severally, and fully and unconditionally, on a senior secured basis, by the Guarantors (except, in the case of any Guarantor that is a borrower under the facility, to the extent of its own obligations in its capacity as a borrower). The borrowers’ obligations under the U.S. ABL Facility and the related guarantees are secured by (i) a first priority perfected lien on all present and after-acquired inventory, accounts receivable, related contracts and other rights, deposit accounts into which proceeds of the foregoing are credited and books and records related thereto, together with all proceeds of the foregoing, in each case to the extent of the rights, title and interest therein of any ABL borrowers and (ii) a second priority perfected lien on the Senior Secured Notes and Senior Term Loan Facility collateral.

 

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Mandatory prepayments of the loans under the U.S. ABL Facility will be made from net cash proceeds from certain sales of collateral securing the facility and insurance and condemnation awards involving the facility.

The U.S. ABL Facility contains covenants that are substantially similar to the Senior Secured Notes.

In addition, in the event excess availability under the U.S. ABL Facility falls below $300 million for five consecutive business days or below $250 million on any business day, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is required to comply with a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00, measured quarterly. The fixed charge coverage ratio is defined in the facility generally as the ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) to consolidated interest expense plus dividends on preferred or other preferential stock. The excess availability under the U.S. ABL Facility was $1,125 million as of April 30, 2010.

Plan Roll-Up Notes —On April 30, 2010, Lyondell Chemical issued $3,240 million of roll-up notes (the “Plan Roll-Up Notes”) in exchange for roll-up loans incurred under the Bankruptcy Cases. The Plan Roll-up Notes are guaranteed by the same Guarantors that support the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Term Loan Facility and the U.S. ABL Facility.

The Plan Roll-Up Notes are secured by the same security package as the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Term Loan Facility and the U.S. ABL Facility on a third-priority basis, and bear interest at a rate equal to 11%.

Receivables securitization programs —On April 28, 2010, two non-U.S. subsidiaries of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. entered into a three-year securitization agreement (the “European Securitization”) under which they may sell up to €450 million in trade receivables. The European Securitization replaces the previous accounts receivable securitization program of LyondellBasell AF. Transfers of accounts receivable under this program do not qualify as sales; therefore, the transferred accounts receivable and the proceeds received through such transfers are included in trade receivables, net, and short-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

Accounts Receivable Factoring Agreement —On October 8, 2009, a non-debtor subsidiary of LyondellBasell AF entered into an accounts receivable factoring facility for up to €100 million. The factoring facility is for an indefinite period, non-recourse, unsecured and terminable by either party subject to notice. At March 31, 2010, $22 million was outstanding under the accounts receivable factoring agreement.

We plan to fund ongoing liquidity requirements through a combination of cash flows from operations, borrowings under the U.S. ABL Facility, the European Securitization and other receivables securitization and financing arrangements. We believe that our cash and cash equivalents, together with the U.S. ABL Facility, European Securitization and other receivables securitizations and cash from operations, will provide us with sufficient financing to meet capital expenditures, working capital, debt service, contractual obligations and other funding requirements.

Debt and Interest

The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the emergence from bankruptcy and the transactions in connection therewith, LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s minimum payments for long-term debt, including current maturities, and short-term debt for the next five years and thereafter.

 

          Payments Due By Period

Millions of dollars

   Total    2010    2011    2012    2013    2014    Thereafter

Total debt

   $ 7,191    $ 390    $ 5    $ 5    $ 5    $ 5    $ 6,781

Interest on total debt

     4,835      618      602      602      602      602      1,809

Total Debt —Total debt includes the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Term Loan Facility, the Plan Roll-up Notes, the European Securitization and 8.1% guaranteed notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”).

 

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Interest —LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s debt agreements contain provisions for the payment of monthly, quarterly or semi-annual interest at a stated rate of interest over the term of the debt. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. will pay interest on the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Term Loan Facility, the Plan Roll-up Notes and the 2027 Notes. The table above uses a blended rate of 7.62% for the Senior Secured Notes and the Senior Term Loan Facility, 11% for the Plan Roll-up Notes, 3.2% for the European Securitization and 8.1% for the 2027 Notes.

Related Party Transactions

LyondellBasell AF has related party transactions with LyondellBasell AF’s equity investees and its affiliates (see Notes 9 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). LyondellBasell AF believes that such transactions are effected on terms substantially no more or less favorable than those that would have been agreed upon by unrelated parties on an arm’s length basis.

In addition, prior to the Emergence Date LyondellBasell AF had related party transactions with Access Industries.

Critical Accounting Policies

LyondellBasell AF applies those accounting policies that management believes best reflect the underlying business and economic events, consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. LyondellBasell AF’s more critical accounting policies include those related to operating as a going concern , long-lived assets, the valuation of goodwill, accruals for long-term employee benefit costs such as pension and other post-retirement costs, liabilities for anticipated expenditures to comply with environmental regulations, and accruals for taxes based on income. Inherent in such policies are certain key assumptions and estimates made by management. Management periodically updates its estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements based on its latest assessment of the current and projected business and general economic environment. These critical accounting policies have been discussed with LyondellBasell AF’s Supervisory Board. LyondellBasell AF’s significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Going Concern —During 2009 and into the first quarter of 2010, there were a number of factors beyond LyondellBasell AF’s control that created doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern, as described below.

On January 6, 2009, certain of LyondellBasell AF’s subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court. On April 24, 2009, to protect against claims by certain financial and U.S. trade creditors, LyondellBasell AF and its general partner, LyondellBasell AF GP S.a.r.l., also filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11. On May 8, 2009, thirteen additional U.S. subsidiaries also filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11. All 94 of these cases were jointly administered under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court under the caption “In re Lyondell Chemical Company, et al.”

In connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, and after obtaining forbearance agreements from the required number of secured lenders under certain senior secured loans, the Debtors received Bankruptcy Court approval of the DIP financing.

The DIP financing contained, among others, affirmative covenants and financial maintenance covenants. The DIP financing matured on April 6, 2010, subject to a one-time extension option. Further, the capitalization of LyondellBasell AF upon emergence of the Debtors from Chapter 11 was subject to Bankruptcy Court confirmation of a plan of reorganization.

The ability of LyondellBasell AF and the Debtors to continue as going concerns was dependent upon, among other things, LyondellBasell AF’s ability (i) to comply with the loan covenants in the DIP financing and

 

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to meet its post-petition obligations as they became due; (ii) to comply with the other terms and conditions of the DIP financing; and (iii) to obtain confirmation of a plan of reorganization under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in a timely manner to exit Chapter 11 as of the applicable maturity date, which in turn required LyondellBasell AF to raise additional debt and equity capital.

Liabilities Subject to Compromise —Liabilities subject to compromise included the Debtors’ long-term debt that was considered undersecured; amounts due from the Debtors to vendors and employees for goods and services received prior to the January 6, 2009, April 24, 2009 and May 8, 2009 petition dates; and damage claims, including environmental claims, created by the Debtors’ rejection of certain executory contracts.

As part of its claims resolution process, LyondellBasell AF investigated differences between claim amounts filed by creditors and LyondellBasell AF’s estimates of the probable allowed amount of its liabilities subject to compromise in determining the classifications of its liabilities.

Long-Lived Assets —With respect to long-lived assets, key assumptions included the estimates of the asset fair values and useful lives at the acquisition date and the recoverability of carrying values of fixed assets and other intangible assets, as well as the existence of any obligations associated with the retirement of fixed assets. Such estimates could be significantly modified and/or the carrying values of the assets could be impaired by such factors as new technological developments, new chemical industry entrants with significant raw material or other cost advantages, uncertainties associated with the European, U.S. and world economies, the cyclical nature of the chemical and refining industries, and uncertainties associated with governmental actions, whether regulatory or, in the case of Houston Refining LP, with respect to its crude oil contract.

The current recession and continuing weakness in financial markets have created substantial uncertainty for the global economy and the markets in which LyondellBasell AF operates.

Earnings for 2009 included pretax impairment charges of $17 million, primarily related to the impairment of LyondellBasell AF’s emissions allowances that are subject to reallocation to other industry participants under a proposed regulation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. As part of its reorganization, LyondellBasell AF also recognized charges totaling $680 million, including $624 million for the write-off of the carrying value and related assets of its Chocolate Bayou olefins facility near Alvin, Texas and $55 million for the write-off of its EG facility in Beaumont, Texas.

Earnings for 2008 included a $218 million pretax charge for impairment of the carrying value of the assets related to LyondellBasell AF’s Berre Refinery. Also in 2008, LyondellBasell AF recognized a $7 million charge for impairment of its EG facility in Beaumont, Texas.

Earnings for 2007 included a $12 million pretax charge for impairment of the net book value of LyondellBasell AF’s Canadian facility in Varennes, Québec and $8 million for capitalized engineering costs for a new polymers plant in Germany.

For purposes of recognition and measurement of the above-noted impairments, long-lived assets were grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows were largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities.

The estimated useful lives of long-lived assets range from 3 to 30 years. Depreciation and amortization of these assets, including amortization of deferred turnaround costs, under the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives totaled $1,774 million in 2009. If the useful lives of the assets were found to be shorter than originally estimated, depreciation and amortization charges would be accelerated over the revised useful life.

 

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Long-Term Employee Benefit Costs —The costs to LyondellBasell AF of long-term employee benefits, particularly pension and other post-retirement medical and life insurance benefits, are incurred over long periods of time, and involve many uncertainties over those periods. The net periodic benefit cost attributable to current periods is based on several assumptions about such future uncertainties, and is sensitive to changes in those assumptions. It is management’s responsibility, often with the assistance of independent experts, to select assumptions that in its judgment represent its best estimates of the future effects of those uncertainties. It also is management’s responsibility to review those assumptions periodically to reflect changes in economic or other factors that affect those assumptions.

The current benefit service costs, as well as the existing liabilities, for pensions and other post-retirement benefits are measured on a discounted present value basis. The discount rate is a current rate, related to the rate at which the liabilities could be settled. LyondellBasell AF’s assumed discount rate is based on published average rates for high-quality (Aa rating) ten-year fixed income securities. For the purpose of measuring the benefit obligations at December 31, 2009, LyondellBasell AF decreased its average assumed discount rates from 6.00% to 5.75% for U.S. plans and from 5.73% to 5.51% for non-U.S. plans, reflecting market interest rates at December 31, 2009. The December 31, 2009 rate also will be used to measure net periodic benefit cost during 2010.

The benefit obligation and the periodic cost of other post-retirement medical benefits also are measured based on assumed rates of future increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits. As of December 31, 2009, the assumed rate of increase was 8% for 2010, decreasing 0.5% per year to 5% in 2016 and thereafter. A one percentage point change in the health care cost trend rate assumption would have no significant effect on either the benefit liability or the net periodic cost, due to limits on LyondellBasell AF’s maximum contribution level under the medical plan.

The net periodic cost of pension benefits included in expense also is affected by the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption. Investment returns that are recognized currently in net income represent the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets applied to a market-related value of plan assets which, for LyondellBasell AF, is defined as the market value of assets. The expected rate of return on plan assets is a longer term rate, and is expected to change less frequently than the current assumed discount rate, reflecting long-term market expectations, rather than current fluctuations in market conditions.

LyondellBasell AF’s weighted average expected long-term rate of return on U.S. and non-U.S. plan assets of 8.0% and 5.78%, respectively, is based on the average level of earnings that its independent pension investment advisor had advised could be expected to be earned over time. The expectation is based on an asset allocation that varies by region. The asset allocations are summarized in Note 23 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009. The actual returns in 2009 for U.S. and non-U.S. plan assets were 23% and 6%, respectively.

The actual rate of return on plan assets may differ from the expected rate due to the volatility normally experienced in capital markets. Management’s goal is to manage the investments over the long term to achieve optimal returns with an acceptable level of risk and volatility.

Net periodic pension cost recognized each year includes the expected asset earnings, rather than the actual earnings or loss. This unrecognized amount, to the extent it exceeds 10% of the projected benefit obligation for the respective plan, is recognized as additional net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining service period of the participants in each plan.

LyondellBasell AF temporarily suspended its matching contributions under its defined contribution plans (Employee Savings Plans) beginning in March 2009 as a result of the bankruptcy.

 

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Additional information on the key assumptions underlying these benefit costs appears in Note 23 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Liabilities for Environmental Remediation Costs —Anticipated expenditures related to investigation and remediation of contaminated sites, which include current and former plant sites and other remediation sites, are accrued when it is probable a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Only ongoing operating and monitoring costs, the timing of which can be determined with reasonable certainty, are discounted to present value. Future legal costs associated with such matters, which generally are not estimable, are not included in these liabilities.

As a result of the Bankruptcy Cases, the Debtors discontinued funding and/or ceased performing cleanups at various third-party sites (including sites where the Debtors were subject to a CERCLA or similar state order to fund or perform such cleanup, such as the river and the other portions of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site that the Debtors do not own). The Debtors sought a determination from the Bankruptcy Court that any claims or fines asserted against a Debtor with respect to such sites would be prepetition claims, the collection of which was stayed and that would ultimately be discharged as a general unsecured claim.

Accordingly, in 2009, an aggregate of $169 million of environmental remediation liabilities related to third-party sites were reclassified from “Other liabilities” to “Liabilities subject to compromise.” Additionally, in accordance with the bankruptcy claims process, the bases for certain accrued liabilities, including executory contracts and environmental liabilities, were increased by an aggregate of $1,338 million to reflect the Debtors’ estimated claims to be allowed. The estimated claims are classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” in LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated balance sheet and the amounts of those claims were based primarily on negotiations that occurred during the bankruptcy process. There were no material adjustments to the Company’s environmental remediation liabilities in the first quarter of 2010.

As of December 31, 2009, LyondellBasell AF’s accrued liability for future environmental remediation costs at current and former plant sites and other remediation sites, except those classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” totaled $89 million. The liabilities for individual sites range from less than $1 million to $20 million, and remediation expenditures are expected to occur over a number of years, and not to be concentrated in any single year. In the opinion of management, there is no material estimable range of reasonably possible loss in excess of the liabilities recorded for environmental remediation. However, it is possible that new information about the sites for which the accrual has been established, new technology or future developments such as involvement in investigations by regulatory agencies, could require LyondellBasell N.V. to reassess potential exposure related to environmental matters. See Note 25 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009 and its unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 for further discussion of environmental remediation matters.

Accruals for Taxes Based on Income —Uncertainties exist with respect to interpretation of complex U.S. federal and non-U.S. tax regulations. Management expects that LyondellBasell AF’s interpretations will prevail. Also, LyondellBasell AF has recognized deferred tax benefits relating to its future utilization of past operating losses. LyondellBasell AF believes it is more likely than not that the amounts of deferred tax assets in excess of the related valuation reserves will be realized. Further details on LyondellBasell AF’s income taxes appear in Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Accounting and Reporting Changes

For a discussion of the potential impact of new accounting pronouncements on LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated financial statements, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Note 3 to the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

See Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 for discussion of LyondellBasell AF’s management of commodity price risk, foreign currency exposure and interest rate risk through its use of derivative instruments and hedging activities.

As a result of the voluntary filings of petitions for relief under Chapter 11 and the associated perceived credit risk, LyondellBasell AF was limited in its ability to further engage in derivative transactions. After the filings, LyondellBasell AF did not participate in interest rate transactions due to a lack of willing counterparties. Further, its foreign currency transactions were restricted to a few currencies and primarily to spot or near spot transactions. LyondellBasell AF continued to enter into commodity derivative contracts in the ordinary course of business on a limited basis, and only through exchange traded futures contracts, which are supported by cash deposits.

Commodity Price Risk

A substantial portion of our products and raw materials are commodities whose prices fluctuate as market supply and demand fundamentals change. Accordingly, product margins and the level of our profitability tend to fluctuate with changes in the business cycle. We try to protect against such instability through various business strategies. These include provisions in sales contracts allowing us to pass on higher raw material costs through timely price increases, formula price contracts to transfer or share commodity price risk, and increasing the depth and breadth of our product portfolio.

In addition, we selectively use commodity swap, option, and futures contracts with various terms to manage the volatility related to purchases of natural gas and raw materials, as well as product sales. Such contracts are generally limited to durations of one year or less. Cash-flow hedge accounting is normally elected for these derivative transactions; however, in some cases, when the duration of a derivative is short, hedge accounting is not elected. When hedge accounting is not elected, the changes in fair value of these instruments are recorded in earnings. When hedge accounting is elected, gains and losses on these instruments are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), to the extent that the hedge remains effective, until the underlying transaction is recognized in earnings. Market risks created by these derivative instruments and the mark-to-market valuations of open positions are monitored by management.

We use value at risk (“VAR”), stress testing and scenario analysis for risk measurement and control purposes. VAR estimates the maximum potential loss in fair market values, given a certain move in prices over a certain period of time, using specified confidence levels. Using sensitivity analysis and hypothetical unfavorable changes in market prices ranging from 13% to 15% from those in effect at December 31, 2009, the effect would have been to reduce LyondellBasell AF’s net income by approximately $1 million. The quantitative information about market risk is necessarily limited because it does not take into account the effects of the underlying operating transactions.

Foreign Exchange Risk

We manufacture and market our products in a number of countries throughout the world and, as a result, are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Costs in some countries are incurred, in part, in currencies other than the applicable functional currency. Since January 6, 2009, when certain subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11, LyondellBasell AF and its subsidiaries were not able to enter into new foreign currency forward contracts to reduce the effects of their net currency exchange exposures. All foreign currency forward contracts outstanding at the time of filing have since expired and been settled.

 

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Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk with respect to variable rate debt. Using sensitivity analysis and a hypothetical 1% increase in interest rates from those in effect at December 31, 2009, the increase in LyondellBasell AF’s annual interest expense on the variable-rate debt of $6.3 billion not classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” would have reduced net income by approximately $62 million.

During 2008, LyondellBasell AF entered into interest rate swap agreements, maturing in 2013, in the notional amount of $2,350 million. These interest rate swaps were designated as cash-flow hedges of the interest cash flows for the period between April 2009 and June 2013 and effectively converted a portion of LyondellBasell AF’s variable rate, long-term debt to fixed rate debt for the period of the hedge. The variable portion of the interest rate would have converted to a fixed rate ranging from 3.6% to 4.6%.

In January 2009, LyondellBasell AF received notice of termination for these interest rate swap agreements after certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for protection under Chapter 11. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the fair value of these interest rate swap agreements resulted in payables of $201 million and $196 million, respectively, which were classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” and “Accrued liabilities,” respectively.

LyondellBasell AF entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap for a principal amount of $365 million in conjunction with the issuance of $615 million of senior notes due in 2015. The swap involved the payment of fixed interest and, upon maturity, principal amounts in euro in exchange for corresponding receipts in U.S. dollars. This swap was designated as a cash-flow hedge. Accordingly, in 2008, a $22 million loss was reclassified from AOCI to “Other income, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to the changes in fair value.

 

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ITEM 3. PROPERTIES

Properties

Our principal manufacturing facilities as of December 31, 2009 are set forth below, and are identified by the principal segment or segments using the facility. The facilities are wholly owned, except as otherwise noted below.

 

Location                                                                  

  Segment  

Principal Products

Americas

   

Bayport (Pasadena), Texas*

  I&D   Ethylene Oxide (EO), EG and other EO derivatives

Bayport (Pasadena), Texas (1) *

  I&D   Propylene Oxide (PO), Propylene Glycol (PG), Propylene Glycol Ethers (PGE), Tertiary-Butyl-Alcohol (TBA) and Isobutylene

Bayport (Pasadena), Texas*

  O&P—Americas   Polypropylene and Catalloy process resins

Brunswick, Georgia

  I&D   Flavor and fragrance chemicals

Channelview, Texas (2) *

  O&P—Americas   Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene, Benzene and Toluene
  Refining and Oxyfuels   Alkylate and MTBE

Channelview, Texas (1)(3) *

  I&D   PO, BDO, SM and Isobutylene
  Refining and Oxyfuels   ETBE

Chocolate Bayou, Texas*

  O&P—Americas   Polyethylene (HDPE)

Clinton, Iowa*

  O&P—Americas   Ethylene and Propylene
    Polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE)

Corpus Christi, Texas*

  O&P—Americas   Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene and Benzene

Edison, New Jersey

  Technology   Polyolefin catalysts

Ensenada, Argentina

  O&P—Americas   Polypropylene

Ensenada, Argentina

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Fairport Harbor, Ohio

  O&P—Americas   Performance polymers

Houston, Texas*

  Refining and Oxyfuels   Gasoline, Diesel, Jet Fuel and Lube Oils

Jackson, Tennessee

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Jacksonville, Florida*

  I&D   Flavor and fragrance chemicals

La Porte, Texas (4) *

  O&P—Americas   Ethylene and Propylene
    Polyethylene (LDPE and LLDPE)

La Porte, Texas (4)(5) *

  I&D   VAM, acetic acid and methanol

Lake Charles, Louisiana*

  O&P—Americas   Polypropylene and Catalloy process resins

Mansfield, Texas

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Matagorda, Texas*

  O&P—Americas   Polyethylene (HDPE)

Morris, Illinois*

  O&P—Americas   Ethylene and Propylene
    Polyethylene (LDPE and LLDPE)

Newark, New Jersey

  O&P—Americas   Denatured Alcohol

Pindamonhangaba, Brazil

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Tampico, Mexico (6)

  O&P—Americas   Polypropylene

Tampico, Mexico (6)

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Tuscola, Illinois*

  O&P—Americas   Ethanol and Polyethylene (powders)

Victoria, Texas*†

  O&P—Americas   Polyethylene (HDPE)

Europe

   

Aubette, France

  O&P—EAI   Ethylene, Propylene and Butadiene
    Polypropylene and Polyethylene (LDPE)

Bayreuth, Germany

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Berre l’Etang, France

  Refining and Oxyfuels   Naphtha, vacuum gas oil (VGO), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, bitumen and heating oil

 

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Location                                                                  

  Segment  

Principal Products

Botlek, Rotterdam, The Netherlands†

  I&D

Refining and Oxyfuels

 

PO, PG, PGE, TBA, Isobutylene and BDO

MTBE and ETBE

Brindisi, Italy

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene

Carrington, U.K.

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene

Ferrara, Italy

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene and Catalloy process resins
  Technology   Polyolefin catalysts

Fos-sur-Mer, France†

  I&D   PO, PG and TBA
  Refining and Oxyfuels   MTBE and ETBE

Frankfurt, Germany†

  O&P—EAI   Polyethylene (HDPE)
  Technology   Polyolefin catalysts

Knapsack, Germany†

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene and PP compounds

Ludwigshafen, Germany†

  Technology   Polyolefin catalysts

Maasvlakte (near Rotterdam), The Netherlands (7)

  I&D   PO and SM

Milton Keynes, U.K.

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Moerdijk, The Netherlands†

  O&P—EAI   Catalloy process resins and PB-1

Münchsmünster, Germany† (8)

  O&P—EAI   Ethylene, Propylene
    Polyethylene (HDPE)

Plock, Poland (9)

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene and Polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE)

Tarragona, Spain (10)

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene and PP compounds

Terni, Italy (11)

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene

Wesseling, Germany (12) *

  O&P—EAI   Ethylene, Propylene and Butadiene
    Polypropylene and Polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE)

Asia Pacific

   

Chiba, Japan (13)

  I&D   PO, PG and SM

Clyde, Australia

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene

Geelong, Australia

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene

Guangzhou, China (14)

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Kawasaki, Japan (15)

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene

Map Ta Phut, Thailand (16)

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene

Ningbo, China (17)

  I&D   PO and SM

Oita, Japan (15)

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene and PP compounds

Port Klang, Malaysia (18)

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Rayong, Thailand (19)

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Suzhou, China

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Victoria, Australia (18)

  O&P—EAI   PP compounds

Yeochan, Korea (20)

  O&P—EAI   Polypropylene

Middle East

   

Jubail, Saudi Arabia (21)

  O&P—EAI   Propylene and Polypropylene

Jubail, Saudi Arabia (22)

  O&P—EAI   Propylene and Polypropylene

Jubail, Saudi Arabia (23)

  O&P—EAI   Ethylene and Polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE)

 

* The facility, or portions of the facility, as applicable, owned by us are mortgaged as collateral for indebtedness.
The facility is located on leased land.
(1) The Bayport PO/TBA plants and the Channelview PO/SM I plant are held by the U.S. PO Joint Venture between Bayer and Lyondell Chemical. These plants are located on land leased by the U.S. PO Joint Venture.

 

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(2) The Channelview facility has two ethylene processing units. Equistar Chemicals LP also operates a styrene maleic anhydride unit and a polybutadiene unit, which are owned by an unrelated party and are located within the Channelview facility on property leased from Equistar Chemicals LP.
(3) Unrelated equity investors hold a minority interest in the PO/SM II plant at the Channelview facility.
(4) The La Porte facilities are on contiguous property.
(5) The La Porte I&D facility is owned by La Porte Methanol Company, a partnership owned 15% by an unrelated party.
(6) The Tampico polypropylene facility is owned by Indelpro, a joint venture owned 51% by an unrelated party. The Tampico PP compounding plant is wholly owned by us.
(7) The Maasvlakte plant is owned by the European PO Joint Venture and is located on land leased by the European PO Joint Venture.
(8) The Münchsmünster facility is currently being rebuilt following a fire in 2005.
(9) The Plock facility is owned by Basell Orlen Polyolefins and is located on land owned by PKN/Orlen.
(10) The Tarragona polypropylene facility is located on leased land; the compounds facility is located on co-owned land.
(11) In February 2010, we announced our intentions to cease production at the Terni, Italy site.
(12) There are two steam crackers at the Wesseling, Germany site.
(13) The PO/SM plant and the PG plant located in Chiba, Japan are owned by Nihon Oxirane, a joint venture owned 60% by an unrelated party.
(14) The Guangzhou facility commenced production in 2008.
(15) The Kawasaki and Oita plants are owned by SunAllomer, a joint venture owned 50% by an unrelated party.
(16) The Map Ta Phut plant is owned by HMC, a joint venture owned 71% by unrelated parties.
(17) The Ningbo facility is currently under construction and is owned by a joint venture with ZRCC. The facility is scheduled to commence production in 2010. We have contributed a license right to our proprietary PO/SM technology in exchange for approximately 28% of the PO profitability from the facility.
(18) The Port Klang and Victoria plants are owned by PolyPacific Pty., a joint venture owned 50% by an unrelated party.
(19) The Rayong plant is owned by Basell Asia Pacific Thailand, which is owned 95% by us and 5% by our joint venture HMC.
(20) The Yeochan plant is owned by PolyMirae, a joint venture owned 57% by Daelim Industrial Co., Ltd, 14.8% by Sunallomer and the remainder by us.
(21) The Jubail and polypropylene and PDH manufacturing plant is owned by SPC, a joint venture owned 50% by an unrelated party.
(22) The Jubail Spherizone polypropylene and PDH manufacturing plant is owned by Al-Waha, a joint venture owned 79% by unrelated parties. The plant commenced initial production in the third quarter of 2009.
(23) The Jubail integrated PE manufacturing complex is owned by SEPC, a joint venture 75% owned by unrelated parties.

Other Locations and Properties

Our corporate seat is located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. We have administrative offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Houston, Texas. We maintain research facilities in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; Lansing, Michigan; Cincinnati, Ohio; Ferrara, Italy and Frankfurt, Germany. Our Asia Pacific headquarters are located in Hong Kong. We also have technical support centers in Bayreuth, Germany; Geelong, Australia; Lansing, Michigan and Tarragona, Spain. We have various sales facilities worldwide.

Depending on location and market needs, our production facilities can receive primary raw materials by pipeline, rail car, truck, barge or ocean going vessel and can deliver finished products by pipeline, rail car, truck, barge, isotank, ocean going vessel or in drums. We charter ocean going vessels, own and charter barges, and lease isotanks and own and lease rail cars for the dedicated movement of products between plants, products to customers or terminals, or raw materials to plants, as necessary. We also have barge docking facilities and related terminal equipment for loading and unloading raw materials and products. We use an extensive pipeline system in Texas and Louisiana, some of which we own and some of which we lease, that connects to our manufacturing and storage facilities. We lease liquid and bulk storage and warehouse facilities at terminals in the Americas, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. We own storage capacity for NGLs, ethylene, propylene and other hydrocarbons within a salt dome in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and operate additional ethylene and propylene storage facilities with related brine facilities on leased property in Markham, Texas.

 

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ITEM 4. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Ownership of Existing Equity Securities

As of July 14, 2010, we had 312,522,319 of our class A ordinary shares and 251,379,660 of our class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding, not including shares issuable pursuant to equity awards granted under our equity compensation plans. Each ordinary share carries one vote in LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s general meeting of shareholders and is entitled to any dividends declared, except that the class B ordinary shares rank senior in liquidation to the class A ordinary shares and other classes of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. capital stock for a period of time. All class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares vote as one class, except that the class B ordinary shares have the right to vote as a separate class with respect to certain material strategic transactions in which the class B ordinary shares would receive less than $10.61 per share. Any such transactions require the approval of 85% of the class B ordinary shares. Additionally, each class has the right to vote as a separate class on certain charter amendments affecting its class of ordinary shares. The class B ordinary shares are convertible into class A ordinary shares at the option of the holders thereof and will automatically convert in certain circumstances. Our class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares are identical in all other respects.

As of July 14, 2010, we have warrants to purchase 11,508,204 class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding. The warrants have an exercise price of $15.90 per class A ordinary share. The warrants have anti-dilution protection for in-kind stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations and similar transactions and may be exercised at any time during the period beginning on April 30, 2010 and ending at the close of business on the seventh anniversary of the issue date. Upon an affiliate change of control, the holders of the warrants may sell to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. the warrants at a price equal to, as applicable, the in-the-money value of the warrants or the Black Scholes value of the warrants.

As part of the Plan of Reorganization, certain equity-based awards to certain senior management of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and its subsidiaries were effective as of the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization. See “Item 9. Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters—Equity Compensation Plan Information.”

 

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The following table indicates information, to our knowledge, as of July 14, 2010 regarding the beneficial ownership of our class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares by:

 

   

Each holder of greater than 5% of our ordinary shares;

 

   

Each member of our Supervisory Board and Management Board;

 

   

Each of our executive officers; and

 

   

All of our current board members and executive officers as a group.

Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of the security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of the security. The rules also treat as outstanding all shares of capital stock that a person would receive upon exercise of stock options or warrants held by that person, which are immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the determination date. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which that person has no economic interest.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

   Percent of
All  Ordinary
Shares (1)
 

5% Beneficial Owners:

  

Apollo Management Holdings, L.P. (2)

9 West 57th Street

New York, NY 10019

   28.2

The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V.

Gustev Mahlerlaan 10, 1082 PP

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

   6.7

Certain affiliates of Ares Management LLC (3)

2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

   6.5

Certain affiliates of Access Industries, LLC (4)

730 Fifth Ave., 20th Floor

New York, NY 10019

   9.4

Members of Supervisory Board, Management Board and named executive officers:

  

Milton Carroll

   *   

Joshua J. Harris ( 5)

   *   

Philip Kassin (6)

   *   

Scott M. Kleinman (7)

   *   

Marvin O. Schlanger (8)

   *   

Jeffrey S. Serota (9)

   *   

Bruce A. Smith

   *   

Rudy M.J. van der Meer

   *   

James L. Gallogy (10)

   *   

C. Kent Potter

   *   

Craig Glidden

   *   

Kevin Brown

   *   

Anton deVries

   *   

 

* Less than 1% of issued and outstanding ordinary shares.
(1) All percentages are based on 565,673,773 ordinary shares outstanding as of July 14, 2010.
(2)

Apollo Management Holdings, L.P. is the general partner or manager of various Apollo investment managers that manage Apollo investment funds which hold our ordinary shares. Apollo Management Holdings GP, LLC is the general partner of Apollo Management Holdings, L.P. Leon Black, Joshua Harris and Marc Rowan are the principal executive officers and managers of Apollo Management Holdings GP,

 

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LLC. Apollo Management Holdings, L.P., Apollo Management Holdings GP, LLC. and each of Messrs. Black, Harris and Rowan disclaims beneficial ownership of any ordinary shares that may be held or acquired by any of the Apollo investment funds, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.

(3) Ares Management LLC is a private investment management firm that indirectly controls Ares and certain other entities that became recordholders of our outstanding ordinary shares upon the Emergence Date (together with Ares, the “Ares Recordholders”). Ares Management LLC and each of its affiliated entities and the officers, partners, members and managers thereof, other than the Ares Recordholders, disclaim beneficial ownership of any ordinary shares owned by the Ares Recordholders, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.
(4) Access Industries, LLC is an affiliate of Access Industries, a privately-held U.S. industrial group with holdings primarily in natural resources and chemicals, media and telecommunications and real estate, which controls directly or indirectly AI International Chemicals S.à r.l. and certain other entities that became recordholders of our outstanding ordinary shares on or after the Emergence Date (collectively, the “Access Recordholders”). Access Industries, LLC and each of its affiliated entities and the officers, partners, members and managers thereof, other than the Access Recordholders, disclaim beneficial ownership of any ordinary shares owned by the Access Recordholders, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.
(5) Mr. Harris is associated with Apollo. Mr. Harris disclaims beneficial ownership of ordinary shares owned by Apollo and any other shareholder, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The business address for Mr. Harris is 9 West 57th street, New York, New York 10019.
(6) Mr. Kassin is associated with Access Industries. Mr. Kassin disclaims beneficial ownership of ordinary shares owned by Access Industries and any other shareholder, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The business address for Mr. Kassin is 730 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10019.
(7) Mr. Kleinman is associated with Apollo. Mr. Kleinman disclaims beneficial ownership of ordinary shares owned by Apollo and any other shareholder, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The business address for Mr. Kleinman is 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019.
(8) The address of Mr. Schlanger is One Greentree Centre, Suite 201, Marlton, New Jersey 08053.
(9) Does not include ordinary shares owned by the Ares Recordholders. Mr. Serota is a Senior Partner in the Private Equity Group of Ares Management. Mr. Serota disclaims beneficial ownership of ordinary shares owned by the Ares Recordholders and any other shareholder, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. The business address for Mr. Serota is 2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90067.
(10) Mr. Gallogly is the sole member of the Management Board. The business address for Mr. Gallogly is 1221 McKinney Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77010.

In addition to 1,777,794 shares of restricted class A ordinary shares that were issued to Mr. Gallogly upon our emergence from bankruptcy, Mr. Gallogly was granted options to purchase an aggregate of 5,639,020 class A ordinary shares at an exercise price of $17.61 per share. The restricted shares vest in full five years from the date of Mr. Gallogly’s employment agreement of May 14, 2009 and the options vest in equal increments over the same five-year period, and expire April 30, 2017.

Unless otherwise noted, the address for each person listed on the table is c/o LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Weena 737, 3013AM, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Registration Rights

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the Major Shareholders entered into a registration rights agreement relating to our Registrable Securities, as defined therein.

Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, we have agreed to file an initial shelf registration statement (the “Initial Registration Statement”) with the SEC by the 30th day after this Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; provided, that if this Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC on a date that is more than 90 days after the Emergence Date, we have agreed to file such Initial Registration Statement by no later than 10 days after this Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC. The Initial Registration Statement will relate

 

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to the offer and sale of Registrable Securities to the public by Major Shareholders from time to time, on a delayed or continuous basis, but not involving an underwritten offering. We will use our reasonable best efforts to (a) cause the Initial Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC, (b) keep such Initial Registration Statement continuously effective, subject to certain exceptions and (c) not suspend the use of the prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement in order to permit such prospectus to be usable by the Major Shareholders until the earlier of (i) two years from the date of effectiveness of such Initial Registration Statement, (ii) our filing of a short-form or automatic shelf registration statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and such registration statement having been declared effective by the SEC or (iii) there being no more Registrable Securities.

Following the later of 90 days after April 30, 2010, and the date this Registration Statement is declared effective, but (i) at any time prior to April 30, 2011, the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding and (ii) at any time on or after April 30, 2011, any holder of Registrable Securities then outstanding may make a specified number of requests for registration on Form S-1 or similar long-form registration statement of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); provided, however that we may satisfy such a request by amending or supplementing the Initial Registration Statement to provide for an underwritten offering on behalf of the holders that made such request. Additionally, after April 30, 2011, the Major Shareholders may request registration on Form S-3, or other similar short-form registration statement, if available, of the Registrable Securities. Further, upon our becoming a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer, as defined in the Securities Act, we will give written notice to the Rights Offering Sponsors of the basis for that status and register the sale of the Registrable Securities under an automatic shelf registration statement promptly thereafter.

Whenever we propose to register any securities, or propose to offer any of our class A or class B ordinary shares to the public, we will give prompt written notice to all holders of Registrable Securities and include such Registrable Securities in the public offering for which we receive written requests within the time prescribed by the registration rights agreement from the holders of such Registrable Securities for inclusion therein. However, in the case of an underwritten offering, we may exclude the Registrable Securities requested for inclusion therein if the managing underwriter for such offering advises us that inclusion of such Registrable Securities would materially and adversely affect such offering because such Registrable Securities are not of the same type, class or series as the securities to be offered and sold therein.

This summary of the provisions of the registration rights agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the registration rights agreement.

 

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ITEM 5. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Executive Officers

The table below sets out the names of the members of our management and their positions as of June 25, 2010. Messrs. de Vries and Jansz were officers of LyondellBasell AF prior to and at the time it filed proceedings under Chapter 11.

 

Name, Age and Current
Position with LyondellBasell

  

Business Experience During Past Five Years
          and Period Served as Officer(s)            

James L. Gallogly, 57

Chief Executive Officer

   Mr. Gallogly was named Chief Executive Officer of LyondellBasell AF in May 2009. He was Executive Vice President of Exploration and Production for ConocoPhillips from October 2008 to May 2009 and served as its Executive Vice President of Refining, Marketing and Transportation from April 2006 to October 2008. Mr. Gallogly was President and Chief Executive Officer of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC from July 2000 to March 2006 and served as a member of its Board of Directors.

C. Kent Potter, 63

Chief Financial Officer

   Mr. Potter was named Chief Financial Officer of LyondellBasell AF in August 2009. Mr. Potter was the Chief Financial Officer of TNK-BP, Russia’s third largest oil company from June 2003 to October 2005. Mr. Potter was previously Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (a major producer of polyolefins) from 2000 to June 2003 and served as a member of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Potter also served as a member of the Supervisory Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Basell AF S.C.A. and its successor, LyondellBasell AF, from November 2005 through July 2009.

Craig Glidden, 52

Executive Vice President and

Chief Legal Officer

   Mr. Glidden was named Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of LyondellBasell AF in August 2009. Mr. Glidden served as Senior Vice President, Legal and Public Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company from April 2004 to August 2009 and as its Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary from July 2000 to April 2004. Before joining Chevron Phillips Chemical, Mr. Glidden engaged in the private practice of law focusing on litigation and arbitration of complex commercial disputes.

Kevin W. Brown, 52

Senior Vice President, Refining

   Mr. Brown was named Senior Vice President, Refining of LyondellBasell AF in October 2009. He served as Senior Vice President and Executive Vice President, Operations for Sinclair Oil Corporation from March 1994 to September 2009 and served as a member of Sinclair’s Board of Directors. From July 1992 to February 1994, Mr. Brown was Refinery Manager of the Sinclair Tulsa Refinery. From September 2008 to June 2009, he also served as the Chairman of the Board of the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association.

Bhavesh V. (Bob) Patel, 43

Senior Vice President,

O&P—Americas

   Mr. Patel was named Senior Vice President, O&P—Americas in April 2010. He served as General Manager, Olefins and NGLs for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company from May 2009 to March 2010 and as its General Manager, Asia Pacific Region—Singapore from April 2008 to May 2009. Previously, he served as Business Manager, Olefins for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company from January 2005 to April 2008.

 

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Name, Age and Current
Position with LyondellBasell

  

Business Experience During Past Five Years
          and Period Served as Officer(s)            

Anton de Vries, 58

Senior Vice President, O&P—EAI

   Mr. de Vries was named Senior Vice President, O&P—EAI of LyondellBasell AF in January 2010. He served as the president of the Polymers division at LyondellBasell AF from December 2007 to December 2009. From March 2007 to December 2007, Mr. de Vries was president of Basell Polyolefins Europe. From 2005 to 2007, he was president of the Global Advanced Polyolefins business of Basell. From 2002 to 2005, he served as president of research and development and a member of the Basell Management Team.

Patrick Quarles, 43

Senior Vice President,

Intermediates & Derivates

   Mr. Quarles was named Senior Vice President, Intermediates & Derivates of LyondellBasell AF in January 2010. He served as Divisional Senior Vice President at LyondellBasell AF from December 2007 to December 2009. He served as vice president for Performance Chemicals at Lyondell Chemical from 2004 to December 2007. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Quarles held positions as director, Investor Relations and director, Business Performance Analysis and Reporting, at Lyondell Chemical.

Just Jansz, 52

Senior Vice President,

Technology

   Mr. Jansz was named Senior Vice President, Technology of LyondellBasell AF in January 2010. He served as the president of the Technology division at LyondellBasell AF from December 2007 to December 2009. He served as president of the Basell Technology business from April 2004 to December 2007. From 2000 to April 2004, Mr. Jansz served as senior vice president, Advanced Polyolefins at Basell.

Boards of Directors

The Supervisory Board of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. will initially consist of nine members, four of whom will be independent members of the Supervisory Board. Within one year of our ordinary shares being listed on the NYSE, the size of the Supervisory Board will be increased and additional independent directors will be appointed as necessary to ensure that a majority of the directors will be independent within the meaning of the NYSE listing requirements. Of the initial Supervisory Board, Apollo has the right to nominate three initial Supervisory Board members, Access Industries has the right to nominate one initial Supervisory Board member and Ares has the right to nominate one initial Supervisory Board member. The remaining initial Supervisory Board members will be independent and will be identified by a search firm, subject to the approval of the Major Shareholders (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld). The Major Shareholders each entered into a binding nomination agreement with LyondellBasell Industries N.V. pursuant to which LyondellBasell Industries N.V. has agreed that, following appointment of the initial Supervisory Board, (i) if a Major Shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns 18% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate three members of the Supervisory Board; (ii) if a Major Shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns at least 12% but less than 18% of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate two members of the Supervisory Board; and (iii) if a Major Shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns at least 5% but less than 12% of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate one member of the Supervisory Board. The size of the Supervisory Board may be increased from time to time to the extent necessary to ensure that a majority of the members are independent in accordance with the NYSE standard for independence after giving effect to the foregoing.

Apollo nominated Joshua J. Harris, Scott M. Kleinman and Marvin O. Schlanger; Access Industries nominated Philip Kassin; and Ares nominated Jeffrey S. Serota to serve on the Supervisory Board. Each of these individuals was appointed to the Supervisory Board effective as of April 30, 2010. On July 13, 2010, a transitional committee of the Company consisting of our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer appointed Milton Carroll, Bruce A. Smith and Rudy M.J. van der Meer to the Supervisory Board. Additionally, on June 2, 2010, the members of the Supervisory Board appointed Mr. Schlanger as Chairman of the Board.

 

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Each of the members of such initial board will serve in accordance with applicable Dutch law, the internal rules of the Supervisory Board, applicable corporate governance principles and our articles of association (as amended from time to time, our “Articles of Association”). The Supervisory Board, in consultation with the Management Board, will determine the overall strategy and policy of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the LyondellBasell group of companies. The Management Board will be responsible for the execution of such strategy and policy, as well as the management of our day-to-day operations. The Management Board will submit proposals for the overall strategy and policy to the Supervisory Board for its approval. In addition, certain Management Board actions, including extraordinary transactions, will require the approval of the Supervisory Board, the general meeting of shareholders and/or class B shareholders. The Chief Executive Officer will be the sole member of the initial Management Board. The Management Board may delegate certain tasks to the Chief Executive Officer and certain other officers of the LyondellBasell group of companies, but the Management Board will remain responsible for the proper performance of the delegated tasks.

Supervisory Board Committees

The Supervisory Board currently has an audit committee, and, before the ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE, will also have a nominating and governance committee, a compensation committee and a health, safety and environmental committee. Each committee will be made up of at least three members of the Supervisory Board. Pursuant to the binding nomination agreements described above, except as may be prohibited by law or regulation (including rules of the NYSE), Apollo has the right and Ares and Access Industries may have, depending on the percentages of shares owned by them, to representation on each committee of the Supervisory Board.

Audit Committee . The audit committee, in accordance with its charter, will be responsible for:

 

   

Recommending independent auditors for shareholder approval, overseeing and reviewing reports of independent auditors and serving as an intermediary between independent auditors and management.

 

   

Overseeing the proper functioning and appropriateness of our financial reporting processes and accounting policies.

 

   

Overseeing and reviewing the internal audit functions and reporting.

 

   

Monitoring and discussing risk assessment and risk management services with the management and the internal auditor.

 

   

Evaluating and maintaining proper ethical compliance functions.

Compensation Committee . The compensation committee, in accordance with its charter, will be responsible for:

 

   

Making a proposal for adoption by the Supervisory Board of the compensation philosophy, structure, policies and guidelines for the managing directors, executive officers and senior management.

 

   

Establishing and reviewing annual incentive and long-term incentive compensation plans, including equity-based incentive compensation plans, for employees.

 

   

Establishing and reviewing benefit or other plans or programs for employees.

 

   

Establishing and reviewing corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, including the long-term incentive component, evaluate the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and determine the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation level based on this evaluation.

 

   

Preparing a report on executive compensation, as required by the SEC rules, to be included in our annual proxy statement to shareholders and the Supervisory Board report on compensation to be included in the Dutch Annual Report.

 

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Nominating and Governance Committee . The nominating and governance committee, in accordance with its charter, will be responsible for:

 

   

Periodically evaluating the performance and functioning of the Supervisory Board and the Management Board.

 

   

Developing, reviewing and recommending to the Supervisory Board a set of corporate governance guidelines.

 

   

Developing and recommending criteria for Supervisory Board membership and size and structure of the Supervisory Board.

 

   

Identifying and recommending qualified candidates for membership on the Supervisory Board.

 

   

Recommending the structure and composition of, and nominees for, the standing committees of the Supervisory Board.

Health, Safety and Environmental Committee . The health, safety and environmental committee, in accordance with its charter, will be responsible for:

 

   

Periodically reviewing the status of the Company's environment, health and safety policies and performance, including processes to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

   

Providing input to the Company on the management of current and emerging environment, health and safety issues.

 

   

Reporting periodically to the Supervisory Board on environment, health and safety matters affecting the Company.

 

   

Reviewing the Company’s progress on sustainable development.

Meetings and Voting

The Supervisory Board and Management Board will each hold approximately six regularly scheduled meetings per year with the meetings of the Management Board coinciding with those of the Supervisory Board. Members of the Supervisory Board and Management Board are each entitled to cast one vote at their respective meetings and resolutions of each Board will pass by an absolute majority of the votes cast.

Removal of Directors

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s Articles of Association provide that the Supervisory Board members may be suspended or dismissed by a vote of the ordinary shareholders, at a general meeting of the ordinary shareholders, upon a vote of holders of at least 2/3 of the ordinary shares present, which shares must represent at least half of the issued share capital. The members of the Management Board may be suspended or dismissed by a vote of the ordinary shareholders at a general meeting of ordinary shareholders, upon a vote of holders of at least 2/3 of the ordinary shares present, which ordinary shares must represent at least half of the issued ordinary share capital. The members of the Management Board may also be suspended by a majority of the Supervisory Board members. In the event that Mr. Gallogly ceases to be employed as Chief Executive Officer of Lyondell Chemical, he has agreed to immediately resign from his position as a member of the Management Board.

 

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Members of Boards of Directors

Supervisory Board . The table below sets out the names of the current members of the Supervisory Board.

 

Name and Age

  

Business Experience During Past Five Years

Milton Carroll, 59

   Mr. Carroll is Chairman of the Board of CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a public utility holding company, where he has served since 2002 and Chairman of Instrument Products, Inc., a private oil-tool manufacturing company, where he has served since 1977. Mr Carroll serves on the Board of Directors of Halliburton Company, Health Care Service Corporation, and Western Gas Holdings LLC, the general partner of Western Gas Partners, L.P.

Joshua J. Harris, 45

   Mr. Harris is a founding Senior Managing Director at Apollo Global Management, LLC and has served as Managing Partner of certain affiliates of Apollo since 1990. Prior to that time, Mr. Harris was a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Department of Drexel Burnham Lambert Incorporated. Mr. Harris is also a director of Apollo Global Management, LLC., Berry Plastics Group, CEVA Logistics, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., Momentive Performance Materials and several non-profit organizations.

Philip Kassin, 52

   Mr. Kassin is Executive Vice President and Head of M&A and Financing of Access Industries and has served as an officer and director of certain affiliates of Access Industries since 2005. Mr. Kassin served as financial advisor to Access Industries on the acquisition of Basell in 2005 and then served on the Basell Supervisory Board from 2005 to 2007. Mr. Kassin currently serves on the Supervisory Board of LyondellBasell and is Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Kassin is also a director of Boomerang Tube, an oil country tubular goods manufacturer, Prochemie GmbH and Tonbridge Power Inc., a developer of electrical transmission assets.

Scott M. Kleinman, 37

   Mr. Kleinman is a Senior Partner at Apollo, where he has worked since February 1996. Prior to that time, Mr. Kleinman was employed by Smith Barney Inc. in its Investment Banking division. Mr. Kleinman is also a director of Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., Momentive Performance Materials, Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation, Realogy Corporation and Verso Paper Corp.

Marvin O. Schlanger, 62

(Chairman of the Board)

   Since October 1998, Mr. Schlanger has been a principal in the firm of Cherry Hill Chemical Investments, LLC, which provides management services and capital to chemical and allied industries. Prior to October 1998, Mr. Schlanger held various positions with ARCO Chemical Company, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer from May 1998 to July 1998 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to May 1998. Mr. Schlanger is also a director and the Chairman of the Board of CEVA Group Plc, a director and the Vice Chairman of the Board of Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., and a director of Momentive Performance Materials Company, UGI Corporation, UGI Utilities Inc. and Amerigas Propane, Inc.

Jeffrey S. Serota, 44

   Mr. Serota is a Senior Partner in the Private Equity Group of Ares Management LLC, where he has worked since 1997. Mr. Serota is also a director of Douglas Dynamics, Inc., Exco Resources, Inc., Marietta Corporation, SandRidge Energy, Inc., and WCA Waste Corporation.

 

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Name and Age

  

Business Experience During Past Five Years

Bruce A. Smith, 66

   Mr. Smith is the retired Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tesoro Corporation, where he served from 1996 until 2010. Before being named as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Smith served as a director of Tesoro and also served as its Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer before becoming President and Chief Executive Officer.

Rudy M.J. van der Meer, 65

   Mr. van der Meer is Chairman of the supervisory boards of Imtech N.V., Gazelle Holding B.V., and Energie Beheer Nederland B.V. He also is a member of the supervisory boards of James Hardie Industries S.E., ING Bank Nederland N.V. and ING Verzekeringen (Insurance) Nederland N.V. Mr. van der Meer previously was associated with AkzoNobel N.V. for 32 years, where he held a number of senior positions including Chief Executive Officer—Coatings, CEO—Chemicals, during a 12 year period as member of the Executive Board of AkzoNobel N.V., and before that as Division President—Akzo Salt & Base Chemicals.

Management Board . Our Chief Executive Officer, James L. Gallogly, was appointed as the sole member of the Management Board effective April 30, 2010.

The address of each member of the Supervisory Board and the Management Board is c/o LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Weena 737, 3013AM, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

 

ITEM 6. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

During the past year and since the commencement of the bankruptcy cases, we have had numerous significant changes in our executive leadership. Specifically, Mr. Volker Trautz, our former Chief Executive Officer, retired. After a comprehensive search and interview process, the Supervisory Board selected Mr. James Gallogly to assume the position of Chief Executive Officer. He began work on our behalf in May 2009, and his retention and employment agreement was subsequently approved by the bankruptcy court. Additionally, Mr. Alan Bigman resigned from the position of Chief Financial Officer as of August 1, 2009, although he remained employed as a Senior Advisor to assist with work related to the restructuring for a period lasting until March 31, 2010. After undertaking a selection process, the Supervisory Board selected Mr. C. Kent Potter to assume the position of Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Potter began work on our behalf in August 2009, and the terms of his compensation were also approved by the bankruptcy court. Other changes to our executive team include the new additions of Mr. Craig Glidden, who was hired in August 2009 to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, and Mr. Kevin Brown, who was hired in October 2009 to serve as Senior Vice President, Refining, as well as the departure of Mr. Edward Dineen, our former Chief Operating Officer, in December 2009.

Throughout this discussion, the term “Named Executive Officers” refers to the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table, and includes: our Chief Executive Officer (Mr. Gallogly), our Chief Financial Officer (Mr. Potter) and our next three most highly compensated executive officers as of December 31, 2009 (Mr. Glidden, Mr. Brown and Mr. Anton de Vries, Senior Vice President, O&P—EAI). Additionally, pursuant to SEC rules, we are required to include compensation information for any individual that served as the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer during the year, as well as up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been required but for the fact that he was no longer serving as an executive officer as of December 31, 2009. Accordingly, we have also included Mr. Trautz, former Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bigman, former Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Dineen, former Chief Operating Officer.

 

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Executive Compensation Philosophy

Our executive compensation program has been designed to achieve certain objectives. Decisions concerning specific compensation elements and total compensation paid or awarded to our executives are intended to provide a total rewards package that addresses these objectives:

 

   

support a high performing culture that attracts and retains highly qualified executive talent;

 

   

tie annual, medium-term and long-term incentives to the achievement of company and individual performance objectives; and

 

   

align executives’ incentives with the creation of shareholder value.

Setting Executive Compensation

Based on the above objectives, the compensation committee of our Supervisory Board has established annual, medium-term and long-term incentive compensation components to motivate our executives to achieve, and hopefully exceed, the business and individual goals set by the company and to fairly reward such executives for achieving such goals.

Administration of Executive Compensation Program

The compensation committee makes all decisions with respect to compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and all decisions relating to equity-based compensation awards. The compensation committee, with recommendations and input from the Chief Executive Officer, makes non-equity compensation decisions with respect to other executives.

At least annually, the compensation committee will review the performance of the Chief Executive Officer as compared with the company’s objective goals with respect to operational excellence (including environmental performance and stewardship, safety and reliability), business results, efficient use of capital and strategic planning. The compensation committee, together with the Chief Executive Officer, at least annually will review the performance of each individual executive, including the Named Executive Officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, with respect to the achievement of company-wide metrics, individual goals and, with respect to our Short Term Incentive Plan, applicable business unit or service unit (which we refer to as “award unit”) criteria. The compensation committee may then exercise its discretion in making any awards or adjustments to the executives’ compensation as recommended by the Chief Executive Officer.

To facilitate the compensation committee’s review of the executive compensation program, our human resources department provides the compensation committee with:

 

   

data from compensation survey databases;

 

   

historical breakdowns of the total direct compensation component amounts approved by the compensation committee for our officers;

 

   

recommendations for performance targets under our incentive plans;

 

   

recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer for the prospective total direct compensation component amounts and the methodology for calculating the amounts for all of our executives, other than the Chief Executive Officer; and

 

   

such additional information as the compensation committee may request.

Our human resources department also provides the compensation committee with compensation survey data and other historical data that it believes will be useful to the compensation committee in reviewing the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, but the human resources department does not make recommendations with respect to compensation of the Chief Executive Officer.

Overview of Compensation Program

The compensation committee begins the annual process of determining executive compensation by establishing target levels of total compensation for our executive officers for the given year, in each case subject

 

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to existing employment agreements described further below. See “—Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers.” The targets take into account and reflect the considerations discussed in more detail below, including the use of peer benchmarking to determine marketplace compensation for executive talent at similarly situated companies, salary structure and internal pay equity. Actual compensation levels are then determined by our compensation committee, in light of tenure, experience, prior base salary, the results of the performance evaluations and recommendations discussed above, award unit results and other factors. With respect to the executive officers that joined us in the last year, the compensation committee also considered the need to make compensation packages competitively attractive in light of the potential risk involved in joining us during our turnaround period. Once an overall target compensation level is established with respect to each executive, the compensation committee considers the weighting of each of our primary compensation elements and will make adjustments, if any, to the preceding year’s levels.

Generally, our programs are designed to increase the proportion of performance-based or “at-risk” pay as a percentage of total compensation as an executive’s responsibilities increase. This is based upon the belief that our executives have more opportunity to affect the performance of the company and that the executives’ performance will be enhanced by ensuring that a significant portion of their potential compensation is tied to the performance of the company. We also believe that it is appropriate to allocate a greater portion of overall compensation to longer term equity-based awards as an executive assumes greater responsibilities in the company. We believe this shifting of the compensation allocation toward long-term equity-based awards for executives is appropriate to retain executives and encourage such executives to use their opportunities to affect the performance of the company to foster and sustain long-term success and accumulation of shareholder value, while discouraging excessive risk-taking.

Salary Structure

Each year, management undertakes a thorough examination of the scope and complexity of the senior jobs throughout our organization and a study of competitive compensation practices for such jobs. As a result of this work, management develops market data for each of the different positions, including base pay and incentive levels. For our executives, the base salary increases with responsibility, but at a lesser rate than increases in target incentive compensation percentages. The result is an increased percentage of “at risk” compensation as the executive’s responsibility is increased. Modifications to our salary structure to reflect marketplace trends with respect to our senior executive officers are reviewed annually and approved by the compensation committee. The compensation committee also approves any salary changes for our executive officers, including our Named Executive Officers.

Benchmarking

In order to determine compensation for 2009, including establishing the initial compensation packages for our newly hired Named Executive Officers and formulating our incentive plans described below, our compensation committee considered data from the Towers Perrin 2008 Executive Compensation Database, which collects data from hundreds of companies for a given year across industries and revenue sizes (the “Towers Perrin Database”). Single regression analysis of the Towers Perrin Database established the market levels of compensation for each position based on the revenue size of the Named Executive Officer’s applicable award units and his responsibilities. In each case, the identity of the component companies that comprised the sub-set used in the single regression analyses referred to above was not made available to us. Our Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations to the compensation committee considered the experience of each individual, their performance and the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile market data in relation to similar compensation paid to the executive’s peers, based on the Towers Perrin Database and the analyses described above.

In setting compensation levels in the future, we expect that the compensation committee will refer to relevant compensation surveys that include but are not limited to large chemical and energy companies. We expect that the compensation committee will compare that information to the base salary ranges and incentive compensation targets by position to determine whether any changes will be necessary to maintain the cumulative target for the total of base salary and all incentive compensation for each position at or near the 50 th percentile for similar positions as indicated by the survey data, allowing for adjustment upon consideration of experience, individual performance and other factors.

 

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Internal Pay Equity

We believe our salary structure provides a framework for equitable compensation between executives, with higher targets for jobs having greater duties and responsibilities. Taken as a whole, our compensation program is designed so that the individual target level rises as the salary level increases, with the portion of performance-based compensation rising as a percentage of total targeted compensation. One result of this structure is that actual total compensation of an executive as a multiple of the total compensation of his or her subordinates is designed to increase in periods of above-target performance and decrease in times of below-target performance.

Developing Performance Measures

As discussed further below under “—Elements of Compensation Program,” for the 2009 cash incentive plans, we used individual performance criteria and the single company performance metric of Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization and Restructuring Costs (“EBITDAR”), as we believed this metric was sufficient to capture the performance we were seeking to drive during the pendency of our bankruptcy proceeding. For purposes of the 2009 incentive programs, we established EBITDAR targets that, at the time, we believed would be difficult targets to reach and would require superior performance.

In the future, we will use corporate, award unit and individual performance criteria in determining payouts under incentive compensation awards. We will attempt to develop performance measures that assess the performance of the company relative to other companies in addition to absolute performance measures. This is based on the belief that absolute performance can be affected positively or negatively by industry-wide factors over which our executives have no control, such as the cyclicality of feedstock costs and the global economy. We will also attempt to isolate the underlying performance necessary to enable achievement of those goals considering our unique circumstances within the industry. For purposes of future awards under our incentive programs, we will set performance metrics so as to require high performance in order to receive target incentive compensation levels, and we may select multiple metrics to promote the well-rounded executive performance necessary to enable us to achieve long-term success. We recognize, however, that no metric or set of metrics can reliably measure actual performance in light of unanticipated opportunities and challenges, and the compensation committee retains discretion to make appropriate adjustments. We will reassess the performance metrics periodically to respond to these changing circumstances.

Although the compensation committee sets performance measures for performance-based programs, compensation under those programs is not mandated by attainment of specified performance levels. Rather, employees are informed of the performance measures that will be used to evaluate their performance for a given period but are also informed that no given performance under those measures will entitle them to any guaranteed resulting payments under these programs. The compensation committee retains discretion to consider other factors in addition to the stated performance measures to determine the relative performance of the company, award unit or individual.

Performance Measures and Criteria

Corporate Performance Criteria — For each performance period, the compensation committee establishes, in consultation with management, performance criteria for the company. At the conclusion of a performance period, the compensation committee evaluates the performance of the company against the pre-established criteria for such program. We expect to utilize multiple measures of performance under our programs to ensure that no single aspect of performance is driven in isolation. We may elect to employ the following measures of overall company performance under our performance-based programs:

 

   

Business Results —We measure overall business results by annual EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization defined in accordance with our financing arrangements with appropriate adjustments for unusual events) generated by the company compared to the target budget EBITDA. We further evaluate our EBITDA results in consideration of the relevant business environment and in comparison to peer companies in our industries.

 

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Return on Assets —We use return on assets as an indicator of portfolio performance and efficient use of capital, or how profitable our company is relative to its total assets. By comparing our return on assets to industry averages, this measure gives an idea as to how efficient management is at using company assets to generate earnings. We define return on assets as the ratio of EBITDA divided by total current and long-term assets. We use our return on assets ratio to compare our performance to peer companies in our industries. A return on assets ratio that is improving relative to competitors shows improving use of the company’s assets to generate profits and is rewarded under our compensation program.

 

   

Costs —We review our cash fixed costs and variable conversion costs as compared to our budget and industry benchmarks. We also consider successful implementation of cost improvement initiatives.

 

   

Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Performance — We seek to be a good employer, a good community member and a good steward of the environmental resources we manage. Therefore, we have incorporated metrics of health, safety and environmental performance in our incentive bonus programs, such as recordable injury rate, process safety incidents, environmental performance and stewardship, and HSE audit results.

 

   

Implementation of Strategic Plan and specified objectives — This measure is an analysis of the company’s progress in implementing its strategic plan over a given performance period.

Award Unit Performance Criteria —For purposes of our Short Term Incentive Plan discussed below, we have established approximately 65 discrete award units within the Company designed to measure performance and to reward employees according to business outcomes relevant to the award group. Our award units are divided into four categories: Business, Manufacturing, Service and Research and Development. Although most employees participate in a single award unit designated for the operational or functional group to which such employee is assigned, an executive officer, including a Named Executive Officer, can participate in a blend of the results of more than one of these award units depending on the scope and breadth of his or her responsibilities over the performance period.

For each performance period, management establishes award units and the performance criteria for each award unit. Performance criteria are goals consistent with the company’s operating plan. For 2010, performance criteria for the respective units under our Short Term Incentive Plan are comprised of one or more of the elements described under “Corporate Performance Criteria” above, as modified to address specific budgets and targets applicable to the award unit; as well as, with respect to the research and development and service award units, the additional criteria of internal customer satisfaction. Each of the performance measures will be weighted by the compensation committee to reflect its relative importance for the year in question for each award unit.

At the conclusion of a performance period, a committee of executive officers (the “leadership team”) assesses each award unit’s performance for the year, which determination includes an evaluation of performance versus the pre-established criteria for such award unit while taking into consideration the business environment and context, such as severe weather events, improvements over previous years, severity of HSE incidents, comparisons to peer companies and unbudgeted business activity. The compensation committee approves or adjusts the recommendation from the leadership team regarding the performance of each award unit.

Individual Performance Criteria —Individual adjustments for executive officers, including our Named Executive Officers, are approved by the compensation committee, based on the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer (other than for himself).

Tax-Based Program Criteria —Our incentive programs are also designed to conform to or be exempt from the requirements of section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows for deductible compensation in excess of $1 million if certain criteria, including the attainment of pre-established performance criteria, are met.

Peer Company Comparisons

As discussed above, several of our performance criteria will take into consideration comparisons to peer companies in our industries. For 2010, we have identified certain companies in the chemical and refining and

 

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oxyfuel industries that we are likely to refer to for such peer company comparisons on a company-wide and segment or award unit basis. Our peer companies and segments in the chemical industry are likely to include BASF, The Dow Chemical Company, Huntsman Corporation, Celanese Corporation, Eastman Chemical Corporation, Westlake Chemical Corporation, ExxonMobil’s chemical segment, Shell’s chemical segment, Ineos, ChevronPhillips Chemical Company and Nova Chemical Corporation. Our peer companies and segments in the refining and oxyfuel industry are likely to include Valero Energy Corporation, Sunoco Inc., Tesoro Corporation, Western Refining Inc., Holly Corporation, Alon USA Energy Inc., Frontier Oil Corporation, Delek US Holdings Inc., ConocoPhillips’ refining segment, ExxonMobil’s refining segment, Shell’s refining segment and Chevron’s refining segment. However, we will not refer to each of these companies for every peer company comparison, and we may also refer to other companies.

Elements of Compensation Program

Our executive compensation program generally consists of six principal components:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

annual cash incentive compensation;

 

   

medium term incentive compensation;

 

   

long-term equity-based incentive compensation;

 

   

severance arrangements; and

 

   

limited other benefits.

We have chosen to pay each of these elements because we believe they best serve to advance our compensation objectives, as discussed in more detail below.

Base Salary

The first component of the executive compensation program is base salary. Base salary is a major component of the compensation for all of our salaried employees. However, a greater percentage of overall compensation is allocated away from base salary as an employee assumes more responsibilities in the company. By providing a competitive base salary, we serve our compensation objectives of retaining and attracting employees and motivating employees by rewarding individual performance and tenure with base salary increases.

Our Named Executive Officers that were still employed by us were being paid the following base salaries as of January 1, 2010:

 

Name

   Annual Base
Salary

Mr. Gallogly

   $ 1,500,000

Mr. Potter

   $ 700,000

Mr. Glidden

   $ 524,550

Mr. Brown

   $ 400,000

Mr. de Vries (1)

   $ 534,953

Mr. Bigman (2)

   $ 408,000

 

(1) For purposes of the executive compensation disclosure herein, the base salary for Mr. de Vries has been converted to U.S. dollars at a rate of 1.4737 U.S. dollars to one euro (for purposes of this executive compensation discussion, the “euro Conversion Rate”).
(2) For Mr. Bigman, the amount shown is his annualized salary based on a monthly rate of $34,000 effective as of October 1, 2009 pursuant to his employment agreement. This rate of pay was negotiated at the time of his resignation to provide Mr. Bigman a rate of base salary that is less than his salary as Chief Financial Officer, but sufficient to secure his assistance as a Senior Advisor in connection with our restructuring.

 

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We expect our compensation committee will, as a general practice, review and make necessary adjustments, if any, to base salaries annually during the first quarter of the fiscal year.

Annual Cash Incentive Compensation

The second component of our compensation program is annual cash incentive compensation awards pursuant to our Short Term Incentive Plan, or STI Plan. The STI Plan provides for annual cash incentives to the majority of our employees based on a percentage of the employee’s salary, as well as achievement of performance goals. We consider short-term incentive cash compensation to be an “industry standard” form of compensation and an important component of our executive’s total compensation. Annual cash incentive awards are a factor considered by both executives and the compensation committee when determining whether an executive’s total compensation is comparable to the market. As such, short-term incentive cash compensation serves our compensation objectives by supporting a high performing culture that attracts and retains qualified executives. Additionally, the performance objectives underlying our STI Plan motivate the executives to achieve operational and financial goals by communicating key performance metrics for focused attention, driving accountability for results and paying out according to performance.

For each calendar year, our compensation committee will analyze our corporate objectives and our five-year business plan. On that basis, the compensation committee will determine the company and award unit performance components pursuant to which bonuses will be calculated under the STI Plan for that year. The compensation committee will also determine the target bonus percentages of base salary for executives under the STI Plan. STI targets increase with hierarchical level and typically range from 3% to 100% of base salary.

2009 STI Plan

For 2009, the STI Plan provided for an individual performance component that could range from zero to 150% and was weighted to comprise 30% of the executive’s STI Plan annual award percentage and a company performance component that could range from zero to 200% and was weighted to comprise 70% of the executive’s award percentage. This allocation took into account the need, during the pendency of our bankruptcy proceeding, to place emphasis on the objective financial performance and health of the company. An executive’s award percentage for 2009 is calculated as follows:

Annual Award Percentage = (Individual Performance Component x 30%) + (Company Performance Component x 70%)

The annual cash award payable to the executive is then calculated as follows:

Annual Cash Award = Annual Award Percentage x Target Bonus Percentage x Annual Base Salary

For 2009, the company performance component was based solely on EBITDAR, as more specifically defined in our postpetition debtor in possession financing agreements, with linear interpolation for EBITDAR results between the fixed points, as follows:

 

2009 EBITDAR

   Below
$1.6 billion
    Target
$2.1 billion
    Maximum
$2.6 billion
 

Company Performance Component

   0   100   200

Messrs. de Vries, Dineen and Trautz were rated according to their individual performance with respect to leadership, delivering the company’s business plan, restructuring activities and safety measures. Messrs. Gallogly, Potter, Glidden and Brown have received guaranteed prorated annual cash bonuses for 2009. The 2009 guaranteed bonuses were agreed as part of the arms-length negotiations of Messrs. Gallogly’s, Glidden’s and

 

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Brown’s respective employment agreements (or in the case of Mr. Potter, his bankruptcy court approved compensation terms) prior to the time they joined us. This guaranteed bonus was one aspect of the overall compensation package that was necessary to recruit Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden, Brown and Potter to give up their current positions and join a company in a pending bankruptcy case.

Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Bigman did not participate in the 2010 STI Plan. Mr. Bigman was permitted to retain eligibility for participation in the 2009 STI Plan, and his award was prorated from the period from January 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009 based on his annualized rate of salary on July 31, 2009 and an individual performance component of 100%.

The compensation committee certified EBITDAR of $2.248 for purposes of the 2009 STI Plan, which was above target, resulting in a company performance component of 129.6% for 2009. Amounts payable to Named Executive Officers with respect to awards under the 2009 STI Plan taking into account the company performance component and respective individual performance components for Messrs. de Vries, Dineen and Trautz are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table below.

The 2009 STI Plan payments were made in March 2010.

2010 STI Plan

With bankruptcy court approval, we have established a 2010 STI Plan. For 2010, Mr. Gallogly’s STI Plan award will be based 50% on an overall company scorecard and 50% on a weighted average award unit rating. The compensation committee will then decide on an individual performance multiplier for Mr. Gallogly. The 2010 STI Plan award for the other Named Executive Officers still employed by us will be based 50% on an overall company scorecard and 50% on a weighted average rating of award units for which such executive is responsible. Mr. Gallogly will recommend to the compensation committee an individual performance multiplier for each of the other Named Executive Officers.

The overall company scorecard, on which 50% of the Named Executive Officers’ 2010 STI Plan award will be based, is set forth below:

 

Metric

   Weight    

Targets & Considerations

HSE Performance

   12.5  

Based on Recordable Injury Rate and HSE Management

(Considering severity of injuries and benchmarks, process safety incidents, environmental performance and stewardship, and audit results.)

Costs

   12.5  

Based on cash fixed costs compared to budget.

(Considering benchmarks and success in cost improvement initiatives.)

Business Results

   25  

Based on EBITDA defined in accordance with the company’s financing arrangements with appropriate adjustments for unusual events compared to budget.

(Considering business environment and performance relative to peer companies.)

The award unit ratings, the weighted average of which will be the basis for the remaining 50% of the Named Executive Officers’ 2010 STI Plan award, will be based on the achievement of the criteria set forth above under “—Overview of Compensation Program—Developing Performance Measures—Performance Measures and Criteria—Award Unit Performance Criteria.” When the leadership team assesses corporate and award unit performance to make STI Plan award payout recommendations to the compensation committee, achieving a target will generally result in a 100% payout for that part of the award. Not reaching a target will generally result in a less than 100% payout for that part of the award, which may be as low as zero, and exceeding a target will generally result in a more than 100% payout, which may be as high as 200%.

 

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As noted above, each of the Named Executive Officer’s 2010 STI Plan award will also be adjusted by an individual performance multiplier. Exceptional performers may receive a multiplier of up to 1.5, successful performers will receive a multiplier between 0.8 and 1.2, and poor performers will receive a multiplier of less than 0.8. As a result, 2010 STI Plan award payouts for Named Executive Officers will equal:

Base Pay as of December 31, 2010 x Target Bonus Percentage x (Company Scorecard Result x 50% + Award Unit Results x 50%) x Individual Multiplier

For 2010, target bonus percentages for the Named Executive Officers who are still employed by us will be as follows:

 

Name

   Target Bonus
Percentage
 

Mr. Gallogly

   100

Mr. Potter

   170

Mr. Glidden

   80

Mr. Brown

   75

Mr. de Vries

   75

Pursuant to their employment agreements (and the compensation terms approved by the Bankruptcy Court for Mr. Potter), the target bonus percentages for Messrs. Glidden and Brown cannot be respectively less than 80% and 75% of their base salary for the year, and Mr. Potter’s target bonus percentage cannot be less than 170% of his base salary for the year. While the target bonus percentage for Mr. Potter is outside the range of typical target bonus percentages, pursuant to his negotiated and bankruptcy court approved compensation terms, Mr. Potter will not participate in our management incentive plan or long or medium term incentive plans, each as described below. The compensation committee alone establishes the target bonus percentage for the Chief Executive Officer after its annual evaluation of his performance. Pursuant to his employment agreement, the STI award payout for Mr. Gallogly can range between 0% and 200% of his base salary for the year.

Payments to Named Executive Officers with respect to awards under the 2010 STI Plan are anticipated to be made in March 2011.

Management Incentive Plan

The Management Incentive Plan, or MIP, was a one-time incentive plan for 2009 that applied to approximately 325 of the company’s senior officers and managers. The MIP provided for payouts upon the company hitting certain targets of EBITDAR for the applicable performance period. The primary purpose of the MIP was to incentivize and reward employees for performance tied directly to critical restructuring goals for the purpose of enhancing the value of the company. The performance period for the MIP awards covered calendar year 2009. At the conclusion of the performance period, the compensation committee certified average monthly EBITDAR of $187.3 million for purposes of the MIP, which exceeded the minimum average monthly EBITDAR of $133 million and yielded an MIP Funding Percentage (as defined below) of 114.68%. Accordingly, participants will receive payouts under the MIP in accordance with the schedule described below, and calculated as follows:

MIP award = MIP Funding Percentage of 114.68% x the individual’s monthly salary x the individual’s Target Percentage (as defined below) x 12 (the number of months in the MIP performance period).

The MIP Funding Percentage is based on average monthly EBITDAR for the MIP performance period and was determined in accordance with the table below, with linear interpolation for EBITDAR results between the fixed points as follows:

 

Average Monthly EBITDAR

   Below
$133 million
    $133 million     Target
$175 million
    $217 million     Above
$217 million
 

MIP Funding Percentage

   0   50   100   150   150

 

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The maximum amount payable under the MIP was $45 million and, in accordance with the calculations described above, the actual amount payable based on performance was $25 million. With input from Towers Perrin, we intentionally structured the MIP so that the payout for each eligible individual at the target EBITDAR threshold would have been approximately 15% below market median levels for comparable companies as determined based on the Towers Perrin Database and the 2008 Incentive Plan Report, also prepared by Tower Perrin, that evaluated the company’s incentive levels against large corporations with revenues of $37.5 billion (representing a mid-point in the petrochemical cycle) and with revenues of $23.8 billion (representing the operating forecast for 2009). The identities of the component companies that comprised the 2008 Incentive Plan Report were not made available to us. This is a departure from our general practice of targeting compensation levels at the 50th percentile of market median levels and reflects the unique one-time nature of the MIP as an incentive plan approved by the bankruptcy court and specifically designed for the needs of our company during the pendency of our bankruptcy proceedings, taking into consideration all the beneficiaries of our bankruptcy estate.

Payouts on the current MIP awards will be made as follows: 25% of the total payout will be paid 90 days after April 30, 2010; 25% of the total payout will be paid 180 days after April 30, 2010 and the remaining 50% of the total payout will be paid April 30, 2011. We believe this schedule promotes employee retention and ensures that MIP participants focus on sustaining performance beyond emergence from bankruptcy, as well as improving our cash flow in the short term. If an MIP participant resigns prior to payment of an outstanding installment, that installment and all subsequent installments will be forfeited.

The only Named Executive Officers with an award under the MIP were Mr. de Vries and Mr. Dineen. Pursuant to the procedures and considerations discussed above in the overview of our compensation program, our compensation committee established a target percentage for each tier of MIP participants and for each individual participating executive. Target percentages and resulting MIP award amounts for the participating Named Executive Officers are as follows:

 

Name

   Target Percentage     Amount of
MIP Award

Mr. de Vries

   150   $ 720,104

Mr. Dineen

   200   $ 1,261,499

Mr. Dineen’s MIP award payout will be held in escrow pending resolution of bankruptcy related litigation.

Messrs. Gallogly, Potter, Glidden, Brown and Bigman did not participate in the MIP. Rather than granting these individuals awards under the MIP, and in order to focus these individuals on longer term goals and discourage excessive short term risk-taking, Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown will participate in the 2010 MTI Plan and the 2010 LTIP described below.

The Medium Term Incentive Plan, described below, has replaced the MIP going forward.

Medium Term Incentive Compensation

The third component of our executive compensation program is medium term incentive compensation awards pursuant to our new Medium Term Incentive Plan, or the 2010 MTI Plan. Our Named Executive Officers who remain employed by us, with the exception of Mr. Potter, participate in the 2010 MTI Plan. Mr. Potter does not participate in the 2010 MTI Plan, as he receives a higher target bonus percentage under the STI Plan pursuant to his negotiated compensation terms that were approved by the bankruptcy court.

Grants made pursuant to the 2010 MTI Plan have a three year term, with new grants anticipated to be made each year. We anticipate that, for each year, we will establish a MTI Plan target for each of our executive officers, considering the factors described above under “—Overview of Compensation Program—Benchmarking”.

 

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Payouts can range from zero to 200% of the initial target award, and the compensation committee may adjust a participant’s award to account for individual performance. Awards may be settled in cash or company stock in the discretion of the compensation committee. Payouts under the 2010 MTI Plan will be based on performance during the calendar years 2010 to 2012, using the following performance measures below. On or before March 30 for each subsequent performance cycle, the compensation committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the relative weight of these performance measures.

 

Metric

   Weight for
Calendar
Year 2010
Performance
Cycle
   

Considerations

Return on Assets

   67  

Percentage change in return on assets between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012 (as defined under “—Overview of Compensation Program—Developing Performance Measures—Performance Measures and Criteria”) for the company compared to peer companies.

(Considering relative change, market conditions and special circumstances applicable to the company and its peers.)

Costs

   33  

Cost improvements over the period 2010 to 2012 and

improvement in company’s position in cost benchmarks.

(Considering size of achievement, success in cost improvement initiatives, market conditions, and special circumstances applicable to the company.)

Benefits under the 2010 MTI Plan will vest on the date, following December 31, 2012, on which the compensation committee certifies the performance results and will be paid in a single lump-sum payment on March 31 following the end of the performance cycle. The 2010 MTI Plan provides for an accelerated pro rata payout in the event of a change in control of the company.

The 2010 MTI Plan serves our compensation objectives by tying incentives to measurable corporate performance that, in turn, creates shareholder value. As a result, the 2010 MTI Plan links the interests of shareholders with executives and senior management. The 2010 MTI Plan balances rewards for short-term and long-term results, drives accountability for such results and pays out according to company performance and shareholder value. The 2010 MTI Plan also helps to provide an attractive incentive compensation package to further our objective of retaining our executive talent.

Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Compensation

The fourth component of our executive compensation program is long-term equity-based incentive compensation. Specifically, certain of our senior managers and our executives will be eligible to participate in our 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or the 2010 LTIP. Under the 2010 LTIP, our compensation committee will be authorized to grant restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, stock appreciation rights and other types of equity-based awards consistent with the 2010 LTIP, or any combination thereof. The maximum number of shares of company stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2010 LTIP is 22,000,000.

Pursuant to their employment agreements, Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown are each entitled to receive an initial equity award grant promptly following our emergence from bankruptcy, as described in more detail in the table below (the “Initial Equity Awards”). Mr. Potter did not receive an Initial Equity Award and does not participate in the 2010 LTIP, as the terms of his negotiated and bankruptcy court approved compensation terms provide for a higher target bonus percentage under the STI Plan. Additionally, Mr. de Vries will not receive an Initial Equity Award as he was not newly recruited to join the company during the pendency of the bankruptcy case, and because he is a participant in the MIP. However, Mr. de Vries will be eligible to otherwise participate

 

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in the 2010 LTIP. Pursuant to their respective employment agreements, the amounts of the contractual Initial Equity Awards to be granted to Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown are as set forth below. The amounts of these awards were determined by the compensation committee in their consideration and formulation of the overall compensation packages offered to these newly-hired individuals, taking into account market levels of the long-term incentive compensation reflected in the Towers Perrin Database; the need to persuade these individuals to join us during our pending bankruptcy case; and the delay resulting from the fact that we cannot grant these awards until after our emergence from bankruptcy.

 

Name

  

Initial Equity Award

Mr. Gallogly

   Restricted shares of common stock valued at $25 million and stock options to purchase an additional number of shares equal to 1.0% of the shares of common stock to be outstanding pursuant to the plan of reorganization at the time of emergence

Mr. Glidden

   Value not to be less than 220% of aggregate base salary earned by Mr. Glidden in 2009, which equals $466,043

Mr. Brown

   Value not to be less than 200% of aggregate base salary earned by Mr. Brown in 2009, which equals $200,000

Under the 2010 LTIP, the compensation committee may make various types of equity awards. The compensation committee decides which individuals will receive equity awards and the type of award made and the timing and duration of each grant. In so doing, the compensation committee seeks to tie an appropriate percentage of executive total compensation, including total compensation for Named Executive Officers, to the long-term performance of our company. Additionally, the compensation committee has discretion to develop and assign appropriate performance measures to be applied to the vesting schedule of equity-based incentive awards that are intended to encourage achievement of significant goals over a long-term period. The 2010 LTIP also allows for additional discretionary awards of restricted stock or restricted stock units to be awarded upon recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer and approval by the compensation committee. The specific terms of any grant under the 2010 LTIP, including the vesting criteria, will be described in the applicable award agreement. Awards made pursuant to the 2010 LTIP, unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, will provide for vesting in the event of a change of control of the company followed within one year by constructive termination or involuntary termination without cause. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Gallogly has the right to immediate vesting under a change of control of the company.

Long-term incentive compensation is designed to serve a number of objectives under our executive compensation program. It is a mechanism through which executives become (or can become) shareholders, thereby aligning their interests with shareholders. In addition, the vesting provisions of each award will generally require continued employment for the awards to vest, thereby incentivizing the executive to remain in our employment. We also intend to use long-term incentive compensation to attract external candidates, who, by resigning from their prior employer to accept employment with us, may be surrendering unvested equity and other compensation.

We will not time the release of material nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation, and we will not grant options with a grant date prior to the date of compensation committee approval of the grant.

Equity awards made pursuant to the 2010 LTIP upon our emergence from bankruptcy will be allocated in consideration of the awards made under the 2010 MTI Plan and the company’s intended practice of allocating a greater portion of overall compensation to longer term equity-based awards as an executive assumes greater responsibilities in the company.

 

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Severance Arrangements

During our bankruptcy case, we rejected and terminated our Executive Severance Pay Program. Remaining in place is our Special Termination Plan, or the STP, which covers all U.S.-based employees and is designed for employees who are terminated for reasons other than cause, mainly because such employees’ jobs are permanently eliminated. In exchange for a valid release of claims against the company, the STP provides severance benefits to terminated employees of two weeks’ salary for every year worked, with a minimum period of eight weeks and a maximum of 52 weeks. In addition to severance payments, the STP provides for continued coverage for a limited period of time under the medical plan (at the same rates as active employees) and the employer-sponsored group life insurance plan, and participants may take advantage of specific outplacement services. The STP enhances the company’s overall compensation and benefits programs by providing employees with additional security and thereby assists the company in attracting and retaining a qualified workforce.

The terms of the individual employment agreements between the company and Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown provide for severance and change in control payments in certain circumstances in addition to or in lieu of participation in the STP. Additionally, we entered into a Settlement Agreement with Mr. Trautz upon his retirement that provided for a severance payment of $714,008 (as converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate); payment of legacy Basell MTI payments (discussed further below under “—Legacy Plans”); payout of a deferred payment under the 2008 STI Plan; and eligibility for payment under the 2009 STI Plan, if any amount is earned, on a pro rata basis for January 1, 2009 through May 31, 2009. The Settlement Agreement also provides that Mr. Trautz retains rights pursuant to any long-term incentive, stock option or stock appreciation rights previously awarded, pursuant to the terms governing such awards. In exchange for such benefits, Mr. Trautz entered into a waiver and release of claims for the benefit of the company.

As a non-U.S. employee, Mr. de Vries is not covered by the STP. Pursuant to the laws of the Netherlands, when an employee is terminated for economic reasons or due to a change in circumstances, such employee is eligible for severance benefits. The Dutch courts use a rule of thumb to determine the amount of severance, known as the Dutch Cantonal Court formula (the “Dutch Severance Formula”). Pursuant to this formula, the severance payment is equal to the number of weighted years of service, multiplied by gross monthly salary (including prorated bonuses), multiplied by a “correction factor.” The correction factor can be higher than one if the court finds an employer is at fault or has acted unreasonably and may be lower than one if the employee is at fault. With respect to employees in the Netherlands, including Mr. de Vries, we have a social plan in place for the period from February 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 that modifies the Dutch Severance Formula (the “Social Plan”). The Social Plan stipulates that the correction factor will be set at one, and the Social Plan provides for a maximum gross severance of €200,000. Such a cap on the severance is not standard practice, and because the Social Plan is agreed upon only with the works council, it does not have a special status and is not binding on the court. As a result, the court may choose not to follow the Social Plan, particularly in a case where hardship is found because application of the Social Plan would lead to an unreasonable outcome, such as a very large differential between the severance cap and the amount that would be paid pursuant to the Dutch Severance Formula. If Mr. de Vries were terminated during 2010 for economic reasons, pursuant to the Social Plan, he could be limited to a gross severance payment of €200,000 ($294,740 using the euro Conversion Rate); whereas, if the court elected to apply the Dutch Severance Formula without limitation by the Social Plan or termination is sought on different grounds, assuming 37.5 weighted years of service, an income of €30,250 per month and a correction factor of one (which may be set higher), Mr. de Vries could be entitled to a gross severance payment of at least €1,134,375 (or $1,671,728 using the euro Conversion Rate).

 

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The table below provides a brief summary of benefits that Named Executive Officers who are still employed by us are eligible to receive in the event of a future termination or change in control pursuant to their employment agreements and outstanding awards as of April 1, 2010. These benefits are in addition to, or where specified, in lieu of, benefits under the STP that are available to all U.S. employees generally. These benefits are also in addition to other benefits available generally to salaried employees, such as distributions under our 401(k) savings plan, benefits under the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan, disability benefits and accrued vacation pay, as well as pension and severance benefits generally available to our employees in the Netherlands. The table below does not include information regarding awards under the LyondellBasell 2008 MTI Plan (as defined below) because performance conditions will not be met for these awards, and we are not accruing any amounts on account of such awards. See “—Legacy Plans.”

 

Event

 

Gallogly

 

Potter

 

Glidden

 

Brown

 

de Vries

Retirement

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   Basell MTI award

 

-   retains right to exercise options and SARs

 

-   retains MIP award

 

-   pro rata vesting of Phantom Units

Death

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   lump sum payment equal to maximum annual bonus for the year of termination

 

-   all options and restricted stock vest

 

-   vested options remain exercisable

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   entitled to his Initial Equity Award

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   entitled to his Initial Equity Award

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   Basell MTI award

 

-   retains right to exercise options for a limited period

 

-   retains right to exercise SARs

 

-   retains MIP award

 

-   pro rata vesting of Phantom Units

 

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Event

 

Gallogly

 

Potter

 

Glidden

 

Brown

 

de Vries

Disability

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   lump sum payment equal to maximum annual bonus for the year of termination

 

-   all options and restricted stock vest

 

-   vested options remain exercisable

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   entitled to his Initial Equity Award

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   entitled to his Initial Equity Award

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

-   Basell MTI award

 

-   retains right to exercise options and SARs

 

-   retains MIP award

 

-   pro rata vesting of Phantom Units

Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason (1)  

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards (2) in lieu of any payments or benefits under the STP:

 

-   lump sum payment of then current base salary, plus an amount equal to his maximum possible annual bonus for the year of termination (the “Annual Compensation Amount”)

 

-   12 months health care coverage

 

-   all options and restricted stock vest

 

-   options remain exercisable for their original term

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards (2)

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards (2) in lieu of any payments or benefits under the STP:

 

-   lump sum cash payment equal to then current annual base salary plus target annual bonus for the year of termination

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards (2) in lieu of any payments or benefits under the STP, if termination occurs during the first year of employment:

 

-   lump sum cash payment equal to then current annual base salary plus target annual bonus for the year of termination

 

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards (2)

 

-   Basell MTI award

 

-   retains right to exercise options and SARs with company consent

 

-   retains MIP award (2)

 

-   pro rata vesting of Phantom Units (2)

 

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Event

 

Gallogly

 

Potter

 

Glidden

 

Brown

 

de Vries

Change in Control (3)  

-   all options and shares of restricted stock vest

 

-   options remain exercisable for their original term

       
Termination by Mutual Consent  

-   12 months health care coverage

 

-   retention of all vested options

 

-   pro rata vesting of the next installment of options in his Initial Equity Award

 

-   pro rata vesting of the restricted stock in his Initial Equity Award on the fifth anniversary of his employment agreement

       

-   pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

 

(1) For purposes of the employment agreements with Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown, “Good Reason” means the occurrence, without the executive’s written consent, of: (a) an adverse change in the executive’s title or change in duty to report to the Chief Executive Officer (or, in the case of Mr. Gallogly, to our Supervisory Board), (b) a material diminution in the executive’s employment duties, responsibilities or authority or the assignment of duties that are inconsistent with the executive’s position, (c) a material reduction in base salary or annual bonus target, (d) relocation outside of Houston, Texas or (e) breach by the company of the executive’s employment agreement.
(2) The executive is entitled to pro rata vesting of the STI Plan awards and Phantom Units (as defined below under “—Legacy Plans”) and/or retention of the MIP awards as set forth above in the event of involuntary termination without cause. Generally, these plans do not provide a benefit for voluntary termination with good reason, however pursuant to applicable law Mr. de Vries would be entitled to pro rata vesting of his STI Plan award in the event of voluntary termination with good reason.
(3)

For purposes of the employment agreements with Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown, a “Change in Control” means (a) at any time, the continuing directors (those in place at the signing of the employment agreement, at the time of emergence from bankruptcy, or elected with the approval of a majority of the prior continuing directors) ceases to constitute at least a majority of our Supervisory Board, (b) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets, (c) a merger, consolidation or like business combination which would result in

 

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the event described in clause (a) above, or (d) following emergence from bankruptcy the acquisition by any person or group that was not a 10% holder of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of either (1) the value of all classes of our outstanding capital stock or (2) the voting power of all such classes of stock. Only one Change in Control may occur during the term of the employment agreements.

As summarized in the table above, currently only Mr. Gallogly is entitled to a benefit in the event of a change in control. The compensation committee believes that our severance arrangements (including the change-in-control triggers) are competitive and are generally representative of typical executive severance pay packages.

Other Benefits

In addition to the compensation described above, we provide our Named Executive Officers with very few perquisites or other benefits, which are limited to 401(k) plan matching contributions for Mr. Bigman and Mr. Dineen up until the time we ceased making any 401(k) plan matching contributions in March 2009 and a car allowance for Messrs. Trautz and de Vries. Additionally, our Named Executive Officers are eligible to participate in medical and other benefit plans generally available to all employees, including pension plans.

Accounting and Tax Matters

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code denies a compensation deduction for federal income tax purposes for certain compensation in excess of $1 million paid to specified individuals. “Performance based” compensation meeting specified standards is deductible without regard to the $1 million cap. None of the compensation paid to our officers or employees in 2009 was subject to Section 162(m). Certain compensation payable to our officers under the employment agreements currently in effect and future payments of compensation approved by our compensation committee may be in excess of what is deductible under Section 162(m), and our compensation committee reserves the right to structure future compensation of our executive officers without regard for whether such compensation is fully deductible if, in the committee’s judgment, it is in the best interests of our company and our shareholders to do so.

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code generally provides that any deferred compensation arrangement which does not meet specific requirements regarding (i) timing of payouts, (ii) advance election of deferrals and (iii) restrictions on acceleration of payouts will result in immediate taxation of any amounts deferred to the extent not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. In addition, tax on the amounts included in income as a result of not complying with Section 409A will be increased by an interest component as specified by statute, and the amount included in income will also be subject to a 20% excise tax. In general, to avoid a Section 409A violation, amounts deferred may only be paid out on separation from service, disability, death, a specified time, a change-in-control (as defined by the Treasury Department) or an unforeseen emergency. Furthermore, the election to defer generally must be made in the calendar year prior to performance of services, and any provision for accelerated payout other than for reasons specified by the Treasury Department may cause the amounts deferred to be subject to early taxation and to the imposition of the excise tax.

Section 409A is broadly applicable to any form of deferred compensation other than tax-qualified retirement plans and bona fide vacation, sick leave, compensatory time, disability pay or death benefits, and may apply to certain awards under our long-term incentive plans. For example, restricted stock units and stock options may be classified as deferred compensation for this purpose.

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have issued final regulations implementing Section 409A, which generally became effective January 1, 2009. Based on these regulations, we intend to structure all of our compensation arrangements in a manner that complies with or is exempt from Section 409A.

 

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Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table

The following tables provide information regarding the compensation awarded to or earned by our Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2009 for services rendered in all capacities to the company.

 

Name and principal position

  Salary
($) (1)
  Bonus
($) (2)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($) (3)
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($) (4)
  All Other
Compensation
($) (5)
  Total
($)

James L. Gallogly (6)

           

President and Chief Executive Officer

  923,077   4,346,154   —     5,708   —     5,274,939

C. Kent Potter (7)

           

Chief Financial Officer

  296,154   796,154   —     4,828   145,833   1,242,969

Craig Glidden (8)

           

Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

  211,838   1,235,483   —     5,443   —     1,452,764

Kevin Brown (9)

           

Senior Vice President, Refining

  100,000   1,075,000   —     2,707   —     1,177,707

Anton de Vries (10)

           

Senior Vice President, Olefins & Polyolefins, Europe, Asia and International

  459,794   —     416,298   220,749   234,147   1,330,988

Alan Bigman (11)

           

Senior Advisor/Former Chief Financial Officer

  567,039   —     727,814   13,115   8,043   1,316,011

Volker Trautz (12)

           

Former President and Chief Executive Officer

  396,671   —     461,065   2,936,188   794,789   4,635,877

Edward Dineen (13)

           

Former Chief Operating Officer

  543,658   —     389,183   161   27,500   939,444

 

(1) For Named Executive Officers employed by us for less than a full year, amounts reflect the portion of the year such Named Executive Officer was employed by us. Mr. Gallogly commenced employment with us in May 2009, Messrs. Potter and Glidden commenced employment with us in August 2009 and Mr. Brown commenced employment with us in October 2009. Prior to obtaining bankruptcy court approval for retention of Mr. Gallogly and Mr. Potter, each was treated as a contract employee and was compensated on the same terms and at the same rate of pay as was later approved by the bankruptcy court. For purposes of the executive compensation disclosure herein, we have treated the period of their contract employment as though they were our employees.
(2) Amounts in this column include (a) signing bonuses paid to Messrs. Gallogly, Potter, Glidden and Brown in the amount of $2.5 million, $500,000, $1,066,013 and $1 million, respectively and (b) a guaranteed annual cash bonus for 2009 negotiated at the time each of Messrs. Gallogly, Potter, Glidden and Brown were hired, in the amount of $1,846,154, $296,154, $169,470 and $75,000, respectively.
(3)

Amounts in this column reflect cash bonuses earned pursuant to performance metrics under our 2009 STI Plan. No payments were earned or paid in 2009 under the LyondellBasell Mid-Term Incentive Plan because we did not meet our applicable goals in 2008. See “—Legacy Plans.” Awards granted in 2009 under the MIP are contingent on our emergence from bankruptcy, and as a result, no amounts were earned in 2009 on account of such awards. Additionally, Messrs. Bigman, Trautz and de Vries received payments in 2009 on account of awards under the Basell Medium Term Incentive Plan relating to performance in 2006 and 2007. See “—Legacy Plans.” Because such awards were earned in prior years (subject only to continued employment or departure with consent), such payments are not included in total compensation for 2009. Payments pursuant to the Basell Medium Term Incentive Plan made in 2009 and converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate were $1,888,616, $366,102 and $1,259,078 for Messrs. Trautz, de Vries and Bigman, respectively. In accordance with the Settlement Agreement with Mr. Trautz, his final payment with respect to

 

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his legacy Basell MTI Plan awards was made in 2009 in the amount earned (as converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate) of $1,095,349. With respect to Messrs. de Vries and Bigman, the final payments with respect to these legacy Basell MTI Plan awards were made in 2010 in the amounts (as converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate) of $208, 638 and $730,233, respectively.

(4) Amounts in this column include:

 

   

increases during 2009 in the actuarial present values of the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan, the Lyondell Supplementary Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) and, with respect to Mr. de Vries, the Dutch Retirement Plan (as defined in footnote 3 to the “Pension Benefits” table below); and

 

   

the above market earnings during 2009 on account balances under Lyondell’s Executive Deferral Plan (the “Deferral Plan”).

 

     Provided however, the amount in this column for Mr. Trautz includes the amount that we were required to transfer on account of Mr. Trautz to the Senior Manager Pension of BASF maintained in Germany, converted into U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate. The SERP and the Deferral Plan were frozen and discontinued as of January 6, 2009. Mr. Dineen has an unsecured claim in our bankruptcy case for $740,954, which represents the total amount of Mr. Dineen’s interests in the Deferral Plan and the SERP.

 

     Set forth below are the change in pension value and above market earnings on nonqualified deferred compensation for 2009. For U.S. Named Executive Officers, the payments were equal to the difference between the total benefit actuarially reduced from age 65 to current age and the present value of the benefit available to the participant under the qualified retirement plan.

Change in Pension Value for 2009 ($)

 

Name

  Plan Name    Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit at
December 31,
2008 ($)
   Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit at
December 31,
2009 ($)
   Total
Change
in Pension
Value
  Above-
Market
Nonqualified
Compensation
Earnings
under
Deferral Plan

Mr. Gallogly

  LyondellBasell

Retirement Plan

   0    5,708    5,708  

Mr. Potter

  LyondellBasell

Retirement Plan

   0    4,828    4,828  

Mr. Glidden

  LyondellBasell

Retirement Plan

   0    5,443    5,443  

Mr. Brown

  LyondellBasell

Retirement Plan

   0    2,707    2,707  

Mr. de Vries

  Regeling voor Oud-Shell

werknemers aan de

Pensioenregeling van

Stichting Shell

Pensioenfonds

   1,316,014    1,536,763    220,749  

Mr. Bigman

  LyondellBasell

Retirement Plan

   0    13,115    13,115  

Mr. Dineen

  LyondellBasell

Retirement Plan

   572,275    715,173    142,898   161
  Lyondell Chemical

Company

Supplementary

Executive Retirement

Plan

   637,152    0    (637,152)  

 

     See the Pension Benefits table in this Registration Statement for a description of the plan provisions and assumptions used to calculate the present value of pension benefits at December 31, 2009.
(5)

Amounts in this column include (a) for Messrs. Bigman and Dineen, matching contributions under our 401(k) plan from January 1, 2009 until March 2009, when we ceased making matching 401(k) contributions; (b) for Mr. Trautz (converted

 

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using the euro Conversion Rate) $69,980 in housing, expatriate mobility and car allowances, $7,779 in health and accident insurance, $3,021 in tax preparation assistance, and a cash severance payment of $714,008 paid in accordance with his Settlement Agreement; (c) for Mr. Potter, fees totaling $145,833 received for service on our Supervisory Board for January 2009 until August 2009; (d) for Mr. de Vries (converted using the euro Conversion Rate) $101,823 in housing, living and car allowances, $26,026 in Savings Plan and work time reduction days, $7,033 in health insurance, $75,633 in tax gross ups for progressive Dutch tax rates and $23,632 in tax preparation assistance; (e) for Mr. Bigman, $1,842 in tax assistance; and (f) for Mr. Dineen, a cash severance payment of $21,154, paid in accordance with the STP. Mr. Dineen will be entitled to additional bi-weekly payments totaling $528,850 in 2010; provided however, Mr. Dineen shall not receive the payments that would extend more than six months beyond his termination date unless he certifies in writing that he is not receiving compensation from other employment that is equal to or greater than his base weekly rate of pay at the time of his termination.

(6) Named Chief Executive Officer in May 2009. For years after 2009, certain amounts in the All Other Compensation column may include amounts for tax assistance in connection with Mr. Gallogly’s service on the Management Board of LyondellBasell Holdings N.V.
(7) Named Chief Financial Officer in September 2009.
(8) Named Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer in August 2009.
(9) Named Senior Vice President, Refining in October 2009.
(10) Mr. de Vries is based in the Netherlands and is compensated in euros. For purposes of the executive compensation disclosure herein, his compensation has been converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate.
(11) Chief Financial Officer of LyondellBasell until August 2009. From August 2009 to March 31, 2010, Mr. Bigman served as Senior Advisor in connection with the restructuring.
(12) Chief Executive Officer of LyondellBasell until May 2009. Mr. Trautz was based in the Netherlands and was compensated in euros. For purposes of the executive compensation disclosure herein, his compensation has been converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate.
(13) Chief Operating Officer of LyondellBasell until December 2009. Beginning February 2010, we agreed to compensate Mr. Dineen at a rate of $300 per hour to cooperate at our request or direction in connection with certain legal proceedings.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2009

The following table reports all grants of plan-based awards made to our Named Executive Officers during 2009.

 

Name

   Grant Date     Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)
     Threshold
($)
     Target
($)
     Maximum
($)

Anton de Vries

   1/1/2009

12/8/2009

(2)  

(3)  

  0

0

     344,846

627,924

     637,965

941,886

Volker Trautz

   1/1/2009 (2)     0      508,229      940,223

Alan Bigman

   1/1/2009 (2)     180,868      602,894      1,024,920

Edward Dineen

   1/1/2009

12/8/2009

(2)  

(3)  

  0

0

     368,126

1,100,016

     681,033

1,650,024

 

(1) Annual cash bonuses for 2009 for Messrs. Gallogly, Potter, Glidden and Brown were guaranteed at fixed amounts pursuant to their respective employment agreements without consideration of performance criteria and, as such, are reported under “Bonus” in the Summary Compensation Table rather than grants under a non-equity incentive plan. Each of Messrs. Gallogly, Potter, Glidden and Brown will participate in the 2010 STI Plan. Additionally, the employment agreements of Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown provide that such executives shall be entitled to receive equity-based long-term incentive awards for the period ending December 31, 2009. However, because such equity-based incentive awards could not be granted until after the emergence from bankruptcy, they are not included in the table above. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation Program—Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Compensation.”
(2)

Reflects threshold, target and maximum amounts for both the company performance and individual performance portions of awards granted pursuant to our 2009 STI Plan. Amounts are actual amounts as of

 

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December 31, 2009 based on performance criteria established for 2009. Awards for Mr. Dineen and Mr. Trautz were prorated based on the portion of the year they were employed by us. Mr. Bigman’s award was prorated to cover the period from January 1, 2009 until September 30, 2009. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation Program—Annual Cash Incentive Compensation.”

(3) Reflects awards granted pursuant to the MIP. Actual payouts on such awards will be determined based on average monthly EBITDAR for the period from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, payable after the effective date of our plan of reorganization. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation Program—Management Incentive Plan.”

Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers

Compensation decisions will be made in line with our existing employment agreements with our Named Executive Officers. We are currently party to employment agreements with Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden, Brown and de Vries. We determined it was appropriate and necessary to enter into employment agreements with Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown to attract these candidates to leave their current positions and accept employment with a company in a pending bankruptcy case. Mr. de Vries has been party to employment agreements with predecessor companies since September 1977. Mr. de Vries’ contract was last amended in November 2006.

Gallogly Agreement

The employment agreement with Mr. Gallogly (the “Gallogly Agreement”) has a term ending on the earlier of the fifth anniversary date of our emergence from bankruptcy or December 31, 2011, if emergence from bankruptcy shall not have occurred on or before that date. The Gallogly Agreement is subject to automatic renewals for successive one-year terms until either party terminates the agreement at least ninety days before the commencement of a renewal term. The Gallogly Agreement provides for base salary, an annual bonus, equity-based awards, other compensation and benefits on a basis no less favorable than provided to any other senior executive of the company and the specified benefits upon termination of employment or change in control set forth above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation Program—Severance Arrangements.” Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Gallogly is also subject to noncompetition and noninterference provisions for a period of one year after any termination of employment.

Glidden and Brown Agreements

The employment agreements with Mr. Glidden (the “Glidden Agreement) and Mr. Brown (the “Brown Agreement”) each provide that Messrs. Glidden and Brown are at-will employees and either the company or the executive may terminate employment at any time for any reason, with or without cause. The Glidden and Brown Agreements provide for the following:

 

    

Glidden Agreement

  

Brown Agreement

Annual Base Salary

   not less than $524,550    not less than $400,000

Annual STI Plan Award

  

target not less than 80% of base salary

(with 2009 bonus guaranteed at 80% of 2009 base salary received)

  

target not less than 75% of base salary

(with 2009 bonus guaranteed at 75% of 2009 base salary received)

Incentive Awards

   the Initial Equity Award and annual awards pursuant to the 2010 LTIP and/or 2010 MTI Plan with a value of not less than 220% of base salary    the Initial Equity Award and annual awards pursuant to the 2010 LTIP and/or 2010 MTI Plan with a value of not less than 200% of base salary

Additionally, Messrs. Glidden and Brown are entitled to participate in or receive benefits under other benefits plans or arrangements made available now or in the future to senior executives of the company and are entitled to the specified benefits upon termination of employment or change in control set forth above under “Compensation

 

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Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation Program—Severance Arrangements.” In order to receive the benefits summarized above in the event that Mr. Glidden or Mr. Brown are terminated without cause or for good reason, the subject executive must execute a general release of claims in form and substance acceptable to us. Additionally, Messrs. Glidden and Brown are subject to noninterference provisions for one year after any termination of their employment.

de Vries Agreement

The employment agreement with Mr. de Vries provides for base salary, participation in a pension plan and for participation in other standard benefit programs. The employment agreement with Mr. de Vries does not provide for any benefit upon termination or change in control. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation Program—Severance Arrangements” for potential severance benefits that Mr. de Vries could be eligible to receive pursuant to the Dutch Severance Formula or our Social Plan.

Legacy Plans

As of 2010, our current incentive plans are the 2010 STI Plan, the 2010 MTI Plan and the 2010 LTIP, each described above. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation Program.” However, certain of the Named Executive Officers continue to hold awards or have benefits under Lyondell Chemical or Basell incentive plans or arrangements that pre-date December 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by Basell or that are otherwise no longer in effect. These arrangements include:

 

   

The Basell Medium Term Incentive Plan (the “Basell MTI Plan”). Messrs. Bigman, Trautz and de Vries received payments in 2009, from entities that were not debtors in the bankruptcy case, on account of awards under the Basell MTI Plan relating to performance in 2006 and 2007. Because such awards were earned in prior years (subject only to continued employment or departure with consent), such payments are not included in total compensation for 2009. The legacy Basell MTI Plan payments made in 2009 and converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate were $1,888,616, $366,101 and $1,259,078 for Messrs. Trautz, de Vries and Bigman, respectively. In accordance with the Settlement Agreement with Mr. Trautz, his final payment with respect to his legacy Basell MTI Plan awards was made in 2009 in the amount earned (as converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate) of $1,095,349. With respect to Messrs. de Vries and Bigman, the final payments with respect to these legacy Basell MTI Plan awards were made in 2010 in the amounts (as converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate) of $208, 638 and $730,233, respectively.

 

   

The LyondellBasell Mid-Term Incentive Plan (the “LyondellBasell MTI Plan”). Awards were granted under the LyondellBasell MTI Plan in 2008 to Messrs. Bigman, de Vries and Dineen; however, no payments were earned or paid in 2009 on account of such awards because we did not meet our applicable performance goals in 2008. Additionally, the company’s 2009 performance prohibits any payments being earned on the LyondellBasell MTI Plan awards in 2010 and it is likely that the company’s 2010 performance will prohibit any such payments in 2011, the final year in which payments under the LyondellBasell MTI Plan would be due. As a result, we are not accruing any amounts for payment of these awards and we are treating these awards as lapsed.

 

   

Basell Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights Between 1999 and 2005, Basell and its predecessor Montell granted stock options and stock appreciations rights (“SARs”) to Messrs. Trautz and de Vries covering shares of BASF and Royal Dutch Shell, the shareholders of Basell. All of the options and SARs vested between March 30, 2003 and June 16, 2008. The remaining options and SARs will expire between April 3, 2011 and June 16, 2015, which dates are ten years after the grant date of the awards. See “Outstanding Equity Awards at Year-End 2009.”

 

   

LyondellBasell Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2008 LTIP”). Messrs. Bigman, Trautz, de Vries and Dineen were granted phantom units (the “Phantom Units”) pursuant to the 2008 LyondellBasell Long Term Incentive Plan on April 1, 2008. The Phantom Units represent the right to the appraised unit

 

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value, if any, of a unit of NAG Investments LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NAG”), which directly and indirectly owns shares in Nell Limited. Nell Limited was indirectly owned by Access Industries Holding LLC and directly and indirectly owned by Mr. Leonard Blavatnik, and Nell formerly indirectly owned all of the outstanding equity interests of LyondellBasell AF. On the vesting date of the Phantom Units, the participants are to receive an amount equal to the product of the number of vested Phantom Units multiplied by the appraised NAG unit value as of the applicable valuation date. Recipients are also entitled to a payment that is equivalent to a dividend paid on a NAG unit. The awards vest in April 1, 2011 or earlier (a) upon change in control of NAG or (b) on a pro rata basis, in the event of death, disability, retirement or termination without cause. Upon the commencement of our bankruptcy case, the Phantom Units were deemed to have only a nominal value and, for certain Named Executive Officers, payments with respect to these awards were not authorized by the Bankruptcy Court. Specifically, in April 2009, NAG units held by LyondellBasell Management Holdings LLC were redeemed by NAG. The valuation of a NAG unit for purposes of the redemption was less than one cent. For purposes of this Registration Statement, we have valued the outstanding Phantom Units using the same valuation of less than one cent per unit. There was no other market for NAG units in 2009, nor was there any valuation of NAG units performed in accordance with the 2008 LTIP documents. No payments were made on account of Phantom Units or related dividend equivalents in 2009.

 

   

Additionally, the SERP and the Deferral Plan for U.S. executives were frozen and discontinued as of January 6, 2009; the Lyondell Chemical Company Executive Medical Plan and the Lyondell Chemical Company Executive Life Insurance Plan were terminated; and the Executive Severance Pay Plan was rejected in the bankruptcy court proceedings. All supplementary savings programs were terminated in 2008 and we have no outstanding obligations under those programs. No Named Executive Officers have interests or entitlements under any such plans, with the exception of Mr. Dineen’s unsecured claim in the bankruptcy case for his SERP and Deferral Plan account balances. Any payments made to Mr. Dineen on account of such claim will be in accordance with our Plan of Reorganization.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Year-End 2009

The following table sets forth options, SARs and Phantom Units held by our Named Executive Officers and outstanding as of December 31, 2009.

 

     Option Awards    Stock Awards

Name

   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
   Option
Exercise
Price ($) (1)
   Option
Expiration
Date
   Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
   Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($)

Anton de Vries

                 

Options (2)

   9,000    —      45.38    4/3/11      

SARs (4)

   3,600    —      57.96    4/23/12      

SARs (4)

   4,160    —      36.92    3/29/14      

SARs (5)

   5,720    —      48.59    6/16/15      

SARs (6)

   5,720    —      54.06    6/16/15      

Phantom Units (7)

               123,599    719

Volker Trautz

                 

SARs (9)

   7,000    —      57.14    2/28/12      

SARs (9)

   9,990    —      37.87    2/26/14      

SARs (10)

   14,078    —      44.74    2/24/15      

SARs (11)

   11,742    —      53.63    2/24/15      

Alan Bigman

                 

Phantom Units (7)

               159,813    930

 

(1) For purposes of the executive compensation disclosure herein, the Option Exercise Price has been converted to U.S. dollars using the euro Conversion Rate.
(2) Options in shares of Royal Dutch Shell were awarded to Mr. de Vries on April 3, 2001 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All options fully vested on April 3, 2004.
(3) SARs with respect to shares of Royal Dutch Shell were awarded to Mr. de Vries on April 23, 2002 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All SARs fully vested on April 23, 2005. SARs may only be exercised if the price at the time of the exercise is at least 30% higher than the grant price. The Option Exercise Price shown above reflects this minimum exercise price, which is 30% higher than the grant price.
(4) SARs with respect to shares of Royal Dutch Shell were awarded to Mr. de Vries on March 29, 2004 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All SARs fully vested on March 29, 2007. SARs may only be exercised if the price at the time of the exercise is at least 30% higher than the grant price. The Option Exercise Price shown above reflects this minimum exercise price, which is 30% higher than the grant price.
(5) SARs with respect to shares of Royal Dutch Shell were awarded to Mr. de Vries on June 16, 2005 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All SARs fully vested on June 16, 2008. SARs may only be exercised if the price at the time of the exercise is at least 30% higher than the grant price. The Option Exercise Price shown above reflects this minimum exercise price, which is 30% higher than the grant price.
(6) SARs with respect to shares of BASF were awarded to Mr. de Vries on June 16, 2005 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All SARs fully vested on June 16, 2008. SARs may only be exercised if the price at the time of the exercise is at least 30% higher than the grant price. The Option Exercise Price shown above reflects this minimum exercise price, which is 30% higher than the grant price.
(7)

Phantom Units granted pursuant to the 2008 LTIP. Upon the commencement of our bankruptcy case, the Phantom Units were deemed to have only a nominal value and, for certain Named Executive Officers, payments with respect to these awards were not authorized by the Bankruptcy Court. Specifically, in April 2009, NAG units held by LyondellBasell Management Holdings LLC were redeemed by NAG. The

 

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valuation of a NAG unit for purposes of the redemption was less than one cent. For purposes of this Registration Statement, we have valued the outstanding Phantom Units using the same valuation of less than one cent per unit. There was no other market for NAG units in 2009, nor was there any valuation of NAG units performed in accordance with the 2008 LTIP documents.

(8) SARs with respect to shares of Royal Dutch Shell were awarded to Mr. Trautz on February 28, 2002 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All SARs fully vested on February 28, 2005. SARs may only be exercised if the price at the time of the exercise is at least 30% higher than the grant price. The Option Exercise Price shown above reflects this minimum exercise price, which is 30% higher than the grant price.
(9) SARs with respect to shares of Royal Dutch Shell were awarded to Mr. Trautz on February 26, 2004 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All SARs fully vested on February 26, 2007. SARs may only be exercised if the price at the time of the exercise is at least 30% higher than the grant price. The Option Exercise Price shown above reflects this minimum exercise price, which is 30% higher than the grant price.
(10) SARs with respect to shares of Royal Dutch Shell were awarded to Mr. Trautz on February 24, 2005 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All SARs fully vested on February 24, 2008. SARs may only be exercised if the price at the time of the exercise is at least 30% higher than the grant price. The Option Exercise Price shown above reflects this minimum exercise price, which is 30% higher than the grant price.
(11) SARs with respect to shares of BASF were awarded to Mr. Trautz on February 24, 2005 pursuant to a legacy Basell incentive compensation plan. All SARs fully vested on February 24, 2008. SARs may only be exercised if the price at the time of the exercise is at least 30% higher than the grant price. The Option Exercise Price shown above reflects this minimum exercise price, which is 30% higher than the grant price.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested for 2009

The following table sets forth Phantom Units that vested during 2009. No other option awards or stock awards held by our Named Executive Officers vested or were exercised in 2009.

 

     Option awards    Stock awards

Name

   Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise (#)
   Value Realized
Upon Exercise
($)
   Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting (#)
   Value Realized
on Vesting ($)

Volker Trautz (1)

   —      —      —      531

Edward Dineen (1)

   —      —      —      313

 

(1) Phantom Units were granted to Messrs. Trautz and Dineen pursuant to the 2008 LTIP and vested, on a pro rata basis, as of their respective termination dates of May 31, 2009 and December 15, 2009. The number of pro rata vested units for Messrs. Trautz and Dineen were 91,248 and 53,855 respectively. As discussed in footnote 12 to the Outstanding Equity Awards at Year-End 2009 table above, upon the filing of our bankruptcy case, these awards were deemed to have only nominal value. For purposes of this Registration Statement we have used a valuation of less than one cent per unit; however, no amounts were actually paid out on account of the Phantom Units in 2009.

 

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Pension Benefits

 

Name

   Plan Name   Number of Years
Credited Service (#)
  Present Value
of Accumulated
Benefit  ($) (1)
  Payments During
Last Fiscal Year ($)

James Gallogly

   LyondellBasell Retirement Plan   0   5,708   0

C. Kent Potter

   LyondellBasell Retirement Plan   0   4,828   0

Craig Glidden

   LyondellBasell Retirement Plan   0   5,443   0

Kevin Brown

   LyondellBasell Retirement Plan   0   2,707   0

Alan Bigman

   LyondellBasell Retirement Plan   1   13,115   0

Edward Dineen

   LyondellBasell Retirement Plan   32   715,173   0
   Lyondell Chemical Company
Supplementary Executive
Retirement Plan
     

Volker Trautz (2)

   Pensionskasse der BASF VvaG   N/A   N/A   N/A

Anton de Vries (3)

   Regeling voor Oud-Shell
werknemers aan de
Pensioenregeling van Stichting
Shell Pensioenfonds
  32   1,536,763   0

 

(1) The amounts shown in the Pension Benefits table for the U.S. Named Executive Officers are the actuarial present value of each participant’s accumulated benefits as of December 31, 2009, calculated on the same basis as that used in Note 23 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Registration Statement, with the exception that each participant was assumed to continue to be actively employed by us until age 65 (earliest unreduced retirement age) and immediately commence his or her benefit at that time. Assumptions used to develop the amounts in Note 23 are:

 

   

post-retirement mortality based on the RP-2000 (sex distinct, no blue or white collar adjustment) mortality table projected to 2017;

 

   

a discount rate of 5.75%;

 

   

a cash balance interest crediting rate of 4.75%

 

   

for benefits accrued under the Lyondell Prior Plan:

 

   

80% of transition participants who terminate after eligibility for early retirement will elect a lump sum form of payment and 20% will elect an annuity;

 

   

60% of non-transition participants who terminate after eligibility for early retirement will elect a lump sum form of payment and 40% will elect an annuity;

 

   

for benefits accrued under the cash balance formula effective January 1, 2009, 100% of participants will elect to receive their cash balance benefit in the lump sum form;

 

   

the future segmented yield curve used for conversion of annuities to lump sums will be 2.08% for payments in the first five years after commencement, 5.72% for payments made in the following 15 years and 6.12% thereafter; and

 

   

the mortality table used for conversion of annuities to lump sums is the mortality table defined in IRS Revenue Ruling 2008-25, further adjusted to reflect anticipated mortality improvements.

The amount shown for Mr. Dineen also reflects his accrued benefit under the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan formula in effect before 2009 (the “Lyondell Prior Plan”), discussed in detail below. As Mr. Dineen is eligible for early retirement under the terms of the Lyondell Prior Plan, if he had elected early

 

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retirement and if a lump sum payment would have been permissible under the provisions of the Pension Protection Act, the lump sum payment for Mr. Dineen’s Lyondell Prior Plan benefit would have been $832,821, as of December 31, 2009. However, benefits would not have been payable on December 31, 2009 because, under the terms of the Lyondell Prior Plan, benefits are payable the first day of the month after termination. Therefore, technically, this benefit would not have been payable until January 1, 2010. In addition to this lump sum amount under the Lyondell Prior Plan, the cash balance lump sum amount for Mr. Dineen was $27,355 as of December 31, 2009.

(2) The company’s pension benefit obligations with respect to Mr. Trautz are covered by contributions to the Pensionskasse der BASF VvaG, a Senior Manager pension program of BASF maintained in Germany. The amount shown for Mr. Trautz is the total of the company contributions to the Pensionskasse der BASF VvaG during 2009. We have no information with respect to Mr. Trautz’s total present value of accumulated benefit under this pension program.
(3) Mr. de Vries participates in our retirement plan based in the Netherlands, which is a former Shell retirement plan (the “Dutch Retirement Plan”). There are no vesting requirements under the Dutch Retirement Plan, and upon retirement, Mr. de Vries would be entitled to a benefit equal to 2% of his pensionable salary (which was €312,000 in 2009), minus a social security offset, multiplied by years of service. Mr. de Vries makes an annual contribution to the Dutch Retirement Plan equal to 2% of salary up to €60,000; 4% of salary up to €120,000; 6% of salary up to €180,000 and 8% of salary up to €180,000. The normal retirement date under the Dutch Retirement Plan is the first day of the month in which the participant turns 65 and is paid as a life time annuity with lump sum option. A participant between age 55 and 65 may elect to retire early and received a reduce benefit based on then-current plan reduction factors. Additionally, the Dutch Retirement Plan provides for a spousal pension of 70% of the retirement benefit and a dependant child pension of 14% of the retirement benefit in the event of the participant’s death.

Messrs. Gallogly, Potter, Glidden, Brown, Bigman and Dineen participate in the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan, a U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan. Effective January 1, 2009, we amended the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan to provide pension benefits under a cash balance formula that defines participants’ accrued benefits in terms of a notional cash account balance. Eligible employees become participants in the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan immediately upon employment and are fully vested in their benefits upon the earliest of completion of three years of service, death or attainment of age 65. Some employees are excluded from participation in the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan, including casual and project employees, leased employees, collectively bargained employees (unless the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan benefits were subject to negotiation), students, contract employees and participants in another on-going company-sponsored qualified defined benefit pension plan. The notional cash account balance in the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan for each participant comprises a pay credit of 5% and interest credits, each of which are accumulated as of the end of each calendar quarter. Pay credits are based on quarterly limited base pay. The pay used will not exceed the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, compensation limit for qualified plans. In 2009, the IRS annual compensation limit was $245,000. Interest credits are based on the 5th, 4th and 3rd monthly-determined 30-year treasury rates before the start of that quarter. Messrs. Bigman and Dineen, who are participants hired before January 1, 2009, earned transition credits based on completed years of age and service as of December 31, 2008. LyondellBasell Retirement Plan benefits under the cash balance formula are payable upon separation from the company. The normal form of payment is an annuity, but participants may choose to convert their retirement payment to another optional form, including a lump sum payment. The ability of the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan to make lump sum payments is subject to attainment of the funding levels required under the Internal Revenue Code in accordance with the Pension Protection Act (“PPA”) and is further restricted by the company’s pending bankruptcy proceeding.

Mr. Dineen also accrued benefits under the Lyondell Prior Plan. That pension benefit was calculated on a final average pay formula and accruals using that formula ceased on December 31, 2008. Mr. Dineen’s pre-2009 pension benefit, upon retirement on or after the normal retirement age, is based on the following formula: 1.45% final average pay (as described below) x credited service. Through June 30, 2002, different formulas were used to calculate benefits under multiple pension plans, which are now included in the LyondellBasell Retirement

 

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Plan. The pre-2009 portion of the Lyondell Prior Plan benefit under the formula described above will never be less than the benefit earned as of June 30, 2002. Final average pay under the Lyondell Prior Plan benefit calculation is the average of the participant’s highest 36 consecutive months of base salary during the last 120 months of employment. However, the annual salary amounts used to determine final average pay amount used under the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan will not exceed the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, compensation limit for qualified plans. In 2008, the IRS annual compensation limit was $230,000.

Benefits under the Lyondell Prior Plan are normally payable as a life annuity with five years of guaranteed payments (normal form). Participants may choose to convert their retirement payment to another optional form, including joint and survivor and period certain annuities and lump sum payments. Lump sum payments are calculated on the actuarial equivalent basis to determine the minimum lump sum payable under Internal Revenue Code Section 417(e). The PPA changed this basis effective January 1, 2008, with a five-year phase-in of the impact of the change in interest rates and use of the 2008 Applicable Mortality Table for Lump Sums. In general, this change will decrease the value of lump sum payments.

A participant who is at least 55 with 10 or more years of membership service at termination may elect to begin payment before age 65, reduced for early retirement. Benefits are calculated as follows:

 

   

benefits paid as annuities are reduced for early retirement from the amounts payable at age 65. Generally, benefits are reduced 4% per year between ages 60 and 65, and 3% per year between ages 55 and 60. However, the portion of the benefit attributable to credited service through June 30, 2002 (but using final average pay as of termination), is unreduced at age 60 and if paid before age 60, is reduced for early retirement using the prior plan (through June 30, 2002) factor of 5% per year from the age 60 benefit:

 

   

lump sum payments are actuarially equivalent to the participant’s normal form benefit at age 65, but the lump sum benefit will never be less than actuarially equivalent to the participant’s early retirement normal form benefit accrued as of June 30, 2002.

The Lyondell Chemical Company Supplementary Executive Retirement Plan, referred to as the SERP, was frozen and discontinued as of January 6, 2009. The SERP applied to certain officers and senior managers and provided participants with supplementary retirement benefits not provided under the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan. The SERP uses the same formula and rules applied under the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan as described above (including the Lyondell Prior Plan for benefits prior to 2009). Under the SERP benefit prior to 2009, participants that are at least age 55 receive a lump sum payment calculated as the actuarial equivalent of the participant’s early retirement benefit. Compensation used to compute final average pay under the pre-2009 SERP benefit includes the portion of the employee’s annual base salary exceeding the IRS compensation limit ($230,000 in 2008), base salary the participant had deferred into the Lyondell Executive Deferral Plan, and the participant’s annual cash bonus.

The only Named Executive Officer who held an interest in the SERP prior to its termination is Mr. Dineen. He holds an unsecured claim of $626,672 that represents the full amount of his claim pursuant to the SERP, and any amount he receives will be in accordance with our Plan of Reorganization.

 

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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (1)

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in Last FY ($)
   Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY ($)
   Aggregate Earnings
in Last FY ($) (2)
   Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions ($)
   Aggregate Balance
at Last FYE ($)

Edward Dineen

   0    0    206    0    0

 

(1) The Deferral Plan is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan. The Deferral Plan was frozen and discontinued as of January 6, 2009. Under the Deferral Plan, certain officers and senior managers could elect to defer up to 50% of their annual base salary and 100% of their annual cash bonus award each year. Deferral elections were required to be made before the year in which compensation is earned during open enrollment. The Deferral Plan provided that accounts accrued interest. The interest rate for six days that the Deferral Plan was in effect in 2009 was 11.01%.

The only Named Executive Officer who held an interest in the Deferral Plan prior to its termination is Mr. Dineen. He holds an unsecured claim in our bankruptcy case of $114,282 that represents the full amount of his claim pursuant to the Deferral Plan, and any amount he receives on account of this claim will be in accordance with our plan or reorganization.

 

(2) Of the amounts in this column, $161 was also reported for Mr. Dineen in the Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings column of the Summary Compensation Table above.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

As described under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Overview of Compensation Program—Severance Arrangements,” the company has entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Gallogly, Glidden and Brown that provide certain benefits upon severance or change of control that are in addition to, or in some cases, in lieu of the STP that applies generally to all U.S.-based employees. The following table summarizes the potential payments to our Named Executive Officers upon termination or change of control assuming a December 31, 2009 termination date and in consideration of the fact that we had not emerged from bankruptcy and the Initial Equity Awards had not been granted as of that date. In the case of Messrs. Trautz, Dineen and Bigman, amounts represent the actual amounts they received or are entitled to as a result of their actual termination as of May 31, 2009, December 15, 2009 and March 31, 2010, respectively.

 

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In the table below, severance payments are expressed as a lump sum payment and medical coverage is expressed as the present value of future payments expected to be made over the number of years such named executive is entitled to coverage. These benefits are in addition to benefits available generally to salaried employees, such as distributions under our 401(k) savings plan, benefits pursuant to the LyondellBasell Retirement Plan, disability benefits, accrued vacation pay, and benefits under the STP, as well as pension and severance benefits generally available to our employees in the Netherlands. Additionally, no amounts are reflected on account of the LyondellBasell 2008 MTI Plan, as performance conditions will not be met for these awards and we are not accruing any amounts on account of such awards. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events discussed below, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be different than the estimates presented in the table. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of any such event and the executive’s age. For additional information about benefits due to executives in the event of termination or change in control, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation Program—Severance Arrangements” and “—Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers” above.

 

Event

  Gallogly   Potter   Glidden   Brown   de Vries   Bigman   Dineen (1)   Trautz

Retirement

               

Severance payment

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   714,008

Pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

  1,846,154   296,154   169,470   75,000   416,298   N/A   N/A   461,065

Basell MTI award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   208,638   N/A   N/A   1,095,349

MIP award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   720,104   N/A   N/A   N/A

Options and/or SARs (2)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   57,152   N/A   N/A   122,341

Phantom Units (3)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   420   N/A   N/A   531

Death or Disability

               

Cash payment equal to maximum annual bonus

  1,846,154   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Cash payment equal to Initial Equity Award

  N/A   N/A   466,043   200,000   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

  1,846,154   296,154   169,470   75,000   416,298   N/A   N/A   N/A

Basell MTI award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   208,638   N/A   N/A   N/A

MIP award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   720,104   N/A   N/A   N/A

Options and/or SARs (2)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   57,152   N/A   N/A   N/A

Phantom Units (3)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   420   N/A   N/A   N/A

Termination without Cause or for Good Reason

           

Severance payment in lieu of separate STP benefits

  3,346,154   N/A   1,160,063   675,000   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

  1,846,154   296,154   169,470   75,000   416,298   N/A   389,183   N/A

Medical coverage

  10,157   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Basell MTI award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   208,638   N/A   N/A   N/A

MIP award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   720,104   N/A   1,261,499   N/A

Options and SARs (2)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   57,152   N/A   N/A   N/A

Phantom Units (3)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   420   544   313   N/A

Change in Control with Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason

         

Severance payment in lieu of separate STP benefits

  16,692,308   N/A   1,160,063   675,000   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

  1,846,154   296,154   169,470   75,000   416,298   N/A   N/A   N/A

Medical coverage

  10,157   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Basell MTI award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   208,638   N/A   N/A   N/A

MIP award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   720,104   N/A   N/A   N/A

Options and SARs (2)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   57,152   N/A   N/A   N/A

Phantom Units (3)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   420   N/A   N/A   N/A

Change in Control Only

               

Additional Benefits

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Termination by Mutual Consent

(in the case of Mr. Bigman, expiration of his employment agreement)

         

Severance payment

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Pro rata vesting of STI Plan awards

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   727,814   N/A   N/A

Medical coverage

  10,157   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Basell MTI award (if company consents)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   730,233   N/A   N/A

MIP award

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Options and SARs (2)

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

Termination for Cause

               

Additional Benefits

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A

 

(1)

Amounts for Mr. Dineen do not reflect benefits pursuant to the STP because such plan is not specific to executives and covers all U.S.-based employees. The STP is designed for employees who are terminated for reasons other than cause, mainly because such employees’

 

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jobs are permanently eliminated. For information regarding the actual severance payments Mr. Dineen received or is entitled to receive as a result of his termination on December 15, 2009, see note 5 to the Summary Compensation Table.

(2) Amounts shown for stock options and SARs are based on the market price as of December 31, 2009 of the underlying share of Royal Dutch Shell or BASF, as applicable, minus the exercise price that corresponds to such option or SAR award. As of December 31, 2009, the market price of a share of Royal Dutch Shell was $31.10, and the market price of a share of BASF was $64.05.
(3) Phantom Units granted pursuant to the 2008 LTIP. Upon the commencement of our bankruptcy case, the Phantom Units were deemed to have only a nominal value and, for certain Named Executive Officers, payments with respect to these awards are not authorized by the Bankruptcy Court. Specifically, in April 2009 NAG units held by LyondellBasell Management Holdings LLC were redeemed by NAG. The valuation of a NAG unit for purposes of the redemption was less than one cent. For purposes of this Registration Statement, we have valued the outstanding Phantom Units using the same valuation of less than one cent per unit. There was no other market for NAG units in 2009 nor was there any valuation of NAG units performed in accordance with the 2008 LTIP documents.

Compensation of Directors

We intend to compensate each supervisory director pursuant to a standard arrangement that includes an annual retainer and meeting fees. It is expected that such arrangement will provide each supervisory director an annual retainer, a fee for attendance at each meeting of a Supervisory Board Committee of which such director is a member, fees for attendance at meetings of the Supervisory Board, and a fee for each day’s attendance at other functions in which directors are requested to participate. In addition, the Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of Supervisory Board Committees will receive additional annual retainers.             

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers have served as members of a compensation committee (or if no committee performs that function, the board of directors) of any other entity that has an executive officer serving as a member of our board of directors.

 

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ITEM 7. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Transactions with Affiliates

LyondellBasell AF has been party to related party transactions with Access Industries and LyondellBasell AF’s equity investees. See Notes 9 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors. See “Item 12. Indemnification of Directors and Officers” below.

Conflicts of Interest and Related Person Transactions Policy

LyondellBasell Industries N. V. will adopt a written Related Party Transaction Approval Policy, which will require the disinterested members of the Audit Committee to review and approve, in advance of commitment, certain transactions that LyondellBasell Industries N.V. enters into, from time to time, with the following related parties:

 

   

holders of 5% or more of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s ordinary shares, or

 

   

entities on which a LyondellBasell Industries N.V. officer or Supervisory Board member serves as an officer or a member of that entity’s board of directors or equivalent governing body.

The transactions covered by the policy are those which are:

 

   

in the ordinary course of business and have a value of $25 million or more, or

 

   

not in the ordinary course of business, regardless of value,

and do not include transactions among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and its subsidiaries or joint ventures. A transaction is re-submitted to the Audit Committee for review and approval if:

 

   

the transaction previously fell below the $25 million threshold but is now expected to exceed it,

 

   

the transaction’s value increased by more than 10% or $10 million, whichever is less, or

 

   

a transaction with market-related pricing terms is changed to more of a fixed-price transaction.

In addition, at least annually, LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s Controller’s Department will prepare a summary of all transactions and all currently proposed transactions with those related parties, including transactions that did not require pre-approval under the policy, and the summary is presented to the Audit Committee for review. The disinterested members of the Audit Committee determine the fairness of the transactions to LyondellBasell Industries N.V. by considering whether they have terms no less favorable than those which could be obtained from non-related parties. The Audit Committee may refer to the Supervisory Board, for review and approval by the disinterested members of the Supervisory Board, a transaction that may cause a member of the Supervisory Board to no longer be deemed independent.

 

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ITEM 8. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As a large, multi-national company, we, our subsidiaries and our joint ventures are named defendants in lawsuits or other contested legal proceedings, some of which are not covered by insurance, in the ordinary course of our business. Many of these suits or proceedings raise complex factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties. The plaintiffs in some actions make no specific claim for relief. Although final determination of legal liability and the resulting financial impact with respect to any such litigation cannot be ascertained with any degree of certainty, we do not believe that any ultimate uninsured liability resulting from these legal proceedings will individually, or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business or financial position. However, the adverse resolution in any reporting period of one or more of these suits could have a material impact on our results of operations for that period, which may be mitigated by contribution or indemnification obligations of co-defendants or others, or by any insurance coverage that may be available.

Houston Refining LP Crane Collapse

On July 18, 2008, a crane installed at the Houston Refinery in connection with a planned maintenance project collapsed, killing four contractors, injuring seven others, and damaging some property at the refinery. A lawsuit was filed on July 23, 2008, by persons who were injured or died as a result of the accident (the “Crane Accident Victims”) against Lyondell Chemical and its subsidiary Houston Refining LP.

During the Bankruptcy Cases, the Debtors and the Crane Accident Victims entered into a stipulation that (i) allowed the Crane Accident Victims to dismiss without prejudice Lyondell Chemical as a defendant from the litigation; (ii) modified the automatic stay to allow the Crane Accident Victims to continue to liquidate claims against Houston Refining and other defendants in the litigation; and (iii) provided that the automatic stay is still in effect with respect to any effort to enforce or collect any such liquidated claims from Houston Refining or any other Debtors. Liabilities, if any, relating to the Crane Accident Victims litigation will be treated as unsecured claims in the Bankruptcy Cases.

Houston Refining has made demands for defense and indemnification upon its general contractor and the subcontractor that provided the crane for any claims or liability against it arising from the accident. Houston Refining has filed suit against the subcontractor for these claims and, unless settled, a trial will commence in the third quarter of 2010. Substantially all of the plaintiffs and interveners have dismissed Houston Refining or entered into agreements to dismiss Houston Refining.

Lyondell Chemical —BASF Litigation

On April 12, 2005, BASF filed a lawsuit against Lyondell Chemical in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, asserting various claims relating to alleged breaches of a propylene oxide toll manufacturing contract and seeking damages in excess of $100 million. Lyondell Chemical denied breaching the contract and argued that at most it owed BASF nothing more than a refund of $22.5 million, which it has paid. On August 13, 2007, a jury returned a verdict in favor of BASF in the amount of approximately $170 million (inclusive of the $22.5 million refund). On October 3, 2007, the judge in the state court case determined that prejudgment interest on the verdict amounted to $36 million and issued a final judgment. Lyondell Chemical appealed the judgment and has posted an appeal bond, which is collateralized by a $200 million letter of credit.

On April 21, 2010, oral arguments in the appeal were held before the Appellate Division. We do not expect the resolution of this matter to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of operations, although it is possible that any such resolution could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation for any period in which a resolution occurs.

Lyondell Chemical—Urethanes Antitrust Litigation

Beginning in November 2004, several class action lawsuits were filed in federal court against Lyondell Chemical and certain other chemical companies, alleging violations of U.S. antitrust laws in connection with the

 

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manufacture and sale of polyether polyols, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (“MDI”) and toluene diisocyanate (“TDI”), and seeking treble damages in an unspecified amount on behalf of U.S. direct purchasers of such products. The lawsuits were consolidated by the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas (the “Multidistrict Litigation”). In addition, in May 2006, two class action lawsuits were filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, London, Ontario, Canada and the Superior Court, Province of Quebec, District of Quebec, Canada, both alleging claims and seeking relief similar to those in the Multidistrict Litigation.

In June 2007, Lyondell Chemical was named as an additional defendant in a case previously filed in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of San Francisco, on behalf of indirect purchasers of polyether polyols, MDI and TDI and other products alleging claims and seeking relief similar to that in the Multidistrict Litigation. The California case has been stayed pending further order of the California court.

In May 2008, the plaintiffs in a previously filed class action suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, seeking relief similar to that in the Multidistrict Litigation in Kansas, filed a motion to add Lyondell Chemical and certain other parties as additional defendants, making essentially the same complaints as in the Multidistrict Litigation.

In October 2008, a claim was filed against Lyondell Chemical in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by approximately 48 direct purchasers of polyurethane products. These plaintiffs, who had opted out of the class in the Multidistrict Litigation, asserted essentially the same complaints as in the Multidistrict Litigation based upon the same underlying facts.

The foregoing actions in the United States against Lyondell Chemical were stayed pursuant to section 362 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Liabilities, if any, relating to this litigation will be treated as unsecured claims in the Bankruptcy Cases.

MTBE Litigation

Certain LyondellBasell entities, including Lyondell Chemical and Equistar Chemicals LP, have been named defendants in numerous lawsuits brought by state, county or municipal governmental entities in various state and federal courts in the U.S., which allege that the gasoline additive MTBE has contaminated (or is threatening to contaminate) drinking water resources. The lawsuits further allege that that gasoline made with MTBE was a defective product, and that the Lyondell Chemical entities failed to adequately warn their customers and others that MTBE is more water soluble than other gasoline constituents and is more likely to reach drinking water wells in the event of a leak of gasoline from an underground storage tank, pipeline or terminal tank. Three of the suits are brought by state governments, two of which claim also to be entitled to so-called “natural resource” damages. Lyondell Chemical’s co-defendants in the cases are major and mid-major gasoline refiners who chose to use MTBE as an octane boosting replacement for tetra-ethyl lead and/or to comply with the gasoline formulation requirements of federal clean air regulations.

Lyondell Chemical has obtained outright dismissal from several of the prior cases without payment of any settlement, and many of which have been settled for de minimis consideration. Liability, if any, for the remaining lawsuits will be treated as unsecured claims in the Bankruptcy Cases.

Equistar Chemicals, LP—Solutia Litigation

Equistar Chemicals, LP (“Equistar”) owned and operated a chemical production facility on property, leased from Solutia, and currently owned by Ascend Performance Materials, LLC (“Ascend”), located at the Chocolate Bayou chemical manufacturing plant in Brazoria County, Texas (the “CB Olefin Facility”), at which Equistar produced olefin products including ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene and butadiene. During the Bankruptcy Cases, The Debtors filed a motion to reject the lease and certain related agreements, to reduce the workforce

 

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employed at the facility, and to vacate the facility. Solutia and Ascend filed a motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking to prohibit Equistar from vacating without first performing certain activities relating to the decommissioning of certain chemical equipment and facilities that Equistar would leave behind at the CB Olefin Facility (the “CB Olefin Personal Property”). The Bankruptcy Court ordered Equistar to remain in possession of the leasehold and to maintain the status quo at the facility pending the Bankruptcy Court’s decision on the motion filed by Solutia and Ascend. Subsequently, the Bankruptcy Court ruled that Equistar’s plan to leave behind the CB Olefin Personal Property was an abandonment that could only be accomplished through a notice of abandonment.

After the Debtors filed a motion to abandon the CB Olefin Personal Property, Equistar and the current and former owners of the Chocolate Bayou real property reached a settlement that was approved by the Bankruptcy Court. Under the settlement, Equistar agreed to perform certain decommissioning and decontamination work regarding the real property, which is estimated to take approximately two years, and the current owner agreed to provide support services, utilities and access to Equistar in return for monthly payments from Equistar. The former owner also agreed to make a cash payment to Equistar in settlement of this and other disputes between the former owner and Equistar.

Millennium Custodial Trust

The Plan of Reorganization created the Millennium Custodial Trust, into which Lyondell Chemical transferred the equity interests of Millennium Chemicals and related wind-up funds. The holders of allowed claims against Millennium Chemicals received all of the beneficial interests in the Millennium Custodial Trust by virtue of Lyondell Chemical’s transfer of its equity interests in Millennium Chemicals to the Millennium Custodial Trust. This transfer caused the entities transferred to the Millennium Custodial Trust to be legally separated from the reorganized Debtors. To the extent the Debtors and Debtor-owned property are owned by entities transferred, any associated liabilities are the responsibility of such entities and not LyondellBasell AF or LyondellBasell Industries N.V, and claims regarding those entities and their properties will be resolved solely from such transferred entities and using their assets and the assets of the trust. All of the liabilities relating to lead-based paint and lead pigments are assumed by and become the responsibility of the transferred entities, and are not liabilities of the reorganized Debtors.

Environmental Matters

From time to time we and our joint ventures receive notices or inquiries from federal, state or local governmental entities regarding alleged violations of environmental laws and regulations pertaining to, among other things, the disposal, emission and storage of chemical and petroleum substances, including hazardous wastes. Any such alleged violations may become the subject of enforcement actions, settlement negotiations or other legal proceedings and may (individually or in the aggregate) involve monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more (exclusive of interest and costs

As part of the government settlement in the chapter 11 proceedings, the U.S., on behalf of EPA, was allowed a general unsecured claim of $499,000 against Millennium Specialty Chemicals Inc. and $480,000 against Houston Refining, LP. These allowed claims settled the penalty amounts for alleged noncompliance based upon pre-petition activities. In the case of the Houston refinery, the allegations arise from a 2007 EPA Clean Air Act inspection. In the case of Millennium Specialty Chemicals, EPA conducted an inspection in 2008 at the Colonels Island, Georgia facility and questions were raised concerning handling of contaminated wastewater. Final resolution regarding these issues and any post-petition penalties is still subject to further negotiations with the government.

Environmental Trust

The Millennium Custodial Trust assumed ownership, directly and indirectly through its direct ownership of the equity of Millennium Chemicals, subject to all the alleged liabilities of the entities that were transferred to the Millennium Custodial Trust, including environmental liabilities of those entities arising from or related to the

 

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Kalamazoo River Superfund Site and other sites not owned or leased by those entities but excluding any liabilities that are resolved through the Environmental Custodial Trust or the settlement with the relevant governmental authorities.

Bankruptcy Cases and Reorganization

Bankruptcy Filing —On January 6, 2009, certain of LyondellBasell AF’s indirect U.S. subsidiaries, including Lyondell Chemical, and its German indirect subsidiary, Germany Holdings, voluntarily filed for protection under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court. In April and May of 2009, LyondellBasell AF and certain other subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court. The Debtors filed their Bankruptcy Cases in response to a sudden loss of liquidity in the last quarter of 2008.

The Debtors operated their businesses and managed their properties as debtors in possession during the Bankruptcy Cases. In general, this means that the Debtors operated in the ordinary course without Bankruptcy Court intervention. Bankruptcy Court approval was required, however, where the Debtors sought authorization to engage in certain transactions out of the ordinary course of business.

On April 23, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Plan of Reorganization. The Plan of Reorganization specifies the proposed treatment of each class of claims and interests upon confirmation of the Plan of Reorganization. The Plan of Reorganization will discharge prepetition liabilities against the Debtors to the extent set forth in the Plan of Reorganization and otherwise under applicable law and, upon the consummation of the Plan of Reorganization, permit the Debtors to make distributions to their creditors in accordance with the terms of the Plan of Reorganization.

We emerged from the Bankruptcy Cases on April 30, 2010.

Effect of Plan of Reorganization —As of the Emergence Date, all assets of the Debtors vested in the reorganized Debtors free and clear of all claims, liens, encumbrances, charges, and other interests, except as provided in the Plan of Reorganization or the confirmation order entered on April 23, 2010 (the “Confirmation Order”). Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan of Reorganization or in the Confirmation Order, upon the Emergence Date, each holder of a claim or equity interest is deemed to have forever waived, released, and discharged the Debtors and the reorganized Debtors, to the fullest extent permitted by law, of and from any and all claims, equity interests, rights, and liabilities that arose prior to the confirmation date. As of the Emergence Date, all such persons are forever precluded and enjoined from prosecuting or asserting against the Debtors or reorganized Debtors or their respective properties or interests in property any such discharged claim against or equity interest in any Debtor or reorganized Debtor.

Tax Impact of Reorganization —The Debtors realized substantial cancellation of debt, or “COD,” income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the implementation of the Plan of Reorganization. Because the Debtors were debtors in a bankruptcy case at the time they realized the COD income, they will not be required to include that COD income in their taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Instead, following the close of their 2010 tax year, the Debtors will be required to reduce or eliminate certain of their U.S. federal income tax attributes, including net operating losses, tax credits and tax basis in certain assets. As a result, we expect that the Debtors’ tax basis in their assets will be significantly reduced, and we do not expect the Debtors to retain any net operating loss carryforwards to their tax year beginning January 1, 2011.

The implementation of our Plan of Reorganization also triggered an “ownership change” with respect to the stock of the Debtors for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result of this ownership change, certain of the Debtors’ pre-Emergence Date tax attributes that are not eliminated by attribute reduction will be subject to certain limitations as to their future use under Sections 382 and 383 of the U.S. Tax Code.

As a result of these reductions and limitations of our U.S. federal income tax attributes, we expect our cash tax liabilities for our tax years following 2010 to be significantly higher than our cash tax liabilities for 2009 and 2010.

 

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ITEM 9. MARKET PRICE OF AND DIVIDENDS ON THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Market Information

Our class A and class B ordinary shares are quoted in the Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (“pink sheets”) under the symbols “LALLF” and “LALBF.” The shares have been quoted since April 29, 2010. The high and low bid quotations in the pink sheets from April 29, 2010 through June 30, 2010 for our class A shares were $23.25 and $16.15 per share, respectively, and were $22.75 and $15.80 per share, respectively, for our class B shares. The high and low bid quotations in the pink sheets from July 1, 2010 to July 22, 2010 for our class A shares were $16.70 and $14.86 per share, respectively, and $16.60 and $14.90 per share, respectively, for our class B shares. We intend to apply for listing on the NYSE of our class A ordinary shares and our class B ordinary shares. There can be no assurance that such shares will be accepted for listing.

Holders

As of July 14, 2010, there were two record holders of our class A ordinary shares and three record holders of our class B ordinary shares, in each case, including Cede & Co. as nominee of the Depository Trust Company.

Dividends

We do not currently plan to pay a regular dividend on our class A ordinary shares or our class B ordinary shares. The payment of dividends or distributions in the future will be subject to the requirements of Dutch law and the discretion of our shareholders (in the case of annual dividends), our Management Board and Supervisory Board. The declaration of any future cash dividends and, if declared, the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon general business conditions, our financial condition, our earnings and cash flow, our capital requirements, financial covenants and other contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends or distributions. There can be no assurance that any dividends or distributions will be declared or paid in the future.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Our Equity Compensation Plans

The number of shares reserved for issuance under the Compensation Plans, as defined below, represents approximately 3.90% of the total number of shares of class A and class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding. The shares reserved for issuance under the Compensation Plans include the shares covered by the Emergence Grants, as defined below, as well as additional shares to remain available for future awards granted pursuant to the Compensation Plans.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

As part of the Plan of Reorganization, our 2010 MTI Plan and 2010 LTI Plan (collectively, the “Compensation Plans”) automatically became effective as of the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization. The initial awards to employees and directors (“Emergence Grants”) under the Compensation Plans consisted of an aggregate of: (i) approximately $18 million in MTI target awards granted under the 2010 MTI Plan, (ii) stock options and stock appreciation rights in respect of approximately 9 million shares of our class A ordinary shares granted under the 2010 LTI Plan, and (iii) restricted stock or restricted stock units in respect of approximately 4 million shares of our class A ordinary shares granted under the 2010 LTI Plan. The form and terms of all or a portion of the Emergence Grants, including the methodology for allocations of medium-term and long-term awards under the Compensation Plans, were reviewed and authorized by the Remuneration Committee of the Supervisory Board of LyondellBasell AF and became effective as of the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization without further corporate action.

Awards made under the Compensation Plans more than ninety days after the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization will be subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of our Supervisory Board, in accordance with the terms of the Compensation Plans.

 

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The order confirming the Plan of Reorganization provided that the Compensation Plans and Emergence Grants that were made prior to the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization will be binding and effective on the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization.

Dutch/U.S. Tax Matters

See “Item 11. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered—U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “—Dutch Tax Considerations” for a discussion of tax matters under U.S. and Dutch law.

Dutch/U.S. Export/Import Matters

There are no regulatory restrictions on foreign direct investment in The Netherlands. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership of land, or on repatriation of capital and profits.

 

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ITEM 10. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

As of the Emergence Date, we:

 

   

issued 300,000,000 class A ordinary shares to eligible holders of certain claims against LyondellBasell AF and its subsidiaries;

 

   

issued 263,901,979 class B ordinary shares in connection with the Rights Offering; and

 

   

issued warrants to purchase 11,508,204 class A ordinary shares with an exercise price of $15.90 per class A ordinary share.

Based upon the exemption provided by Section 1145 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, on April 23, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court entered a final order that the rights, and the offering and sale of securities under the Rights Offering conducted in accordance with the procedures described in the related motion, are, and shall be deemed to be, pursuant to Section 1145 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, or any other applicable state or federal securities law, exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act and any state or local law requiring registration for offer or sale of a security or registration or licensing of an issuer of, underwriter of, or broker dealer in, a security.

Additionally, up to 22,000,000 class A ordinary shares are authorized for issuance to certain senior management of LyondelBasell Industries N.V. and its subsidiaries, pursuant to our incentive plans. Pursuant to LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s LTIP, and effective as of the Emergence Date, we issued Mr. Gallogy 1,771,794 shares of restricted class A ordinary shares and options to purchase 5,630,020 class A ordinary shares. The options have an exercise price of $17.61 per share. We also issued an additional 2,570,110 options to purchase class A ordinary shares at an exercise price of $17.61 to other members of senior management.

Finally, an aggregate of 1,713,513 restricted share units, which entitle the recipients thereof to receive class A ordinary shares upon vesting, also were issued to members of management effective as of the Emergence Date. These restricted share units vest in full five years after the date of grant of April 30, 2010. These issuances were deemed to be exempt from registration requirements under Section 4(2) and Rule 701 of the Securities Act, related to securities issued not involving a public offering and pursuant to compensatory benefit plans and contracts relating to compensation.

 

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ITEM 11. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

General

The following descriptions are summaries of material terms of our ordinary shares, with a par value of four eurocents (€0.04) each, our Articles of Association and Dutch law. The full text of our current Articles of Association has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit hereto and is available, in Dutch and English, at our registered office in Rotterdam during regular business hours and will also be available, in Dutch and English, on our website: www.lyondellbasell.com.

Our authorized share capital is fifty-one million euro (€51,000,000), consisting of one billion (1,000,000,000) class A ordinary shares and two hundred seventy-five million (275,000,000) class B ordinary shares (the class A ordinary shares and the class B ordinary shares together, the “ordinary shares”), each with a par value of four eurocents (€0.04). As of July 14, 2010, there were 314,294,113 of our class A ordinary shares and 251,379,660 of our class B ordinary shares, including the restricted shares issued to Mr. Gallogly, but not including equity-based awards issued under our equity compensation plan that may result in share issuances. See “Item 9. Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters—Equity Compensation Plan Information.”

Market Information

We intend to apply for listing on the NYSE of our class A ordinary shares and our class B ordinary shares. Shareholders may hold ordinary shares either directly or through the Depository Trust Company (either as participant in such system or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such system).

Ordinary Shares

Voting and Approval Rights

Generally, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each ordinary share held on every matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, including election of members of the Management Board and Supervisory Board. There are no cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of voting rights will have the power to elect all members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board who are standing for election.

Unless otherwise required by our Articles of Association or Dutch law, matters submitted for a vote at a general meeting of shareholders require the approval of a majority of the votes cast at the general meeting. Pursuant to Dutch law and our Articles of Association, both the Supervisory Board and holders of our ordinary shares have the right to approve decisions from the Management Board relating to (i) the transfer of all or substantially all our enterprise by way of a share or asset sale, consolidation or merger or otherwise, (ii) the entering into or termination of a long-lasting commercial relationship that is of essential importance to our business and (iii) the acquisition or disposition of shares or assets with a value of at least one-third of our consolidated asset value.

Our Articles of Association require that in event of a purchase, conversion or exchange of class B ordinary shares at a value less than $10.61 per class B ordinary share, subject to anti-dilution adjustments (the “class B liquidation preference”) in case of a transfer of all or substantially all our enterprise to third parties, whether by acquisition, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of us and our consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, liquidation, dissolution or winding up of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., the Management Board must obtain the approval of both the Supervisory Board and holders of 85% of the voting power of the class B ordinary shares outstanding at the time.

In addition, a resolution for our merger or demerger will require the approval of both the Supervisory Board and holders of 85% of the voting power of the class B ordinary shares, in the event that in any such transaction each class B ordinary share would be purchased, converted or exchanged at a value less than the class B

 

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liquidation preference. A resolution to amend the provisions in our Articles of Association relating to the conversion of class B ordinary shares into class A ordinary shares, the voting rights of class B ordinary shares and the class B liquidation preference requires the prior approval from both the Supervisory Board and all the holders of class B ordinary shares. Certain resolutions to amend certain provisions of our Articles of Association in a manner disproportionately affecting a class of our ordinary shares will require the approval of two-thirds of the outstanding voting power of such class

There are no laws currently in effect in The Netherlands or provisions in our Articles of Association limiting the rights of non-resident investors to hold or vote ordinary shares.

Dividends and Distributions

Pursuant to our Articles of Association, the Management Board, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, may determine to allocate amounts to our reserves up to the amount of our annual profits. Out of our share premium reserve and other reserves available for shareholder distributions under Dutch law, the general meeting of shareholders may declare distributions after a proposal of the Management Board following approval from the Supervisory Board. We cannot pay dividends if the payment would reduce our shareholders’ equity below the aggregate par value of our outstanding ordinary shares, plus reserves (if any) required to be maintained by law. The Management Board, following approval from the Supervisory Board, may, subject to certain statutory provisions, distribute one or more interim dividends or other interim distributions before the accounts for any year have been approved and adopted at a general meeting of shareholders, in anticipation of the final dividend or final distribution. Rights to dividends and distributions that have not been collected within five years after the date on which they first became due and payable revert to us.

We do not currently plan to pay a regular dividend on our class A ordinary shares or our class B ordinary shares. The payment of dividends or distributions in the future will be subject to the requirements of Dutch law and the discretion of our shareholders (in the case of annual dividends), our Management Board and Supervisory Board. The declaration of any future cash dividends and, if declared, the amount of any such dividends, will depend upon general business conditions, our financial condition, our earnings and cash flow, our capital requirements, financial covenants and other contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends or distributions. There can be no assurance that any dividends or distributions will be declared or paid in the future. Any future cash dividends or distributions will be paid in U.S. dollars.

Shareholder Meetings

Each shareholder and certain other parties designated under Dutch law will be permitted, either personally or through an attorney authorized in writing, to attend the general meeting of shareholders, to address said meetings and to exercise voting rights, subject to certain provisions of Dutch law and our Articles of Association.

Our general meetings of shareholders will be held in The Netherlands at least annually, within six months after the close of each financial year (i.e., in the month of June at the latest). Extraordinary general meetings of shareholders may be held as often as the Management Board and/or the Supervisory Board deems necessary, or as otherwise provided for pursuant to Dutch law. One or more shareholders representing in the aggregate at least 10% of the issued share capital can request the Supervisory Board to convene a general meeting of shareholders. In such case, the Supervisory Board is required to publish a convening notice for such a general meeting of shareholders within four weeks of receipt from such shareholders of (i) a specified agenda for such general meeting of shareholders and, (ii) in the sole discretion of the Supervisory Board, compelling evidence of the number of shares held by such shareholder or shareholders. If such meeting is not held within six weeks of our receipt of such request, the shareholders requesting a meeting may petition a court in The Netherlands for an order directing the holding of such meeting; the court may order the holding of such a meeting if the persons requesting the meeting can demonstrate that they have a sufficient interest in holding a meeting with the agenda requested by them.

 

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One or more shareholders representing solely or jointly at least 1% of the issued share capital or, as long as our shares are admitted to trading on the NYSE, shareholders whose shares represent a value of fifty million euro (€50,000,000.00) or more, can request the Supervisory Board to place a matter on the agenda, provided that the Supervisory Board has received such request at least sixty days prior to the date of the general meeting of shareholders concerned.

Election and Tenure of Directors

The members of our Management Board are charged with managing our day-to-day affairs. The members of our Supervisory Board are charged with the supervision of the policy of the Management Board and of our general course of affairs.

The Supervisory Board shall determine the size of the Management Board, provided that the Management Board shall consist of at least one member. The Supervisory Board shall determine the size of the Supervisory Board; provided that the Supervisory Board shall consist of at least nine members and shall not have more than eleven members unless required in order to comply with (i) our Articles of Association, (ii) the terms of any binding nomination agreement and (iii) applicable law or regulation, including the NYSE listing standards (when applicable).

Following the appointment of our initial Supervisory Board and Management Board, the general meeting of shareholders will appoint the member(s) of the Management Board upon the nomination of the Supervisory Board and, subject to the terms of any binding nomination agreements, the members of the Supervisory Board; provided that the Supervisory Board itself shall be entitled to appoint up to one-third of the members of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Dutch law, which appointments shall terminate on the date of the next following general meeting of shareholders.

We entered into a binding nomination agreement with each of the Major Shareholders pursuant to which we agreed that, following appointment of the initial Supervisory Board, (i) if a Major Shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns 18% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate three members of the Supervisory Board; (ii) if a Major Shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns at least 12% but less than 18% of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate two members of the Supervisory Board; and (iii) if a Major Shareholder, together with its affiliates, owns at least 5% but less than 12% of our outstanding ordinary shares, such shareholder will have the right to nominate one member of the Supervisory Board. The general meeting of shareholders may render such nomination non-binding by means of a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds of the valid votes cast, representing more than half of the issued capital.

The general meeting of shareholders may dismiss, or suspend for a period of up to 3 months, a member of the Management Board or the Supervisory Board by a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds of the votes cast in a meeting where at least half of the issued share capital is represented. If the general meeting of shareholders has suspended a member of the Management Board or the Supervisory Board, the general meeting of shareholders shall within three months after the suspension has taken effect resolve either to dismiss such relevant member, or to terminate or continue the suspension, failing which the suspension shall lapse.

The initial nine member Supervisory Board will be divided into three classes, Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 and each class will consist of three members. Class 1 members will serve a one-year initial term and stand for election at the first annual meeting, Class 2 members will serve a two-year initial term and stand for election at the second annual meeting and Class 3 members will serve a three-year initial term and stand for election at the third annual meeting. Thereafter, unless the general meeting of shareholders, on the proposal of the Supervisory Board, determines that a member of the Supervisory Board shall be appointed for a longer period, a member of the Supervisory Board will be appointed for a maximum period of three years. There is no limit to the number of times a member of the Supervisory Board can be reappointed. The term of the initial Management Board will be five years; thereafter, a member will be appointed for a maximum period of four years. There is no limit to the number of times a member of the Management Board can be reappointed.

 

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Subject to our Articles of Association, the Management Board and Supervisory Board may adopt rules and regulations governing the internal proceedings of each such constituency, including rules relating to voting on nominations of directors, board composition and governance.

Liquidation Rights

In case of our dissolution by virtue of a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders, the Management Board will be charged with the liquidation of our affairs, subject to the supervision of the Supervisory Board. From the balance remaining after payment of our creditors, to the extent possible, an amount equal to $10.61 will be distributed to each holder of class B ordinary shares with respect to each class B ordinary share held. The balance remaining after application of the preceding sentence will be distributed to the holders of class A ordinary shares in proportion to each of their shareholding.

Issuance of Ordinary Shares/Pre-emptive Rights

Our Articles of Association provide that our Supervisory Board has the authority to issue shares within the limits of up to twenty percent of our authorized share capital from time to time, for a period ending April 30, 2015. The designation of the Supervisory Board as being the body competent to issue shares may, by our Articles of Association or by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders, be extended each time for a period not exceeding five years.

Under Dutch law and our Articles of Association, every holder of ordinary shares will have a preemptive right in the proportion that the aggregate amount of his ordinary shares bears to the total amount of shares outstanding. The preemptive right may be restricted or excluded by a resolution of the Supervisory Board for so long as the Supervisory Board is the competent body to issue shares. A holder of ordinary shares will not have a preemptive right to shares which are being issued against contribution other than in cash, to ordinary shares which will be issued to our employees or employees of one of our group companies and to ordinary shares which will be issued as a result of merger or demerger.

Conversion of Class B Ordinary Shares

At the earlier of (i) the request of the relevant holder of class B ordinary shares with respect to the number of class B ordinary shares specified by such holder (ii) acquisition by us of one or more class B shares or (iii) upon the first date upon which the closing price per share of the class B ordinary shares exceeds 200% of $10.61 for at least forty-five trading days within a period of sixty consecutive trading days (provided however, that the closing price per share of the class B ordinary shares must exceed such threshold on both the first and last day of the sixty day period), each such class B ordinary share will be converted into one class A ordinary share; provided however , that the number of class A ordinary shares into which class B ordinary shares are convertible will be adjusted in the event of any stock split, subdivision of shares, combination of shares or stock dividend relating only to the class A or class B ordinary shares which does not relate also to the other class of ordinary shares in a pro rata manner such that a holder of class B ordinary shares thereafter converted shall receive the number of class A ordinary shares which such holder would have received with respect to such conversion had such class B ordinary shares been converted immediately prior to such action.

Repurchase of Ordinary Shares

The shareholders may delegate to the Management Board the authority, subject to certain restrictions contained in Dutch law and our Articles of Association, to cause us to acquire, for consideration, our own fully paid ordinary shares. Such authorization may not be granted for more than 18 months. In the authorization, the general meeting of shareholders shall determine how many shares or depository receipts thereof may be acquired, the manner in which they may be acquired and between what limits the price for such ordinary shares shall be.

The authorization will not be required for the acquisition of ordinary shares by us in order to transfer these to our employees in accordance with an employee share plan.

 

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Subject to certain exceptions set forth in our Articles of Association, even with the authorization by the general meeting of the shareholders, the Management Board may only acquire our ordinary shares if it acquires class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares pro rata on the same terms (including price per share).

Capital Reduction

Upon proposal by the Management Board, following approval from the Supervisory Board, the general meeting of shareholders may reduce our issued share capital by cancellation of ordinary shares held by us, subject to certain statutory provisions. However, if less than one half of the issued share capital is present at the meeting, the general meeting of shareholders may only adopt a resolution for capital reduction with a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast.

Warrants

We currently have warrants to purchase 11,508,204 class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding. The warrants have an exercise price of $15.90 per class A ordinary share. The warrants have anti-dilution protection for in-kind stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations and similar transactions and may be exercised at any time during the period beginning on April 30, 2010 and ending at the close of business on the seventh anniversary of issuance.

Amendment of Our Articles of Association

Our Articles of Association may be amended, on the proposal of the Management Board (which has been approved by the Supervisory Board), by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting of shareholders; provided that such proposal is stated in the notice for the general meeting and a complete copy of the proposed amendment is filed at our office so that it may be inspected prior to and during the meeting. In addition, a resolution to amend the provisions of our Articles of Association relating to the conversion of class B ordinary shares into class A ordinary shares, the voting rights of class B ordinary shares and the class B liquidation preference requires the prior approval of all of the holders of class B ordinary shares. Furthermore, as long as any class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, resolutions to amend certain provisions of our Articles of Association in a manner which would adversely affect one class of ordinary shares in a disproportionate manner requires the approval of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of such adversely affected class.

Description of Certain Provisions of Dutch Law

Dutch law provides certain obligations on companies that are domiciled in The Netherlands and whose shares are admitted to trading on a “regulated market,” as well as on certain shareholders of such company. The NYSE may qualify as a regulated market, in which case certain statutory Dutch law obligations would apply to us and to certain of our shareholders.

Disclosure of Information

Yearly and Half-Yearly Information As a result of the implementation of the EU Directive 2004/109 of 15 December 2004 on the harmonisation of transparency requirements in relation to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market (the “Transparency Directive”), if the NYSE is deemed a regulated market, we would be required to make our annual financial report available to the public ultimately four months after the end of each financial year and we should file the annual financial report with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets, the “AFM”) within five days after it has been adopted by our general meeting of shareholders. The annual financial information consists of the audited annual accounts, the annual report, a description of the main risks and uncertainties facing us and a statement by persons within LyondellBasell Industries N.V. designated by the latter as the “responsible persons,” indicating (i) that the annual accounts give a fair view of the assets and financial position of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and, in the case of consolidated accounts, of the enterprises included in the consolidation and (ii) that the annual report gives a fair view of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s condition on the balance sheet date, the development of LyondellBasell

 

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Industries N.V. and its affiliated companies during the previous financial year and all material risks to which LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is exposed.

We would also need to publish our half-yearly information within two months after the end of the first six months of our financial year. Both the annual and half-yearly financial information must remain publicly available for at least five years.

Interim Management Statements —In addition, we would need to publish an interim management statement in both the first and second half of our financial year at least ten weeks after the start, and no more than six weeks before the end, of the relevant half-year period or alternatively would need to publish quarterly financial statements. These interim management statements should include (i) an explanation of material events and transactions affecting LyondellBasell Industries N.V., the undertakings controlled by it and the consequences thereof for the financial position of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the undertakings controlled by LyondellBasell Industries N.V.; and (ii) a general description of the financial position of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the undertakings controlled by it.

Changes in the Rights Attached to Our Securities —We would need to make public immediately any changes in the rights attached to our securities (including changes in statutory rights) or to the rights to acquire our securities and send the AFM a copy of such publications.

Mandatory Offer Rules

Following implementation of the Takeover Directive (2004/25/EC), the applicable Dutch Financial Supervision Act (the “FSA”) and the decrees and regulations promulgated thereunder contain provisions regarding the making of a mandatory public offer. These provisions, the basics of which are outlined below, would be applicable to us if the NYSE would be deemed a “regulated market.”

In such case, any person who, solely or acting in concert with others, directly or indirectly, acquires predominant control over a Dutch public limited liability company whose shares (or depositary receipts) are admitted to trading on a regulated market, will be obligated to make a public offer for all shares (and depositary receipts) issued by that company at an equitable price. Predominant control is defined in the FSA as 30% or more of the voting rights in a company’s general meeting of shareholders, generally acquired through 30% of that company’s issued and outstanding shares. A person or group of concert parties that had a controlling interest at the time of the listing of our ordinary shares on the NYSE will be exempt from the obligation to make a mandatory public offer. However, the obligation to make a public offer will apply to such shareholder or group of concert parties if its voting rights decrease below 30% and then again increase to 30% or more. The obligation to make a public offer will expire if the voting rights of the relevant person or group of concert parties decrease below the 30% threshold, either by disposal of shares or otherwise, within 30 days after acquiring control and provided that this shareholder or group of shareholders has not exercised any voting rights on our ordinary shares in this period.

Disclosure of Significant Ownership of Ordinary Shares

If the NYSE is deemed a regulated market, certain of our shareholders may be subject to notification obligations under the FSA. The following description summarises those obligations. Shareholders are advised to consult with their own legal advisers to determine whether the notification obligations apply to them.

The most important notification requirements for our investors based on the FSA are as follows:

 

   

any person who, directly or indirectly, acquires or disposes of a capital interest or voting rights in LyondellBasell Industries N.V. must forthwith give written notice to the AFM of such capital interest and/or voting rights. This notification obligation will exist if an acquisition or disposal causes the total percentage of the capital interest and/or voting rights held, to reach, exceed or fall below a certain threshold. These thresholds are 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75% and 95%;

 

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any person whose capital interest or voting rights in LyondellBasell Industries N.V. reaches, exceeds or falls below a threshold due to a change in our outstanding capital or in votes that can be cast on our ordinary shares as notified to the AFM by us, should notify the AFM no later than the fourth trading day after the AFM has published our notification; and

 

   

any person who’s holding of shares or voting rights in LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is larger than or equal to 5% as of December 31 of any year will be required to notify the AFM of any changes in the composition of this interest annually within four weeks from December 31.

For the purpose of calculating the percentage of capital interest of voting rights, the following interests must be taken into account: (i) shares (or depositary receipts for shares) directly held (or acquired or disposed of) by any person, (ii) shares (or depositary receipts for shares) held (or acquired or disposed of) by such person’s subsidiaries or by a third party for such person’s account or by a third party with whom such person has concluded an oral or written voting agreement and (iii) shares (or depositary receipts for shares) which such person, or any subsidiary or third party referred to above, may acquire pursuant to any option or other right held by such person (or acquired or disposed of including, but not limited to, on the basis of convertible bonds). Pursuant to the FSA, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. is required to inform the AFM on changes in its share capital.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

Considerations Under Section 7874

Although we are incorporated in The Netherlands, the IRS may assert that we should be treated as a U.S. corporation (and, therefore, a U.S. tax resident) for U.S. federal income tax purposes under U.S. Tax Code section 7874, which could result in significant U.S. federal income tax liability to us. Alternatively, the IRS may assert that our U.S. subsidiaries are subject to tax on their inversion gain.

If, in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, the former creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group received at least 80% of our stock by reason of holding claims against, and interests in, the U.S. Group and if our expanded affiliated group did not have substantial business activities in The Netherlands, U.S. Tax Code section 7874 would treat us as a U.S. corporation. Alternatively, we would be treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income taxes, but U.S. tax would be imposed on our U.S. subsidiaries’ inversion gain if, in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, the former creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group received at least 60%, but less than 80%, of our stock issued in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases by reason of holding such claims or interests and if our expanded affiliated group did not have substantial business activities in The Netherlands. The 80% and 60% calculations are subject to certain adjustments.

We believe that our stock issued or deemed issued in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases that was attributable to the value of our foreign companies that are not directly or indirectly owned by our U.S. Group exceeds 40% of all our stock issued to creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group. Therefore, we believe that the former creditors and shareholders of our U.S. Group did not receive at least 60% of our stock by reason of such claims and interests, making U.S. Tax Code section 7874 inapplicable to us. In addition, we believe that strong arguments can be made that section 7874 should not apply to us because the expanded affiliated group that includes us should be treated as having substantial business activities in The Netherlands. However, no assurance can be given that the IRS would not take a contrary position regarding section 7874’s application or that such position, if asserted, would not be sustained. The remainder of the discussion below assumes that section 7874 will not apply to us.

Taxation of Distributions on Our Ordinary Shares

We do not currently plan to pay a regular dividend on our class A ordinary shares or our class B ordinary shares. In the event we pay a dividend on our ordinary shares, U.S. holders of our ordinary shares will generally be taxed with respect to such dividends.

 

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Subject to complex limitations, Dutch withholding tax (which, together with the income tax treaty between The Netherlands and the United States, is discussed under “—Dutch Tax Considerations” below) will be treated for U.S. tax purposes as a foreign tax that may be claimed as a foreign tax credit against the U.S. federal income tax liability of a U.S. holder. We expect that the ability of U.S. holders to claim the foreign tax credit with respect to our dividends may be subject to significant limitations. In lieu of claiming a credit, U.S. holders may claim a deduction of foreign taxes paid in the taxable year.

Dispositions of Our Ordinary Shares

Subject to the discussion below regarding controlled foreign corporations and the passive foreign investment company rules, U.S. holders of our ordinary shares generally should recognize capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our ordinary shares in the same manner as on the sale, exchange or other disposition of any other shares held as capital assets. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for our ordinary shares exceeds one year. Under current law, long-term capital gain of non-corporate shareholders is subject to tax at a maximum rate of 15% (plus the 3.8% Unearned Income Medicare Contribution tax in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, to the extent applicable). However, the 15% rate is scheduled to increase to 20% effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. There are limitations on the deductibility of capital losses.

Controlled Foreign Corporation Considerations

Each “10% U.S. shareholder” of a foreign corporation, such as us, that is a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during a taxable year, and who owns shares in the CFC, directly or indirectly through foreign entities, on the last day of the CFC’s taxable year, must include in its gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of the CFC’s “subpart F income,” and in some cases certain other income, even if such income is not distributed. A foreign corporation is considered a CFC if 10% U.S. shareholders own (directly, indirectly through foreign entities or by attribution by application of the constructive ownership rules of section 958(b) of the U.S. Tax Code (i.e., “constructively”)) more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting stock of such foreign corporation, or more than 50% of the total value of all stock of such corporation on any day during the taxable year of such corporation. The calculations of percentage ownership for purposes of determining whether a shareholder is a 10% U.S. shareholder and for purposes of determining a shareholder’s pro rata share of any subpart F income and certain other income are not the same. In addition, if we were a CFC at any time, certain gain on the disposition of our ordinary shares by a present or former 10% U.S. shareholder may be subject to treatment as a dividend from us and any 10% U.S. shareholders may be subject to additional reporting requirements.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations

The treatment of U.S. holders of our ordinary shares in some cases could be materially different from that described above if, at any relevant time, we were a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”), unless such holder is a 10% U.S. shareholder and we are a CFC. We believe that we have not been a PFIC in any prior taxable year, and we do not expect to be a PFIC in the current taxable year. In addition, we believe that we will not be a PFIC in future years. However, the tests for determining PFIC status are applied annually, and it is difficult accurately to predict future income and assets relevant to this determination. Accordingly, we cannot assure U.S. holders that we will not become a PFIC.

Dutch Tax Considerations

We are a public company with limited liability ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under Dutch law. In general, and unless a reduced rate applies, we must withhold tax (“dividend tax”) at the rate of 15% on dividend distributions with respect to our ordinary shares. Dividends include, without limitation:

 

   

distributions of profits (including paid-in capital not recognized for dividend tax purposes) in cash or in kind, including deemed and constructive dividends;

 

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liquidation distributions and, generally, proceeds realized upon a repurchase of our ordinary shares or upon the transfer of ordinary shares to our direct or indirect subsidiary, in excess of the average paid-in capital recognized for dividend tax purposes;

 

   

the par value of ordinary shares issued or any increase in the par value of ordinary shares, except where such increase in the par value of ordinary shares is funded out of our paid-in capital recognized for dividend tax purposes; and

 

   

repayments of paid-in capital recognized for dividend tax purposes up to the amount of our profits (zuivere winst) unless our general meeting of shareholders has resolved in advance that we shall make such repayments and the par value of the ordinary shares concerned has been reduced by a corresponding amount through an amendment of our articles of association.

A holder of ordinary shares which is, is deemed to be, or, in case the holder is an individual, has elected to be treated as, resident in The Netherlands for the relevant tax purposes is generally entitled to credit the dividend tax withheld against such holder’s tax liability on income and capital gains or, in certain cases, to apply for a full refund of the dividend tax withheld.

A holder of ordinary shares which is not, is not deemed to be, and, in case the holder is an individual, has not elected to be treated as, resident in The Netherlands for the relevant tax purposes may be eligible for a partial or full exemption or refund of the dividend tax under an income tax convention in effect between The Netherlands and the holder’s country of residence or under the Dutch rules relating to the implementation of the Parent / Subsidiary Directive as the case may be. Moreover, residents benefitting from the participation exemption with respect to our ordinary shares may be eligible for a full exemption of dividend tax.

Under the double taxation convention in effect between The Netherlands and the U.S. (the “Treaty”), dividends paid by us to certain U.S. corporate shareholders holding directly at least 10% of the voting power in our company are generally eligible for a reduction of the 15% withholding tax to 5%, unless the ordinary shares held by such shareholders are attributable to a business or part of a business that is, in whole or in part, carried on through a permanent establishment or a permanent representative in The Netherlands. Under certain circumstances and subject to various conditions, the Treaty provides for a full exemption from dividend tax. Dividends received by exempt pension organizations and exempt organizations, as defined in the Treaty, may also be entitled to a full exemption or refund from dividend tax.

A holder of ordinary shares other than an individual will not be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty if such holder of ordinary shares does not satisfy one or more of the tests set forth in the limitation on benefits provisions of Article 26 of the Treaty. Moreover, under the terms of domestic anti-dividend stripping rules, a recipient of dividends distributed on our ordinary shares will not be entitled to an exemption from, reduction, refund, or credit of dividend tax if the recipient is not the beneficial owner of such dividends within the meaning of such rules.

Generally, any payments of interest and principal by us on debt can be made free of withholding or deduction for any taxes imposed, levied, withheld or assessed by The Netherlands or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

The issuance or transfer of ordinary shares, and payments made with respect to ordinary shares, will not be subject to value added tax in The Netherlands. The subscription, issue, placement, allotment, delivery, transfer or execution of ordinary shares will not be subject to registration tax, capital tax, customs duty, transfer tax, stamp duty, or any other similar tax or duty in The Netherlands.

 

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ITEM 12. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Assumed Indemnification Obligations

We assumed certain indemnification obligations for any person who served as a director or officer of any of the Debtors in the Bankruptcy Cases during the period beginning January 6, 2009, subject to certain exceptions. All of our current executive officers and most of our officers will be indemnified pursuant to this assumption under the Plan of Reorganization. Furthermore, pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, to the extent that indemnification claims relate to acts or omissions prior to the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases, any individual covered by the assumed indemnification obligations must first demonstrate that he or she has taken all reasonable actions to obtain payment under any applicable insurance policies, and that the insurers under the policies have disclaimed coverage or have informed such individual that the available limits of liability under the applicable policies have been exhausted. We will only be required to make a payment under the assumed indemnification obligations after the insurance policy has been exhausted or is not otherwise available. With respect to acts or omissions after the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases and prior to the Emergence Date, an insurance policy took effect on December 20, 2007 which covers such acts or omissions.

New Indemnification Arrangements

Article 26 of Chapter XI of our Articles of Association contains mandatory indemnification provisions for our current and former directors and officers as described generally below.

We are obligated to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that he (or a person or entity for whom he) is or was a member of our Management Board or a member of our Supervisory Board or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company or a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans. Our indemnification obligation applies to all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred, except that our indemnification does not apply in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the person is adjudged to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his duty to us, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action suit or proceeding was brought or any other court having appropriate jurisdiction determines otherwise.

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending a proceeding may be paid by us in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon a resolution of our Management Board which will have been approved by our Supervisory Board with respect to the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the member of our Management Board, member of our Supervisory Board, director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by us.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our current directors and will enter into similar agreements with executive officers and certain officers and employees of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. We believe that these indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as our directors and executive officers and as officers and employees of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. The SEC has noted, however, that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage.

 

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ITEM 13. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

See “Item 15. Financial Statements and Exhibits” of this Registration Statement.

 

ITEM 14. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

 

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ITEM 15. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 

  (a) Financial Statements. Our financial statements for the years 2009 and 2008, including the report of our independent registered public accounting firm, and for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 are attached hereto beginning at page F-1 immediately following the signature page of this Registration Statement.

 

Page

  

Description

F-1

   Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

  (b) Exhibits. The following are furnished as exhibits hereto:

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  2.1†    Third Amended and Restated Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization for the LyondellBasell Debtors, dated as of March 12, 2010.
  3.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Association of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., dated as of April 29, 2010.
  3.2    Rules for the Supervisory Board of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
  3.3    Rules for the Management Board of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
  4.1    Specimen certificate for class A ordinary shares, par value €0.04 per share, of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
  4.2    Specimen certificate for class B ordinary shares, par value €0.04 per share, of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
  4.3    Nomination Agreement between Leveragesource (Delaware), LLC and LyondellBasell Industries N.V., dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.4    Nomination Agreement between Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P. and LyondellBasell Industries N.V., dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.5    Nomination Agreement between AI International Chemicals S.à.r.l. and LyondellBasell Industries N.V., dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.6†    Registration Rights Agreement by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Banc of America Securities LLC and UBS Securities LLC, dated as of April 8, 2010.
  4.7    Registration Rights Agreement by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the Holders (as defined therein), dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.8    Amended and Restated Indenture relating to 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 between Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Wilmington Trust GSB, dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.9    Security Agreement relating to 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 dated as of April 30, 2010 among Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.
  4.10    Indenture relating to 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Lyondell Chemical Company and Wells Fargo, N.A., dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.11    Security Agreement relating to 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 dated as of April 30, 2010 among Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
  4.12    Warrant Agreement by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., dated as of April 30, 2010.
10.1†    Employment agreement by and among James L. Gallogly, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell AFGP, dated as of May 14, 2009.

 

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Exhibit
Number

  

Description

10.2†    Compensation terms of C. Kent Potter.
10.3†    Employment agreement by and among Craig B. Glidden, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell AFGP, dated as of August 5, 2009.
10.4†    Employment agreement by and among Kevin Brown, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell AFGP, dated as of March 19, 2010.
10.5†    Employment agreement by and among Bhavesh V. Patel, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell AFGP, dated as of August 5, 2009.
10.6†    Employment agreement with Anton de Vries with English Language Summary.
10.7†    Employment agreement between Alan S. Bigman and Basell USA Inc., dated as of August 1, 2009.
10.8†    Employment agreement between Volker Trautz and Basell Holdings B.V., dated as of August 1, 2007.
10.9†    Settlement Agreement and Release between Volker Trautz and LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., dated as of May 29, 2009.
10.10†    LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. Management Incentive Plan, effective as of January 1, 2009.
10.11    LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Short-Term Incentive Plan.
10.12†    LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Medium Term Incentive Plan.
10.13†    LyondellBasell Industries N.V. 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10.14    Form of Officer and Director Indemnification Agreement.
10.15†    Summary of Legacy Compensatory Arrangements for Named Executive Officers.
10.16    Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement.
10.17    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
10.18    Form of Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement.
10.19    Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement by and between Lyondell Chemical Company, LBI Escrow Corporation, LyondellBasell Industries, N.V. and UBS AG, Stamford Branch, dated as of April 8, 2010.
10.20    U.S. Security Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 among Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and UBS AG, Stamford Branch.
10.21    Senior Secured Asset-Based Credit Agreement by and between Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Citibank, N.A., dated as of April 8, 2010.
10.22    Security Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 between Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Citibank N.A.
10.23    Master Receivables Purchase Agreement dated May 4, 2010 among Basell Sales and Marketing Company B.V., Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., Basell Polyolefins Collections Limited, Citicorp Trustee Company Limited and Citibank, N.A., London Branch.
21.1    List of subsidiaries of the registrant.
24.1†    Power of Attorney.

 

Previously filed.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on July 26, 2010.

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
By:  

/ S /    C RAIG B. G LIDDEN        

   

Name: Craig B. Glidden

Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

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Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     Page

LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (Debtor-In-Possession)

  

Reports of Independent Auditors

   F-2

Consolidated Financial Statements:

  

Consolidated Statements of Operations

   F-4

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   F-6

Consolidated Statements of Stockholder’s Deficit

   F-8

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-9

Lyondell Chemical Company (Debtor-In Possession)

  

Reports of Independent Auditors

   F-89

Consolidated Financial Statements:

  

Consolidated Statements of Operations

   F-91

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   F-92

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-94

LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (Debtor-In-Possession)

  

Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

  

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

   F-121

Consolidated Balance Sheets (March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009) (Unaudited)

   F-122

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

   F-123

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

   F-125

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Supervisory Board of Directors of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, of stockholder’s deficit and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As described in Note 3, on January 6, 2009, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries and a German subsidiary, and on April 24, 2009, LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., each filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In order to emerge from bankruptcy, the Company must gain bankruptcy court approval of their plan of reorganization (POR). The POR, among other things, requires raising new debt and equity financing in order to discharge certain liabilities, including the debtor-in-possession financing, which matures on April 6, 2010. The outcome of these events is uncertain, which raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 3. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Houston, Texas

February 28, 2010

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Managers of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of income, stockholder’s equity and cash flows of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (formerly Basell AF S.C.A.) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We did not audit the consolidated financial statements of Lyondell Chemical Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary, and subsidiaries (“Lyondell”) which statements reflect total assets constituting 69 percent and total revenues constituting 5 percent, after elimination of intercompany balances and sales, in 2007 of the related consolidated totals. Those statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Lyondell, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

We conducted our audit in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, based on our audit and the report of the other auditors, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

KPMG Audit S.à r.l.

City of Luxembourg

Luxembourg

March 30, 2008, except for Note 29 Segment and Related Information to which the date is February 28, 2010

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     For the year ended December 31,  

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007  

Sales and other operating revenues:

      

Trade

   $ 30,207      $ 49,903      $ 16,168   

Related parties

     621        803        952   
                        
     30,828        50,706        17,120   

Operating costs and expenses:

      

Cost of sales

     29,372        48,780        15,196   

Inventory valuation adjustment

     127        1,256          

Impairments

     17        5,207        20   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     850        1,197        740   

Research and development expenses

     145        194        135   

Purchased in-process research and development

                   95   
                        
     30,511        56,634        16,186   
                        

Operating income (loss)

     317        (5,928     934   

Interest expense ($2,720 million contractual interest for the year ended December 31, 2009)

     (1,795     (2,476     (353

Interest income

     18        69        70   

Other income, net

     325        113        127   
                        

Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity investments, reorganization items and income taxes

     (1,135     (8,222     778   

Income (loss) from equity investments

     (181     38        162   

Reorganization items

     (2,961              
                        

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

     (4,277     (8,184     940   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (1,411     (848     279   
                        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     (2,866     (7,336     661   

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     1        15          
                        

Net income (loss)

   $ (2,865   $ (7,321   $ 661   
                        

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     December 31,  

Millions, except shares and par value data

   2009     2008  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 558      $ 858   

Short-term investments

     11        32   

Accounts receivable:

    

Trade, net

     3,092        2,396   

Related parties

     195        189   

Inventories

     3,277        3,314   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,133        649   
                

Total current assets

     8,266        7,438   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     15,152        16,391   

Investments and long-term receivables:

    

Investment in PO joint ventures

     922        954   

Equity investments

     1,085        1,215   

Other investments and long-term receivables

     112        210   

Intangible assets, net

     1,861        2,241   

Other assets

     363        202   
                

Total assets

   $ 27,761      $ 28,651   
                

LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT

    

Liabilities not subject to compromise:

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 497      $ 22,891   

Short-term debt

     6,182        774   

Accounts payable:

    

Trade

     1,627        2,418   

Related parties

     501        244   

Accrued liabilities

     1,390        2,038   

Deferred income taxes

     170        236   
                

Total current liabilities

     10,367        28,601   

Long-term debt

     305        304   

Other liabilities

     1,361        2,451   

Deferred income taxes

     2,081        3,241   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Liabilities subject to compromise

     22,494          

Stockholder’s deficit:

    

Common stock, €124 par value, 403,226 shares authorized and issued at December 31, 2009 and 2008

     60        60   

Additional paid-in capital

     563        563   

Retained deficit

     (9,313     (6,440

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (286     (264
                

LyondellBasell AF’s share of stockholder’s deficit

     (8,976     (6,081

Non-controlling interests

     129        135   
                

Total deficit

     (8,847     (5,946
                

Total liabilities and deficit

   $ 27,761      $ 28,651   
                

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     For the year ended December 31,  

Millions of dollars

       2009             2008             2007      

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income (loss)

   $ (2,865   $ (7,321   $ 661   

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (1     (15       

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     1,774        1,911        472   

Asset impairments

     17        5,207        20   

Amortization of debt-related costs

     347        513        77   

Accrued debtor-in-possession exit fees

     159                 

Inventory valuation adjustment

     127        1,256          

Equity investments—

      

Equity (income) loss

     181        (38     (162

Distributions of earnings

     26        98        148   

Deferred income taxes

     (1,399     (831     (111

Reorganization items

     2,961                 

Reorganization-related payments, net

     (340              

Unrealized foreign currency exchange gains

     (193     (20     (3

Purchased in-process research and development

                   95   

Changes in assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash:

      

Accounts receivable

     (129     1,367        503   

Inventories

     (40     943        (161

Accounts payable

     99        (1,563     (126

Repayment of accounts receivable securitization facility

     (503              

Accrued interest

     (19     (65     (217

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (329     101        (72

Other, net

     (661     (468     56   
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities—continuing operations

     (788     1,075        1,180   

Net cash provided by operating activities—discontinued operations

     1        15          
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (787     1,090        1,180   
                        

 

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)

 

     For the year ended December 31,  

Millions of dollars

       2009             2008             2007      

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

     (779     (1,000     (411

Proceeds from insurance claims

     120        89          

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash

            (1,061     (11,470

Contributions and advances to affiliates

     (4     (60       

Proceeds from disposal of assets

     20        173          

Short-term investments

     23        (32       

Other

     9        7        (18
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (611     (1,884     (11,899
                        

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Net proceeds from issuance of debtor-in-possession term loan facility

     1,992                 

Proceeds from note payable

     100                 

Repayment of note payable

     (100              

Repayment of debtor-in-possession term loan facility

     (6              

Net borrowings under debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility

     325                 

Net borrowings (repayments) under pre-petition revolving credit facilities

     (766     1,510        (130

Net repayment on revolving credit facilities

     (298              

Proceeds from short-term debt

     42        5        80   

Repayment of short-term debt

     (6     (7     (16

Issuance of long-term debt

            1        21,761   

Repayment of long-term debt

     (68     (384     (9,103

Payment of debt issuance costs

     (93     (42     (264

Changes in restricted cash

                   (1,371

Dividends paid

                   (522

Other, net

     (21            (19
                        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     1,101        1,083        10,416   
                        

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (3     9        33   
                        

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (300     298        (270

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     858        560        830   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 558      $ 858      $ 560   
                        

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT

 

    Common Stock   Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
(Deficit)
    Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 

Millions, except shares

  Shares   Amount          

Balance, January 1, 2007

  403,226   $ 60   $ 981      $ 378      $ 120      $ 1,539     

Net income

                 661               661      $ 661   

Cash dividends

          (439                   (439       

Dutch capital tax duty levied on equity contributions to Basell Holdings B.V.

          5                      5          

Share-based compensation

          16                      16          

Deemed dividend paid

                 (83            (83       

Deemed dividend payable

                 (75            (75       

Unrealized gain on held-for-sale securities held by equity investees

                        13        13        13   

Changes in unrecognized employee benefits gains and losses, net of tax of $33 million

                        70        70        70   

Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $24 million

                        214        214        214   
                                                 

Comprehensive income

              $ 958   
                   

Balance, December 31, 2007

  403,226   $ 60   $ 563      $ 881      $ 417      $ 1,921     

Net loss

                 (7,321            (7,321   $ (7,321

Financial derivatives, net of tax of $68 million

                        (89     (89     (89

Unrealized gain on held-for-sale securities held by equity investees

                        (23     (23     (23

Changes in unrecognized employee benefits gains and losses, net of tax of $127 million

                        (378     (378     (378

Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $12 million

                        (191     (191     (191
                                                 

Comprehensive loss

              $ (8,002
                   

Balance, December 31, 2008

  403,226   $ 60   $ 563      $ (6,440   $ (264   $ (6,081  

Net loss

                 (2,865            (2,865   $ (2,865

Financial derivatives, net of tax of $27 million

                        29        29        29   

Unrealized gain on held-for-sale securities held by equity investees

                        31        31        31   

Changes in unrecognized employee benefits gains and losses, net of tax of $(15) million

                        (36     (36     (36

Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $(6) million

                        (46     (46     (46

Other

          (8            (8       
                                                 

Comprehensive loss

              $ (2,887
                   

Balance, December 31, 2009

  403,226   $ 60   $ 563      $ (9,313   $ (286   $ (8,976  
                                           

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

1.

   Description of Company and Operations    F-10

2.

   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies    F-10

3.

   Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern    F-16

4.

   Reorganization    F-26

5.

   Hurricane Effects    F-28

6.

   Discontinued Operations    F-28

7.

   Business Acquisitions and Dispositions    F-29

8.

   Insurance Claims    F-32

9.

   Related Party Transactions    F-32

10.

   Investment in PO Joint Ventures    F-33

11.

   Equity Investments    F-35

12.

   Short-Term Investments    F-37

13.

   Accounts Receivable    F-37

14.

   Inventories    F-38

15.

   Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Other Assets    F-38

16.

   Short-Term Debt    F-41

17.

   Accounts Payable    F-46

18.

   Accrued Liabilities    F-46

19.

   Long-Term Debt    F-47

20.

   Lease Commitments    F-54

21.

   Liabilities Subject to Compromise    F-54

22.

   Financial Instruments and Derivatives    F-56

23.

   Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits    F-62

24.

   Income Taxes    F-73

25.

   Commitments and Contingencies    F-77

26.

   Management Incentive Plan    F-81

27.

   Stockholder’s Deficit and Non-Controlling Interests    F-82

28.

   Supplemental Cash Flow Information    F-83

29.

   Segment and Related Information    F-83

30.

   Unaudited Quarterly Results    F-88

31.

   Subsequent Events    F-88

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

1. Description of Company and Operations

LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively “the Company” or “LyondellBasell AF”) was formed in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as a corporate partnership limited by shares in April 2005 by BI S.à r.l., a Luxembourg private limited liability company, affiliated with Access Industries (“Access Industries”), which is a privately-held industrial group based in the United States (“U.S.”). On July 2, 2009, Nell Limited (“Nell”), an affiliate of Access Industries and the indirect owner of 100% of the share capital of LyondellBasell, transferred its indirect ownership interest in LyondellBasell to Prochemie GmbH (“Prochemie”), a wholly owned subsidiary of ProChemie Holding Ltd. (“ProChemie Holding”). As of July 2, 2009, Nell and ProChemie Holding each own 50% of Prochemie, which owns 100% of the share capital of LyondellBasell AF.

As a result of LyondellBasell AF’s December 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical Company (together with its subsidiaries “Lyondell Chemical”), Lyondell Chemical’s results of operations are consolidated prospectively from December 21, 2007 (see Note 7).

LyondellBasell AF is a refiner of crude oil, a significant producer of gasoline blending components, a worldwide manufacturer of chemicals and polymers and a developer and licensor of technologies for the production of polymers.

On January 6, 2009, certain of LyondellBasell AF’s U.S. subsidiaries and one of its European holding companies, Basell Germany Holdings GmbH (“Germany Holdings” and collectively the “Initial Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “U.S. Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York (“U.S. Bankruptcy Court”). In addition, voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code were filed by LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., the Luxembourg holding company, and its General Partner, LyondellBasell AF GP S.à r.l., on April 24, 2009, and by thirteen additional U.S. subsidiaries on May 8, 2009 (collectively, with the Initial Debtors, the “Debtors”) (see Note 3). The Debtors continue to operate their businesses as debtors-in-possession (“DIP”) under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

In presenting these consolidated financial statements, LyondellBasell AF continues to consolidate its Debtor and non-Debtor subsidiaries as if LyondellBasell AF and the Initial Debtors filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on January 6, 2009. This consolidated presentation best reflects the substance of the group relationship during the administration of the bankruptcy cases.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation —The consolidated financial statements, prepared under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., include the accounts of LyondellBasell AF and its consolidated subsidiaries. Investments in joint ventures where LyondellBasell AF exerts a certain level of management control, but lacks full decision making ability over all major issues, are accounted for using the equity method. Under those circumstances, the equity method is used even though LyondellBasell AF’s ownership percentage may exceed 50%.

Going Concern —The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. However, as discussed in Note 3, there is substantial doubt about LyondellBasell AF’s ability to continue as a

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)

 

going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not reflect any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts nor to the amounts and classification of liabilities that may be necessary should LyondellBasell AF be unable to continue as a going concern.

Revenue Recognition —Revenue from product sales is recognized at the time of transfer of title and risk of loss to the customer, which usually occurs at the time of shipment. Revenue is recognized at the time of delivery if LyondellBasell AF retains the risk of loss during shipment. For products that are shipped on a consignment basis, revenue is recognized when the customer uses the product. Costs incurred in shipping products sold are included in cost of sales. Billings to customers for shipping costs are included in sales revenue.

With respect to licensing contracts LyondellBasell AF performs a contract-by-contract analysis and determines if and when it has substantially sold its product or rendered service. For proven technologies for which LyondellBasell AF is contractually entitled to receive the vast majority of the contract value in cash at or before the date of customer acceptance, LyondellBasell AF will generally recognize revenue for the contract value at the date of delivery of the process design package and the related license, provided that the undelivered items are considered inconsequential or perfunctory. In these cases, the date of revenue recognition coincides with the date at which the significant risks and rewards have been transferred to the licensee and LyondellBasell AF has no continuing managerial involvement.

For contracts involving unproven process technology, longer contractual cash collection periods or post-delivery technical assistance that is not considered inconsequential or perfunctory, LyondellBasell AF recognizes revenue at the date of customer acceptance up to the amount of fixed fees due at customer acceptance date. Future fixed fees for these contracts are recognized on the earlier date of cash receipt or when the uncertainties are resolved.

Cash and Cash Equivalents —Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid debt instruments such as certificates of deposit, commercial paper and money market accounts. Cash equivalents include instruments with maturities of three months or less when acquired. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Cash and cash equivalents exclude restricted cash. LyondellBasell AF’s policy is to invest cash in conservative, highly-rated instruments and to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one institution.

LyondellBasell AF has no requirements for compensating balances in a specific amount at a specific point in time. LyondellBasell AF does maintain compensating balances for some of its banking services and products. Such balances are maintained on an average basis and are solely at LyondellBasell AF’s discretion.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts —LyondellBasell AF establishes provisions for doubtful accounts receivable based on management’s estimates of amounts that it believes are unlikely to be collected. Collectability of receivables is reviewed and the allowance for doubtful accounts is adjusted at least quarterly, based on aging of specific accounts and other available information about the associated customers. Provisions for an allowance for doubtful accounts are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Inventories —Inventories are carried at the lower of current market value or cost. Cost is determined using the first-in, first out (“FIFO”) method, except for certain U.S. inventories for which cost is required to be determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method, and the average cost method for materials and supplies.

Inventory exchange transactions, which involve fungible commodities and do not involve the payment or receipt of cash, are not accounted for as purchases and sales. Any resulting volumetric exchange balances are accounted for as inventory, with cost determined using the LIFO method.

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)

 

Property, Plant and Equipment —Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful asset lives, generally up to 25 years for major manufacturing equipment, 30 years for buildings, 5 to 15 years for light equipment and instrumentation, 15 years for office furniture and 3 to 5 years for information system equipment. Upon retirement or sale, LyondellBasell AF removes the cost of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation from the accounts and reflects any resulting gain or loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. LyondellBasell AF’s policy is to capitalize interest cost incurred on debt during the construction of major projects exceeding one year.

Costs of major maintenance and repairs incurred as part of turnarounds of major units at LyondellBasell AF’s manufacturing facilities are deferred and amortized using the straight-line method over the period until the next planned turnaround, predominantly 4 to 7 years. These costs are necessary to maintain, extend and improve the operating capacity and efficiency rates of the production units.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment —LyondellBasell AF evaluates long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When it is probable that undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover an asset’s carrying amount, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value.

Goodwill —Goodwill represented the excess of purchase price paid by LyondellBasell AF over the fair value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of Lyondell Chemical. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment annually or more frequently when indicators of impairment exist. LyondellBasell AF reviews the recorded value of goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may exceed fair value. Recoverability is determined by comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to the carrying value, including the related goodwill, of that reporting unit. LyondellBasell AF uses the present value of expected net cash flows to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting units. The impairment test requires LyondellBasell AF to make cash flow assumptions including, among other things, future margins, volumes, operating costs, capital expenditures, growth rates and discount rates. LyondellBasell AF’s assumptions regarding future margins and volumes require significant judgment as actual margins and volumes have fluctuated in the past and will likely continue to do so. See Note 15 for a discussion of goodwill impairment.

Identifiable Intangible Assets —Costs to purchase and to develop software for internal use are deferred and amortized over periods of 3 to 10 years. Other intangible assets are carried at cost or amortized cost and primarily consist of emission allowances, various contracts, technology, patents and license costs, and deferred debt issuance costs. These assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or over the term of the related agreement, if shorter. Emission allowances with indefinite lives are evaluated for impairment on an annual basis and, accordingly, are not amortized.

Environmental Remediation Costs —Anticipated expenditures related to investigation and remediation of contaminated sites, which include current and former plant sites and other remediation sites, are accrued when it is probable a liability has been incurred and the amount of the liability can reasonably be estimated. Only ongoing operating and monitoring costs, the timing of which can be determined with reasonable certainty, are discounted to present value. Future legal costs associated with such matters, which generally are not estimable, are not included in these liabilities.

Legal Costs —LyondellBasell AF expenses legal costs, including those incurred in connection with loss contingencies, as incurred.

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)

 

Income Taxes —Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, as well as the net tax effects of net operating loss carryforwards. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Liabilities Subject to Compromise —Pursuant to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), certain pre-petition liabilities of the Debtors have been reclassified to long-term liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as liabilities subject to compromise (see Note 21). Liabilities subject to compromise currently include the Debtors’ long-term debt that is considered undersecured and amounts due from the Debtors to vendors and employees for goods and services received prior to the January 6, 2009, April 24, 2009 and May 8, 2009 petition dates and include damage claims created by the Debtors’ rejection of executory contracts. The Debtors continue to analyze and reconcile these amounts; therefore, the amounts reflected herein are current estimates and subject to change as additional analysis takes place. The Debtors recognize claims at the probable allowed amounts. Claims for rejected contracts are recorded at the earlier of default by the Debtors under the contract or notification to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of rejection. Liabilities subject to compromise are distinguished from pre-petition liabilities of the Debtors estimated to be fully secured, post-petition liabilities of the Debtors and liabilities of the non-Debtors for all of which the balance sheet classification is unchanged.

Consolidation —Non-controlling interests primarily represent the interests of unaffiliated investors in a partnership that owns LyondellBasell AF’s PO/SM II plant at the Channelview, Texas complex, a partnership that owns the La Porte Methanol Company plant in La Porte, Texas and a subsidiary owning an equity investment in the Al-Waha Petrochemicals Ltd. joint venture. The minority interests’ share of the partnerships’ income or loss is not material.

Foreign Currency Translation —LyondellBasell AF’s reporting currency for the accompanying financial statements is the U.S. dollar. LyondellBasell AF has significant operations in several countries of which functional currencies are primarily the U.S. dollar for U.S. operations and the euro for operations in Europe.

Financial Instruments and Derivatives— LyondellBasell AF selectively enters into derivative transactions to manage volatility related to market risks associated with changes in commodity pricing, currency exchange rates and interest rates. For a discussion of LyondellBasell AF’s policies related to financial instruments and derivatives, see Note 22.

Use of Estimates —The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications —Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to classifications adopted in 2009.

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)

 

Accounting and Reporting Changes

Consolidation —In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance on implementation issues relating to the accounting for decreases in the ownership of a subsidiary and expanded the disclosures required for a business combination achieved in stages and for deconsolidation of a business. LyondellBasell AF’s adoption of these amendments as of December 31, 2009 did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2008, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) with respect to revisions in the accounting for certain transactions and impairment considerations involving equity method investments in light of previous changes to the accounting for business combinations and the disclosures regarding non-controlling interests in the consolidated financial statements. LyondellBasell AF’s application of these revisions on January 1, 2009 did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued changes which establish new accounting and disclosure requirements for non-controlling, or minority, interests, including their classification as a separate component of equity and the adjustment of net income to include amounts attributable to minority interests. These changes also established new accounting standards requiring recognition of a gain or loss upon deconsolidation of a subsidiary. The January 1, 2009 adoption of these changes did not have a material effect on LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standard Codification —In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued changes to the authoritative hierarchy of U.S. GAAP. The changes establish the FASB Accounting Standards Codification as the authoritative source of U.S. GAAP. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants. These changes, which were effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009, had no impact on LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurement —In January 2010, the FASB issued additional guidance on improving disclosures regarding fair value measurements. The Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) requires entities to disclose the amounts of significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and the reasons for these transfers, as well as the reasons for any transfers in or out of Level 3. Except for a requirement to disclose information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the reconciliation of recurring Level 3 measurements on a gross basis, all of the amendments are effective for LyondellBasell AF beginning in the first quarter of 2010. The requirement to separately disclose purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements of recurring Level 3 measurements does not become effective for LyondellBasell AF until 2011. LyondellBasell AF does not expect these changes to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2009, the FASB provided additional guidance clarifying the measurement of liabilities at fair value. These amendments require that the fair value of a liability be measured maximizing the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs. The amendments also clarify that an adjustment to fair value for a restriction that prevents the transfer of the liability is not required. These changes also clarify how the price of a traded debt security should be considered in estimating the fair value of a liability. These amendments were effective for the first reporting period beginning after their issuance. LyondellBasell AF’s adoption of these amendments as of September 30, 2009 did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)

 

In April 2009, the FASB modified the requirements for fair value disclosures of financial instruments. The modifications require disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments during interim reporting periods and were effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. LyondellBasell AF adopted the new disclosure requirements for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.

In September 2006, the FASB revised the requirements for accounting for the fair value of nonfinancial assets and liabilities. These revisions defined fair value, established a framework for its measurement and expanded disclosures about such measurements. The framework categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are observable inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroborated inputs. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability reflecting significant modifications to observable related market data or our assumptions about pricing by market participants. In February 2008, the effective date of these changes for certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities was delayed by the FASB until January 1, 2009. Effective January 1, 2009, LyondellBasell AF adopted these changes for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Variable Interest Entities —In June 2009, the FASB amended the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and increased the disclosure requirements concerning an enterprise’s continuing involvement with VIEs. These changes are effective for LyondellBasell AF beginning in the first quarter of 2010. LyondellBasell AF does not expect the application of these changes to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

Multiple-element Arrangements —In October 2009, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the EITF to require companies to allocate revenue in multiple-element arrangements based on an element’s estimated selling price if vendor-specific or other third-party evidence of value is not available. This amendment is effective beginning January 1, 2011. Earlier application of this amendment is permitted. LyondellBasell AF is currently evaluating both the timing and the impact of the adoption of this amendment on its consolidated financial statements.

Transfer and Servicing —In June 2009, the FASB revised the requirements for accounting for transfers of financial assets. These revisions eliminate the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” change the requirements for de-recognizing financial assets, and require additional disclosures regarding transfers of financial assets, securitization transactions, and exposures to risks related to transferred financial assets. These changes will be effective for LyondellBasell AF beginning in 2010. LyondellBasell AF does not expect the adoption of these changes to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

Subsequent Events —In February 2010, the FASB amended certain recognition and disclosure requirements for events that occur after the balance sheet date, but before financial statements are issued. These amendments are effective upon issuance and shall be applied prospectively. LyondellBasell AF adopted these amendments as of December 31, 2009.

In May 2009, the FASB amended the accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date, but before financial statements are issued. These amendments are effective for interim or annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and are to be applied prospectively. LyondellBasell AF adopted these amendments as of June 30, 2009. See Note 31 for disclosure regarding subsequent events.

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)

 

Intangible Assets —In April 2008, the FASB issued changes affecting the accounting for intangible assets. These changes amend the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset in order to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset. These changes were effective for LyondellBasell AF beginning in 2009 and did not have a material effect on LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments —In March 2008, the FASB modified the requirements for disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities. These modifications amend and expand the disclosure requirements by requiring qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of, and gains and losses on, derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. LyondellBasell AF’s January 1, 2009, implementation of these changes did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements (see Note 22).

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits —In March 2008, the FASB amended the requirements for disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets. These changes require additional disclosures about the nature and valuation of postretirement benefit plan assets for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. These additional disclosures are included in LyondellBasell AF’s December 31, 2009 consolidated financial statements in Note 23.

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern

On January 6, 2009, the Initial Debtors filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of title 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases was precipitated by several factors, including volatile commodity prices, changing consumer demand for LyondellBasell AF’s products, deteriorating credit markets, and the severe economic downturn of the global economy, each of which contributed to LyondellBasell AF’s inability to service and repay its significant levels of indebtedness. Specifically, LyondellBasell AF experienced declines in customer orders during the fourth quarter of 2008 that, together with the rapid decline in raw material costs and product sales prices, effectively reduced LyondellBasell AF’s borrowing base under its asset-backed facilities. Collectively with its historically low first quarter cash flow from operations, these factors contributed to LyondellBasell AF’s low levels of liquidity and the decision of the Initial Debtors to commence the Bankruptcy Cases.

On April 24, 2009, to protect against claims by certain financial and U.S. trade creditors, LyondellBasell AF, the Luxembourg holding company, and its General Partner, LyondellBasell AF GP S.à.r.l, also filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. On May 8, 2009, thirteen additional U.S. subsidiaries also filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (LyondellBasell AF, its general partner and the Initial Debtors, are collectively, the “Debtors”). All 94 of these cases are jointly administered in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court under the caption “ In re Lyondell Chemical Company, et al .”

Although under applicable non-bankruptcy law, the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases constituted an event of default under many of the debt agreements of LyondellBasell AF and many of its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates, and an event of termination under certain of their asset-backed facilities, the ability of lenders to enforce their rights under the credit facilities and the ability of other creditors to seek payment of

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

pre-petition liabilities or to take actions against the Debtors under other agreements are stayed with respect to the Debtors in substantially all cases in accordance with applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Moreover, the termination provisions in many agreements with the Debtors triggered by the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases are not enforceable under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Since the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases, the Debtors entered into the DIP Financing, as defined in Note 16. In addition, the required number of secured lenders entered into forbearance agreements, as applicable, with respect to the exercise of certain remedies under the amended and restated pre-petition Senior Secured Credit Agreement and Interim Loan, each originally dated as of December 20, 2007. For additional information on the DIP Financing and the amendments thereto, see Note 16.

Since the commencement of the Bankruptcy cases, the Debtors have operated and continue to operate their businesses and manage their properties as “debtors-in-possession.” In general, this means that the Debtors operate in the ordinary course without U.S. Bankruptcy Court intervention. Prior approval is required, however, where the Debtors intend to engage in certain out of the ordinary course of business transactions.

In order to emerge from the Bankruptcy Cases, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court must find that the Debtors’ plan of reorganization complies with the requirements of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In addition, the Debtors must repay certain of their obligations under the DIP Financing and therefore, will be required to raise new debt and equity financing as stated in their Plan of Reorganization. The Debtors believe that their current and forecasted level of activity through April 6, 2010, the maturity date of the amended DIP Financing agreements, will be sufficient to maintain compliance with the DIP Financing and related forbearance agreements as discussed below, and to allow the Debtors to seek approval of a plan of reorganization and related restructuring of their debt. However, should business activity levels be below expectations or should margin volatility require more liquidity than the amount to which the Debtors have access through the DIP Financing or should any non-Debtor legal entity be subjected to an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, the Debtors could default on their DIP Financing obligations. Upon an event of default, the DIP Financing lenders could seek to impose onerous credit and other terms as a condition for waiving the default or demand other concessions. Ultimately, the lenders could declare all the funds borrowed under the DIP Financing, together with accrued and unpaid interest, due and payable and could exercise remedies against their collateral and seek other relief. The outcome of these events and, in general, the Bankruptcy Cases is uncertain, which raises substantial doubt about the ability of LyondellBasell AF to continue as a going concern.

In April and May 2009, the Debtors filed their required Schedules of Assets and Liabilities and the Statements of Financial Affairs in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. As described in more detail below, on May 8, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court set June 30, 2009 as the claims bar date, which is the date by which substantially all non-governmental creditors were required to file their proofs of claim against the Debtors.

As part of their reorganization plan, the Debtors have developed and finalized a new long range plan, which is further described in Note 4. The amended DIP Financing agreements require the Debtors to meet the following milestones related to the plan of reorganization and associated disclosure statement (see “ DIP Financing Amendments ” in Note 16):

 

   

by August 15, 2009, deliver a draft of the plan of reorganization and disclosure statement to relevant parties;

 

   

by September 15, 2009, file the plan of reorganization and disclosure statement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court;

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

   

by April 6, 2010, obtain the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s approval of the disclosure statement, provided that if the Debtors have commenced a hearing seeking approval of the disclosure statement before such date with the reasonable belief that approval could be obtained by April 6, 2010, but if approval is not obtained by April 14, 2010 due to the lack of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s availability, the deadline is extended to April 21, 2010; and

 

   

by May 20, 2010, obtain U.S. Bankruptcy Court confirmation of the plan of reorganization, provided that if the Debtors have commenced a hearing seeking confirmation before such date with the reasonable belief that confirmation could be obtained by May 20, 2010, but it is not obtained by such date due to the lack of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s availability, the confirmation deadline shall be extended to June 12, 2010.

On September 11, 2009, the Debtors filed a plan of reorganization and disclosure statement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. On December 11, 2009 the Debtors filed a first amended plan of reorganization and disclosure statement and on December 24, 2009, the Debtors filed a second amended plan of reorganization and disclosure statement. On December 24, 2009, the Debtors also filed a motion to approve the equity commitment agreement related to the plan of reorganization. Confirmation of the plan of reorganization will discharge pre-petition liabilities against the Debtors and permit the Debtors to commence distributions to their creditors in accordance with the terms of that plan.

On January 6, 2009, as a result of the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases, the statutory auditor of LyondellBasell AF’s French entities was required to initiate a process called “Procedure d’Alerte,” which is designed to permit companies to restructure and reduce their debts while they continue their daily operations, and requires LyondellBasell AF’s Chairperson to provide perspective on information about the company provided by the statutory auditor. LyondellBasell AF’s French entities have responded to all requirements of the Chairman of the Commercial Court of Salon de Provence/Nanterre and continue to manage their operations. LyondellBasell AF’s net investment in the French entities was $1.6 billion at December 31, 2009.

Litigation— On April 16, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court held a hearing on a motion by the Debtors (the “Stay Motion”) to enforce the automatic stay and for an injunction against further prosecution of a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of California by certain California city and county government plaintiffs, captioned County of Santa Clara, et al. v. Atl. Richfield Co., et al. , Case No. CV 788657 (the “Santa Clara Lawsuit”), that asserted a public nuisance claim against the defendants in that action, including Millennium Holdings LLC (a Debtor), arising from the alleged effects of exposure to lead paint in houses and buildings, and seeking an order requiring the defendants to fund a remedial fund for lead paint removal. On April 23, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court entered an order on the Stay Motion: (i) requiring the California government plaintiffs to file a commitment by a stated deadline agreeing to refrain from proceeding against Millennium Holdings LLC, in the Santa Clara Lawsuit or asserting claims against such Debtor based on the operative facts in that case without first moving for and obtaining leave to do so from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court; and (ii) if such plaintiffs fail to file such a commitment by the deadline, enjoining them from proceedings against such Debtor in the Santa Clara Lawsuit or otherwise asserting claims based on the operative facts in that case. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court also stated from the bench at the hearing on the Stay Motion that any such claim asserted against the Debtors would be a pre-petition claim that is barred by the automatic stay provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (and would not qualify under any “police power” exception to the automatic stay). In response to the Bankruptcy Court’s April 23, 2009 order, all of the California government plaintiffs filed the required commitment by the stated deadline.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

Unsecured Creditors’ Committee Litigation and Proposed Settlement— On June 15, 2009, the statutorily appointed Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the “Committee”) in the Bankruptcy Cases filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to obtain standing to commence litigation on behalf of the Debtors. Specifically, the Committee sought standing to bring fraudulent transfer, preference and breach of fiduciary duty claims against a number of the parties connected to the merger of Lyondell Chemical and Basell AF S.C.A. (“Basell”) (now known as LyondellBasell AF). On July 21, 2009, the Committee was granted standing, and on July 22, 2009, the Committee filed its complaint commencing the proposed lawsuit. LyondellBasell AF itself is not a party to the lawsuit, or a named defendant, and the action does not seek damages from LyondellBasell AF. Accordingly, the following discussion is based upon documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

On August 4, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court ruled from the bench on case management issues related to the Committee’s adversary proceeding. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court determined that the litigation would be divided into three separate phases, and set a discovery schedule for the first phase of the proceedings. Trial on the first phase (“Phase I Trial”) would litigate the fraudulent transfer, preference, and equitable subordination claims against the Debtors’ prepetition lenders, as well as the fraudulent transfer claims against certain Access Industries entities and the Debtors’ officers and directors, and was scheduled to start on December 10, 2009. The second phase (“Phase IA Trial”) would address, if necessary, the solvency of each individual Debtor, and any related or appropriate remedy as a result. The third phase (“Phase II Trial”) will litigate the remaining claims in the Committee’s complaint.

On October 29, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court ordered the parties to engage in mediation for the purpose of facilitating settlement discussions. On November 9, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court appointed a mediator. Parties to the Committee litigation and the Debtors participated in mediation sessions in November and December 2009. After this mediation ended in an impasse, the Debtors negotiated a settlement agreement with certain senior and bridge lenders that would end the Committee’s adversary proceeding as it relates to them (the “Settling Defendants”).

On December 24, 2009, the Debtors filed a motion seeking U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval of the settlement with the Settling Defendants. The Committee, the trustee for the Senior Notes due 2015 and certain holders of the Senior Notes due 2015 (collectively, the “Objecting Parties”) objected to the settlement. After further negotiations, the Debtors, the Settling Defendants, and the Objecting Parties agreed to certain modifications to the settlement agreement (the “Amended Lender Litigation Settlement”) which were reported to the Bankruptcy Court on February 16, 2010. Among other things, the Amended Lender Litigation Settlement, which remains subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, provides:

 

   

In return for receiving full releases from the Debtors’ estates with respect to all allegations and causes of action raised in the Committee adversary proceeding, the Settling Defendants have agreed to provide holders of allowed general unsecured claims of Debtors which also were obligated on the debts owed to the senior and bridge lenders (including the holders of Senior Notes due 2015 if those holders as a class vote in favor of the Debtors’ reorganization plan) with (i) $300 million in cash funded through an additional equity rights offering as part of the reorganization plan, (ii) $150 million in Class A Shares to be funded by a reduction in distributions of Class A Shares that otherwise would have been distributed to senior and bridge lenders under the proposal plan, (iii) their pro rata share of any net recoveries on claims against non-settling defendants in the Committee’s adversary proceeding and (iv) their pro rata share of two-thirds of any net recoveries on certain claims under section 547 of the Bankruptcy Code (collectively, the “Settlement Consideration”).

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

   

The holders of claims under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, the Interim Facility and, as a result of the settlement with Bank of New York described below, including, as applicable, the Settling Defendants, will not share in any distribution of the Settlement Consideration until the Debtors’ unsecured creditors entitled to participate in the Settlement Consideration are paid in full.

 

   

The Debtors will provide an aggregate of $15 million to two trusts to pursue claims and causes of action constituting Settlement Consideration.

 

   

The Settling Defendants will assign to the Debtors the right to enforce all subordination and turnover provisions they may contractually possess against the holders of Senior Notes due 2015. If the holders of Senior Notes due 2015 vote in favor of the Debtors’ reorganization plan as a class, the Debtors will waive the subordination and turnover provisions to permit the holders of Senior Notes due 2015 Notes to participate in distributions of the Settlement Consideration.

 

   

The Objecting Parties will support the Debtors’ reorganization plan and the financial restructuring of the Debtors’ affiliates as contemplated by the reorganization plan.

The Debtors and the Committee anticipate that by March 1, 2010, they will file a joint pleading seeking approval of the Amended Lender Litigation Settlement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. A hearing on this request has been scheduled for March 8, 2010. The Debtors’ plan of reorganization and related disclosure statement will be amended to reflect, among other things, the Amended Lender Litigation Settlement. A hearing on the Debtors’ further amended disclosure statement also has been scheduled for March 8, 2010.

Other— On April 27, 2009, Access Industries Holdings LLC and certain of its affiliates (together, “Access Industries”) entered into a stipulation (the “Stipulation”) with the Debtors, pursuant to which Access Industries agreed to limit its ability to engage in certain transactions involving the Debtor’s equity and debt in order to protect and preserve the value of the Debtors’ net operating loss carryforward (“NOL”) and other valuable tax attributes.

Specifically, Access Industries agreed that it would not: (i) directly or indirectly dispose of its equity interests in certain of the Debtors to the extent such disposition would result in it owning directly or indirectly less than 50% of LyondellBasell AF’s outstanding voting stock; (ii) prior to making a transfer that would result in Access Industries owning a direct or indirect interest of no more than 50% of LyondellBasell AF, acquire pre-petition debt claims against, or DIP Roll-Up Loans owed by, the Debtors; (iii) report a worthless stock deduction with respect to equity of LyondellBasell Finance Company (“LBFC”) or any member of the consolidated group of which LBFC is the common parent; or (iv) undertake any other transaction, that could result in the Debtors losing the benefit of their NOLs and other valuable tax attributes. In addition, Access Industries agreed to indemnify the Debtors for certain taxes and professional fees arising out of certain breaches of the Stipulation. The parties subsequently amended the Stipulation, primarily to clarify and expand upon the terms of the indemnity. The Stipulation was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on May 21, 2009.

On December 23, 2009, the Committee filed a motion seeking to terminate adequate protection payments approved in the order approving the DIP Financing. That motion was denied on January 19, 2010, without prejudice to being reasserted at a later date.

On December 24, 2009, Bank of New York (“BNY”) as trustee for the ARCO Notes and the Equistar Notes filed a motion (i) seeking to be allowed a superpriority administrative expense claim under section 507(b) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (ii) challenging the classification of these notes under the Debtors’ proposed

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

plan of reorganization. On February 11, 2010, the Bankruptcy Court approved a settlement of the disputes raised by these motions which provides that the holders of ARCO and Equistar Notes will share in certain distributions under any plan of reorganization in a formula driven relationship to distributions to be made on account of certain prepetition secured debt unless the settlement agreement is terminated by its terms after May 20, 2010. An order approving this settlement by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court was entered on February 18, 2010. The Debtor’s plan of reorganization and related disclosure statement will be amended to reflect, among other things, this settlement. A hearing on the Debtors’ further amended disclosure statement has been scheduled for March 8, 2010.

The financial statements of the Debtors are presented below.

Basis of Presentation

Condensed Combined Debtors-in-Possession Financial Statements —The following financial statements represent the condensed combined financial statements for the Debtors only. The Debtors’ non-Debtor subsidiaries are treated as non-consolidated affiliates in these financial statements. Accordingly, the net income of the non-Debtor subsidiaries is included in “Income from equity investments” in the statement of income, while the net assets of the non-Debtor affiliates are included as “Investments in non-Debtor affiliates.”

Claims —LyondellBasell AF recognizes claims at the probable allowed amount. Claims for rejected contracts are recorded at the earlier of default by LyondellBasell AF under the contract or notification to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of rejection.

Intercompany Transactions —Intercompany transactions between the Debtors have been eliminated in the accompanying combined financial statements. Intercompany transactions between the Debtors and non-Debtor affiliates have not been eliminated. Intercompany loans, which comprise the following balances, are classified as “Receivables—non-Debtor affiliates” in Stockholder’s Deficit in the accompanying combined balance sheet in accordance with U.S. GAAP:

 

Millions of dollars

    

Short-term loans receivable

   $ 2,601

Long-term loans receivable

     22
      

Net receivables—non-Debtor affiliates

   $ 2,623
      

The ultimate settlement terms of these intercompany loans with non-Debtor affiliates is subject to the finalization and confirmation of LyondellBasell AF’s plan of reorganization.

Reorganization Items —The Debtors had reorganization items totaling $2,812 million in 2009 including charges for the write off of assets associated with a lease rejection; damage claims related to certain executory contracts; the net write off of unamortized debt issuance costs, premiums and discounts; environmental liabilities; professional fees associated with the chapter 11 proceedings; plant shutdown costs, primarily related to the shutdown of their olefin plant at Chocolate Bayou, Texas and the long-term idling of their ethylene glycol facility in Beaumont, Texas; and other costs. The Debtors’ reorganization items for 2009 also included charges related to employee severance. See Note 4 for further discussion of the Debtors’ reorganization.

Liabilities Subject to Compromise —See Note 21 for a description of liabilities subject to compromise. In addition, the Debtors’ balance of $23,085 million in liabilities subject to compromise includes payables to non-Debtor affiliates of $591 million.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

Millions of dollars

   For the year ended
December 31, 2009
 

Sales and other operating revenues:

  

Trade

   $ 16,908   

Non-Debtor affiliates

     678   
        
     17,586   

Operating costs and expenses:

  

Cost of sales

     17,350   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     362   

Research and development expenses

     47   
        
     17,759   
        

Operating loss

     (173

Interest expense ($2,528 million contractual interest)

     (1,609

Interest income

     156   

Other income, net

     134   
        

Loss before equity investments, reorganization items and income taxes

     (1,492

Income of non-Debtor affiliates

     83   

Reorganization items

     (2,796
        

Loss before income taxes

     (4,205

Benefit from income taxes

     (1,343
        

Loss from continuing operations

     (2,862

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (3
        

Net loss

   $ (2,865
        

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

BALANCE SHEET

 

Millions of dollars

   December 31,
2009

ASSETS

  

Current assets:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 280

Short-term investments

     9

Accounts receivable:

  

Trade, net

     1,336

Related parties

     1

Non-Debtor affiliates

     400

Inventories

     1,980

Current deferred income tax assets

     6

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     612
      

Total current assets

     4,624

Property, plant and equipment, net

     9,648

Investments and long-term receivables:

  

Investment in PO joint venture

     569

Investments in non-Debtor affiliates

     5,034

Other investments and long-term receivables

     28

Intangible assets, net

     1,317

Noncurrent deferred tax assets

     115

Other assets

     186
      

Total assets

   $ 21,521
      

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

BALANCE SHEET—(Continued)

 

Millions of dollars

   December 31,
2009
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT

  

Liabilities not subject to compromise:

  

Current liabilities:

  

Short-term debt

   $ 5,556   

Accounts payable:

  

Trade

     880   

Related parties

     33   

Non-Debtor affiliates

     695   

Accrued liabilities

     762   

Short-term loans payable—non-Debtor affiliates

     132   

Deferred income taxes

     74   
        

Total current liabilities

     8,132   

Other liabilities

     159   

Deferred income taxes

     1,617   

Commitments and contingencies

  

Liabilities subject to compromise

     23,085   

Stockholder’s deficit:

  

Common stock

     60   

Additional paid-in capital

     563   

Retained deficit

     (9,313

Receivables—non-Debtor affiliates

     (2,623

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (288
        

Debtors’ share of stockholder’s deficit

     (11,601

Non-controlling interests

     129   
        

Total deficit

     (11,472
        

Total liabilities and stockholder’s deficit

   $ 21,521   
        

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

Millions of dollars

   For the year ended
December 31, 2009
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

  

Net loss

   $ (2,865

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     3   

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,148   

Reorganization items

     2,796   

Reorganization-related payments

     (289

Income from equity investments

     (83

Deferred income taxes

     (1,304

Amortization of debt-related costs

     481   

Unrealized foreign currency exchange gain

     (129

Changes in assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash:

  

Accounts receivable

     (533

Inventories

     (121

Accounts payable

     442   

Repayment of accounts receivable securitization facility

     (503

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (217

Other, net

     3   
        

Net cash used in operating activities—continuing operations

     (1,171

Net cash used in operating activities—discontinued operations

     (3
        

Net cash used in operating activities

     (1,174
        

Cash flows from investing activities:

  

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

     (280

Net advances to non-Debtor affiliates

     (225

Proceeds from disposal of assets

     22   

Other

     36   
        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (447
        

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Chapter 11 Filing and Going Concern—(Continued)

 

COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)

 

Millions of dollars

   For the year ended
December 31, 2009
 

Cash flows from financing activities:

  

Short-term borrowings

     3   

Proceeds from issuance of debtor-in-possession term loan facility

     1,993   

Proceeds from note payable

     100   

Repayment of note payable

     (100

Net borrowings under debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility

     325   

Net repayments under pre-petition revolving credit facilities

     (766

Repayment of North American securitization facility

     (115

Payment of debt issuance costs

     (93

Net proceeds from non-Debtor affiliate loans

     91   

Other financing

     77   
        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     1,515   

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

       
        

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (106

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     386   
        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 280   
        

4. Reorganization

Reorganization items recognized by the Debtors since the January 6, 2009 bankruptcy are classified as “Reorganization items” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

In 2009, LyondellBasell AF’s charges for reorganization items, including charges recognized by the Debtors as described in Note 3, were as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

    

Estimated claims

   $ 1,548

Asset write-offs—rejected lease

     679

Accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs

     228

Professional fees

     218

Employee severance costs

     201

Plant closure costs

     53

Other

     34
      

Total

   $ 2,961
      

Estimated claims in the above table comprise adjustments made to reflect the Debtors’ estimated claims to be allowed. Such claims are classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise.”

In 2009, LyondellBasell AF announced an expansion of its November 2008 cost reduction program. The long range plan developed as part of the chapter 11 cases encompasses reductions in the total workforce and the closure of 10 or more manufacturing sites, many of which have already been announced, and at least 20 offices,

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

4. Reorganization—(Continued)

 

including research and development sites. The planned reduction in workforce currently includes more than 3,000 employees, or approximately 17% of LyondellBasell AF’s employees, and 1,800 contractors, or approximately 30% of LyondellBasell AF’s contractors. In April 2009, LyondellBasell AF announced a voluntary separation program for eligible U.S. employees and in May 2009 announced a voluntary separation program for The Netherlands and Germany. LyondellBasell AF’s earnings for 2009 reflect pretax charges related to employee severance of $201 million.

On March 13, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the long-term idling of Debtor Equistar Chemicals, LP’s (“Equistar”) Chocolate Bayou olefin plant near Alvin, Texas, the reduction of approximately 220 employees supporting olefin operations at the site and the rejection of certain executory contracts and unexpired leases related to the facility. In the same March 13, 2009 order, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court authorized Equistar to reject its ground lease at the Chocolate Bayou plant, pursuant to which Equistar leased the real property occupied by the olefin plant operations, and to permanently shut down the unit by August 4, 2009. Accordingly, during 2009, the Debtors wrote off the $624 million carrying value of the facility and other assets. The decision to permanently cease production at the Chocolate Bayou olefin plant reflected LyondellBasell AF’s reduced projections for olefin demand, the limited feedstock flexibility of the site, the high fixed costs associated with the plant’s scale and the adverse terms of the property lease and related site service agreements.

The Debtors proceeded with idling activities and with plans to vacate the Chocolate Bayou olefin site by August 4, 2009. In July 2009, the current and former owners of the Chocolate Bayou real property filed a motion to enforce and clarify the March 13, 2009 order authorizing these activities. Their motion claimed, among other things, that Equistar could not leave its olefin chemical plant equipment and facilities behind on the Chocolate Bayou real property without filing a motion requesting and obtaining the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s approval to abandon this equipment and facilities. The owners also made it clear that they would oppose any motion to abandon on the grounds that the olefin equipment and facilities were hazardous and required further remediation and decommissioning. The Debtors disagree with the owners’ position.

On August 5, 2009, pending the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s ruling on the motion, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court ordered Equistar to remain in possession of the leasehold and to maintain the status quo at the facility. On September 9, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court ordered that Equistar could not leave personal property behind when it vacated the facility without formally seeking permission to “abandon” that personal property pursuant to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Accordingly, on October 16, 2009 the Debtors filed a motion to abandon their olefin plant property located at the Chocolate Bayou plant.

On December 8, 2009, Equistar and the current and former owners of the Chocolate Bayou real property reached a settlement in principle of the motion to abandon. Generally, Equistar has agreed to perform certain decommissioning and decontamination work regarding the real property, estimated at $50 million to take approximately two years. The current owner has agreed to provide support services, utilities and access to Equistar in return for monthly payments from Equistar; and the former owner has agreed to make a cash payment to Equistar in settlement of this and other disputes between the former owner and Equistar. The parties are in the process of drafting a formal settlement agreement to be filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the near future. The estimated net cost for remediation, decommissioning, complete de-inventorying and cleaning of the olefin plant property prior to its abandonment is recognized in liabilities subject to compromise.

On September 8, 2009 the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the Debtors’ exit from the aircraft deicer business as well as the rejection of executory contracts and equipment leases. The Debtors are exiting the aircraft deicer business, but will continue to supply that market with propylene glycol, the primary component of deicer products.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

4. Reorganization—(Continued)

 

As of the commencement of these chapter 11 cases, certain of the Debtors were partners in a joint venture that produced ethylene glycol at a facility in Beaumont, Texas. The facility sustained damage during Hurricane Ike in September 2008, and was not returned to service. On February 26, 2009, the Debtors received Bankruptcy Court approval for the reduction of the workforce at this facility, following completion of initial phases of certain post-hurricane remediation at the site. On July 17, 2009, the Debtors filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking to withdraw as general partner from the joint venture; to reject the related operating agreement; and to transfer custody and control of the facility and its assets to its joint venture partner. On August 11, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court granted the Debtor’s motion. The Debtors’ earnings for 2009 reflect a $55 million pretax charge to write off the carrying value of this facility.

In May 2009, LyondellBasell AF announced that it would cease production of high density polyethylene (“HDPE”) at its Chocolate Bayou polymers plant by July 31, 2009. In August 2009, as a result of strengthening product markets, LyondellBasell AF announced that it would continue to operate the plant for the immediate future. LyondellBasell AF continues to assess the long-term utilization of this and other plants.

In addition to the charges noted above, the Debtors had reorganization items totaling $2,117 million during 2009, including charges for damage claims related to rejection of certain executory contracts; the net write off of unamortized debt issuance costs, premiums and discounts; environmental liabilities; professional fees associated with the chapter 11 proceedings; and employee severance and other costs.

The non-Debtors recognized charges of $165 million during 2009, including charges for employee severance and the write off of unamortized debt issuance costs.

During October 2008, LyondellBasell AF stopped polypropylene production at its Morris, Illinois site. Approximately 71 positions were eliminated and production was shifted to other sites. Polyethylene production at the site was not affected. Restructuring expenses of approximately $5 million were provided in connection with these restructuring activities. During June 2008, LyondellBasell AF stopped production at the Sarnia site in Ontario, Canada. With approximately 100 employees, LyondellBasell AF operated a polypropylene plant at the site. In addition, LyondellBasell AF stopped production at the Varennes plant in Québec, Canada in April 2008. With approximately 130 employees, LyondellBasell AF operated a polypropylene plant at the site. In 2007 restructuring expenses of $12 million were provided in connection with these restructuring activities. Accrued liabilities related to restructuring costs totaled $30 million at December 31, 2008. Restructuring expenses in 2008 and 2007 related to these sites are reflected in “Cost of sales” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

5. Hurricane Effects

During late August and mid-September 2008, two hurricanes, Gustav and Ike, disrupted U.S. Gulf Coast refining and chemical industry operations. As a result of Hurricane Ike, LyondellBasell AF incurred various costs that, to the extent they exceed the deductible amount under the relevant policies, will be subject to insurance reimbursements. Such costs, including costs incurred in conjunction with suspending operations at substantially all of its Gulf Coast plants, damage to facilities, including a $7 million pretax charge for impairment of the carrying value of assets, and costs to restore operations totaled $59 million as of December 31, 2009.

6. Discontinued Operations

In September 2008, LyondellBasell AF completed the sale of its TDI business, including production assets in Pont-du-Claix, France, related inventories, contracts, customer lists and intellectual property, receiving net proceeds of €77 million ($113 million). The operations of the TDI business are presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

6. Discontinued Operations—(Continued)

 

Amounts included in income from discontinued operations are summarized as follows:

 

     For the years ended
December 31,

Millions of dollars

       2009            2008    

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 1    $ 290
             

Income from discontinued operation

   $ 1    $ 36

Provision for income taxes

          21
             

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 1    $ 15
             

The operations of the TDI business were included in LyondellBasell AF’s results from December 21, 2007 and were immaterial. The adjusted estimate of sales proceeds from the sale of the TDI business resulted in an increase in goodwill, net of tax effects, of $16 million during the year ended December  31, 2008 and accordingly was reflected as a revision to the estimated purchase price allocation.

7. Business Acquisitions and Dispositions

The fair values of the acquired assets and liabilities below are considered final.

Acquisition of Shell Oil Refinery in Berre l’Etang, France —On April 1, 2008, LyondellBasell AF acquired the Shell oil refinery, inventory and associated infrastructure and businesses at the Berre l’Etang petrochemical complex in France (the “Berre Refinery”) for a preliminary purchase price of $766 million subject to final adjustment of certain employee benefit matters. A cash payment at closing of $536 million included settlement of accrued contingent consideration of $112 million. The contingent consideration resulted from the 2005 acquisition of the remaining 50% of Société du Craqueur de l’Aubette S.A.S. (“SCA”) from its previous joint venture partner Shell Pétrochimie Méditerranée. Additional cash payments totaling $391 million, including $373 million for final adjustment of working capital were made during 2008.

The refinery is a source of raw materials for, and will allow for vertical integration at, one of LyondellBasell AF’s core integrated European sites, which operates world-scale polypropylene and polyethylene plants, a steam cracker and a butadiene extraction unit at Berre l’Etang and a polyethylene plant at nearby Fos sur Mer. The acquisition will also allow optimization opportunities with LyondellBasell AF’s global fuels and chemicals businesses and provide LyondellBasell AF with access to significant local logistics assets, including pipeline access, storage terminals and harbor access to the Mediterranean Sea. The refinery’s products include naphtha, VGO, liquefied petroleum gas, fuels for a variety of applications, heating oil and bitumen.

Consolidation of the refinery’s operations prospectively from April 1, 2008 added revenues of $2,750 million and a $147 million operating loss, excluding the impairment discussed below, to the 2008 results of operations. Information is not available about the results of operations of the refinery prior to acquisition by LyondellBasell AF.

In the fourth quarter 2008, LyondellBasell AF evaluated the long-lived assets of the Berre Refinery for impairment and recorded a $218 million charge representing the net book value of the assets acquired in April 2008 (see Note 15).

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

7. Business Acquisitions and Dispositions—(Continued)

 

Acquisition of Solvay Engineered Polymers —On February 29, 2008, LyondellBasell AF acquired Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc. (“Solvay”), a leading supplier of polypropylene compounds in North America for $134 million. The acquisition of Solvay complements LyondellBasell AF’s existing polymer-based composite materials and alloys business in North America. The pro forma effects of the Solvay acquisition were not material to the results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

Acquisition of Lyondell Chemical Company— On December 20, 2007, LyondellBasell AF, through a wholly owned subsidiary, acquired substantially all outstanding common shares of Lyondell Chemical for $48 per common share in an all cash transaction. As a result, Lyondell Chemical became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of LyondellBasell AF. The results of operations of Lyondell Chemical are included in LyondellBasell AF’s Consolidated Statement of Income prospectively from December 21, 2007.

Lyondell Chemical is a leading global manufacturer of chemicals and plastics, a refiner of heavy, high sulfur crude oil and a significant producer of gasoline blending components. As a result of the acquisition, LyondellBasell AF expects to be a global leader in polymers, petrochemicals and refining products and technology process licensing with leading positions in a majority of its product lines, greater geographic diversification, a more diversified product portfolio and increased vertical integration across the petrochemical value chain, from refining to specialized petrochemicals products.

The purchase of Lyondell Chemical’s outstanding common stock and other equity instruments resulted in a total purchase price of $20,873 million, including the fair value of assumed and refinanced debt of $7,995 million and transaction costs of $460 million.

The following table summarizes the values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of the acquisition, as well as adjustments that have been made primarily as a result of final valuations.

 

Millions of dollars

   At December 20,
2007
    Purchase Price
Adjustments
    Adjusted  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 948      $ 8      $ 956   

Inventory

     3,587        (3     3,584   

Other current assets

     3,119        11        3,130   

Plant, property and equipment

     13,695        (2     13,693   

Investments and joint ventures

     1,169        2        1,171   

Goodwill

     5,247        (326     4,921   

Other identifiable intangibles

     2,069        26        2,095   

Other assets

     677        14        691   

Purchased in-process research and development

     95               95   

Current liabilities

     (3,906     497        (3,409

Other liabilities

     (1,560     (10     (1,570

Deferred taxes

     (4,141     (224     (4,365

Other comprehensive income

            6        6   

Minority interests

     (126     1        (125
                        

Total allocated purchase price

   $ 20,873      $      $ 20,873   
                        

In the fourth quarter of 2008, LyondellBasell AF completed its annual review of goodwill for impairment and concluded that the entire balance of goodwill related to the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical was impaired, resulting in a charge of $4,921 million, including $2,305 million which had been allocated to the

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

7. Business Acquisitions and Dispositions—(Continued)

 

Refining and Oxyfuels segment, $624 million which had been allocated to the Olefins and Polyolefins—Americas (“O&P—Americas”) segment and $1,992 million which had been allocated to the Intermediates and Derivatives (“I&D”) segment (see Note 29).

Approximately $95 million, or less than 1% of the purchase price, was allocated to purchased in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) of Lyondell Chemical. The estimated fair value of IPR&D was developed using probable discounted cash flows on a project-by-project basis. The activities represented by these projects will be continued by LyondellBasell AF, and the values assigned represent intangibles with no alternative future use. Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF’s results of operations for 2007 included a charge of $95 million for the value of the acquired IPR&D.

Other identifiable intangible assets included the following:

 

Millions of dollars

   Fair
Value
   Weighted
Average Life
(Years)
   Useful Life
(Years)

Emission allowances

   $ 749       Indefinite

Technology, patents and licenses

     508    14    8 – 15

Various contracts

     329    7    3 – 11

Debt issuance costs

     363    4    1 – 7

Other

     146    9    2 – 20
            

Total intangible assets

   $ 2,095      
            

The total weighted average life of the acquired identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization is 9 years.

The unaudited pro forma combined historical results of LyondellBasell AF for the year ended December 31, 2007, giving effect to the purchase as though the transaction was consummated as of the beginning of 2007 are as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

    

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 44,735

Income from continuing operations

     161

Net income

     76

The above pro forma results include a $95 million after-tax charge for purchased in-process research and development. The unaudited pro forma data do not include the charges of $591 million related to debt refinancing in 2007.

The unaudited pro forma data presented above are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations of LyondellBasell AF that would have occurred had such transactions actually been consummated as of the beginning of 2007, nor are they necessarily indicative of future results.

Huntsman Transaction— In June 2007, LyondellBasell AF entered into a merger agreement with the Huntsman Group (“Huntsman”). In July 2007, Huntsman concluded that it had received a superior offer from another company and terminated the proposed merger agreement, which entitled LyondellBasell AF to receive $200 million as a break-up fee. Payment was received in July 2007 and was included in “Other income, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

8. Insurance Claims

LyondellBasell AF received insurance proceeds during 2009 and 2008 of $120 million and $89 million, respectively, representing partial settlements of outstanding insurance claims related to damages sustained in 2005 at the polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany. These proceeds are being used to finance the construction of the polyethylene plant in Münchsmünster, Germany (see Note 25). LyondellBasell AF recognized gains on involuntary conversion in 2009 and 2008 of $120 million and $79 million, respectively, all of which were included in “Other income, net,” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

9. Related Party Transactions

LyondellBasell AF has related party transactions with Access Industries and LyondellBasell AF’s equity investees (see Note 11).

Access Industries —Access Industries related party transactions include a total return swap, a shares forward agreement and a management and a tax-sharing agreement.

In May 2008, an affiliate of Access Industries, which indirectly owns LyondellBasell AF, entered into a total return swap, with one of the joint lead arrangers (“JLAs”) of the financing of the Lyondell Chemical acquisition, based on a notional amount of $1.6 billion of the Interim Loan. Under the terms of the swap, Access Industries was to receive a single payment at maturity determined with reference to the payments made by LyondellBasell AF on the Interim Loan prior to maturity. Access Industries’ obligations under the swap were partly collateralized with collateral posted by Access Industries or its affiliates (excluding LyondellBasell AF and its subsidiaries). On December 31, 2008, the JLA that was the counterparty to the swap issued a Notice of Default to the Access Industries affiliate designating January 2, 2009 as the Early Termination Date under the relevant agreement. Neither LyondellBasell AF nor its affiliates are a party to this transaction.

In May 2007, Access Industries entered into a postpaid shares forward agreement with a broker with respect to 20,990,070 shares of Lyondell Chemical common stock at $32.113 per share. In August 2007, Access Industries acquired, in open market transactions, an additional 3,971,400 shares of Lyondell Chemical common stock for an aggregate consideration of $176 million. In connection with the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, the postpaid shares forward and additional shares were acquired from Access Industries for an equivalent price of $48 per share. These acquired shares were recorded by LyondellBasell AF at Access Industries’ carrying value for purchase price allocation purposes and, as a result, $83 million of the consideration paid to Access Industries is reflected as a deemed dividend in LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, in connection with the Lyondell Chemical acquisition, LyondellBasell AF entered into a new management agreement with Access Industries. The agreement included a one-time fee of $100 million payable upon the closing of the acquisition transaction and a periodic annual fee of $25 million which, for 2007, was paid subsequent to closing of the acquisition. Under the previous management agreement, fees for 2007 of $7 million (€5 million) were incurred. The $132 million of fees are reflected as an expense in “Other income, net” for the period ended December 31, 2007. The periodic annual fee can increase to an amount not to exceed $30 million based on an EBITDA Threshold (as defined) in excess of $6 billion for LyondellBasell AF. Management fees of $25 million in 2009 and 2008 are reflected as expense in “Selling, general and administrative expenses.” The 2009 fees have not been paid.

In December 2007, LyondellBasell AF also entered into a tax-sharing agreement with a subsidiary of Access Industries entitling Access Industries to consideration equal to 17.5% of the net operating loss carryforwards used by LyondellBasell AF entities to reduce their Dutch or French income tax liability. Payments

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

9. Related Party Transactions—(Continued)

 

under this agreement are limited to a maximum of $175 million. As of December 31, 2007, LyondellBasell AF recorded a deemed dividend and associated liability of $75 million for this agreement, which was reflected as a deemed dividend in LyondellBasell AF’s Consolidated Statements of Stockholder’s Deficit. There were no payments under this agreement during 2009 and 2008.

Sales and Purchases of Goods —In the normal course of business, LyondellBasell AF purchases from and sells products to its equity investees. The following table presents the amounts purchased and sold for the year ended December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008    2007

Products purchased from equity investees

   $ 1,856    $ 2,418    $ 2,392

Products sold to equity investees

     621      803      952

Rendering and Receiving of Services —LyondellBasell AF has contractual arrangements with certain of its equity investees under which the equity investees provide certain services, utilities, materials and facilities to some of LyondellBasell AF’s manufacturing sites. At other sites LyondellBasell AF provides services to its equity investees.

The following table presents the values of services rendered by and for equity investees for the year ended December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008    2007

Services provided by equity investees

   $ 100    $ 111    $ 69

Services provided to equity investees

     21      14      8

Financing Arrangements —LyondellBasell AF’s interest income and expense with equity investees are as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008    2007

Interest income earned from investees

   $ 4    $ 18    $ 10

Interest expense incurred to investees

     3      10      19

10. Investment in PO Joint Ventures

LyondellBasell AF, together with Bayer AG and Bayer Corporation (collectively “Bayer”), share ownership in a U.S. propylene oxide (“PO”) manufacturing joint venture (the “U.S. PO Joint Venture”) and a separate joint venture for certain related PO technology. Bayer’s ownership interest represents ownership of annual in-kind PO production of the U.S. PO Joint Venture of 1.5 billion pounds in 2009 and 1.6 billion pounds in 2008. LyondellBasell AF takes in kind the remaining PO production and all co-product (styrene monomer (“SM” or “styrene”) and tertiary butyl ether (“TBA”) production from the U.S. PO Joint Venture.

In addition, LyondellBasell AF and Bayer each have a 50% interest in a separate manufacturing joint venture (the “European PO Joint Venture”), which includes a world-scale PO/SM plant at Maasvlakte near Rotterdam, The Netherlands. LyondellBasell AF and Bayer each are entitled to 50% of the PO and SM production at the European PO Joint Venture.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

10. Investment in PO Joint Ventures—(Continued)

 

LyondellBasell AF and Bayer do not share marketing or product sales under the U.S. PO Joint Venture. LyondellBasell AF operates the U.S. PO Joint Venture’s and the European PO Joint Venture’s (collectively the “PO joint ventures”) plants and arranges and coordinates the logistics of product delivery. The partners share in the cost of production and logistics based on their product offtake.

LyondellBasell AF reports the cost of its product offtake as inventory and cost of sales in its consolidated financial statements. Related cash flows are reported in the operating cash flow section of the consolidated statements of cash flows. LyondellBasell AF’s investment in the PO joint ventures is reduced through recognition of its share of the depreciation and amortization of the assets of the PO joint ventures, which is included in cost of sales. Other changes in the investment balance are principally due to additional capital investments in the PO joint ventures by LyondellBasell AF. LyondellBasell AF’s contributions to the PO joint ventures are reported as “Contributions and advances to affiliates” in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Total assets of the PO joint ventures, primarily property, plant and equipment, were $1,916 million and $2,063 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Changes in LyondellBasell AF’s investment in the U.S. and European PO joint ventures for years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 are summarized below:

 

Millions of dollars

   U.S. PO Joint
Venture
    European PO
Joint Venture
    Total PO Joint
Ventures
 

Investment in PO joint ventures—January 1, 2008

   $ 564      $ 414      $ 978   

Contributions

     38        19        57   

Depreciation and amortization

     (40     (20     (60

Effect of exchange rate changes

            (21     (21
                        

Investment in PO joint ventures—December 31, 2008

     562        392        954   

Contributions

     12        2        14   

Depreciation and amortization

     (41     (16     (57

Effect of exchange rate changes

            11        11   
                        

Investment in PO joint ventures—December 31, 2009

   $ 533      $ 389      $ 922   
                        

LyondellBasell AF’s PO/SM plant at Maasvlakte near Rotterdam, the Netherlands was temporarily idled during the first quarter 2009 and resumed operations in mid-May 2009.

The Debtors do not include the LyondellBasell AF legal entities that are partners in the European PO Joint Venture. Should those partners file for bankruptcy or cease payments under the contract for a nine-month period, LyondellBasell AF would be required to sell their interest in the European PO Joint Venture to Bayer at fair value, which will be determined by a panel of advisors whose decision will be binding, subject to the effect of any bankruptcy or similar case on the enforceability of this contractual obligation.

In April 2006, Lyondell Chemical was granted an arbitration award related to a commercial dispute with Bayer. The award pertained to several issues related to the U.S. PO and PO technology joint ventures and included declaratory judgment in Lyondell Chemical’s favor concerning interpretation of the contract provisions at issue. In August 2006, Lyondell filed a motion in federal district court in Texas to enforce the award, and Bayer subsequently filed motions and other proceedings to vacate or otherwise attack the arbitration award. In December 2008, LyondellBasell AF received $157 million in cash, representing settlement of all previous disputes among Lyondell Chemical and Bayer.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

11. Equity Investments

Direct and indirect equity investments held by LyondellBasell AF are as follows:

 

Percent of Ownership

   December 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sp. Z.o.o.

   50.00   50.00

PolyPacific Pty. Ltd.

   50.00   50.00

SunAllomer Ltd.

   50.00   50.00

Saudi Polyolefins Company

   25.00   25.00

Saudi Ethylene & Polyethylene Company Ltd.

   25.00   25.00

Al-Waha Petrochemicals Ltd.

   20.95   20.95

PolyMirae Co. Ltd.

   42.59   42.59

HMC Polymers Company Ltd.

   28.56   28.56

Indelpro S.A. de C.V.

   49.00   49.00

Kazakhstan Petro-Chemicals Industries, Inc.

   24.00  

Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Co. Ltd.

   26.65   26.65

Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Marketing Co.

   50.00  

Nihon Oxirane Company

   40.00   40.00

NOC Asia Ltd.

   40.00  

The changes in equity investments are as follows for the years ended December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008  

Beginning balance

   $ 1,215      $ 1,259   
                

Investee net income

     47        38   

Impairment recognized by investor

     (228       
                

Income (loss) from equity investments

     (181     38   

Dividends received

     (19     (98

Contributions to joint venture

     8        58   

Currency exchange effects

     48        (66

Other

     14        24   
                

Ending balance

   $ 1,085      $ 1,215   
                

LyondellBasell AF capitalizes interest on the projects of its equity investees that are necessary for the commencement of their principal operations. During 2009 and 2008, LyondellBasell AF capitalized interest of $17 million and $21 million, respectively, for qualified projects of Saudi Ethylene & Polyethylene Company Ltd. and Al-Waha Petrochemicals Ltd.

The subsidiary that holds LyondellBasell AF’s equity interest in Saudi Al-Waha Petrochemicals Ltd has a minority shareholder, which holds 16.21% of its equity. The equity interest held by the minority shareholder can be called by LyondellBasell AF or can be put to LyondellBasell AF by the minority interest shareholder at any time after May 23, 2009. The price of the call option is the nominal value of the shares (initial $18 million investment) plus accrued interest based on LIBOR plus 40 basis points, less paid dividends. The price of the put option is €1 plus the minority shareholder’s undistributed pro-rata earnings. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the put would have a minimal redemption amount and the call could be redeemed for $20 million, the value of the initial investment plus accrued interest.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

11. Equity Investments—(Continued)

 

Summarized balance sheet information and the Company’s share of equity investments was as follows:

 

     December 31, 2009    December 31, 2008

Millions of dollars

   100%    Company
Share
   100%    Company
Share

Current assets

   $ 2,760    $ 1,016    $ 2,726    $ 914

Noncurrent assets

     6,887      2,172      6,653      1,913
                           

Total assets

     9,647      3,188      9,379      2,827

Current liabilities

     1,881      695      1,404      567

Noncurrent liabilities

     4,207      1,180      4,033      1,045
                           

Net assets

   $ 3,559    $ 1,313    $ 3,942    $ 1,215
                           

Summarized income statement information for the years ended December 31 and the Company’s share for the years for which the respective equity investments were accounted for under the equity method is set forth below:

 

     2009     2008     2007  

Millions of dollars

   100%     Company
Share
    100%     Company
Share
    100%     Company
Share
 

Revenues

   $ 6,640      $ 2,099      $ 7,252      $ 2,609      $ 5,610      $ 1,957   

Cost of sales

     (5,973     (1,891     (6,532     (2,418     (4,690     (1,674
                                                

Gross profit

     667        208        720        191        920        283   

Net operating expenses

     (169     (71     (423     (106     (324     (68
                                                

Operating profit

     498        137        297        85        596        215   

Interest income

     18        3        24        8        21        8   

Interest expense

     (202     (61     (62     (26     (59     (25

Foreign currency translation

     (10     (5     (57     (16              

Income from equity investments

     4        2        23        4        28        8   
                                                

Income before income taxes

     308        76        225        55        586        206   

Provision for income taxes

     (92     (29     (58     (17     (126     (44
                                                

Net income

   $ 216      $ 47      $ 167      $ 38      $ 460      $ 162   
                                                

In 2009, LyondellBasell AF recognized pretax impairment charges totaling $228 million for impairment of the carrying value of its investments in certain joint ventures. The $1,085 million carrying value of LyondellBasell AF’s equity investments at December 31, 2009 reflects the $228 million impairment, which is excluded from LyondellBasell AF’s $1,313 million share of its equity investments’ net assets.

In connection with fair values developed in conjunction with estimation of its reorganization enterprise value, LyondellBasell AF determined that there was a diminution in the value of its investments in certain joint ventures and such loss was other than temporary.

Accordingly, in 2009, the equity investments in these joint ventures were classified as long-lived assets held and used. The fair value of the equity investments was determined using Level 3 inputs, specifically, the discounted projected earnings of the entities, less the determined fair value of their debt. The discount rates used

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

11. Equity Investments—(Continued)

 

in the discounted cash flow ranged from 11.0% to 14.3% and reflected the relevant interest rates in the country of domicile. The fair value of the debt was determined using current interest rates in the country of domicile for debt with similar terms and credit risk.

At December 31, 2008, one of these joint ventures was not in compliance with one of its debt covenants. Local management replaced its existing financing agreement with a new agreement on December 28, 2009.

A separate joint venture of LyondellBasell AF is in default under an agreement as a result of LyondellBasell AF’s voluntary filing for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on April 24, 2009. The parties are currently negotiating in good faith and at present there is no evidence that such negotiations will not be concluded successfully.

12. Short-term Investments

As a result of financial difficulties experienced by major financial institutions beginning in the latter part of the third quarter of 2008, LyondellBasell AF received notice that rights of redemption had been suspended with respect to a money market fund in which LyondellBasell AF invested approximately $174 million. LyondellBasell AF had been advised that additional redemptions were forthcoming, subject to LyondellBasell AF’s pro rata share of a $3.5 billion loss reserve established by the fund in February 2009. Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF recorded a provision in 2008 for an estimated loss of $5 million related to the money market fund. However, on May 5, 2009, the SEC filed an application for injunctive and other relief with The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (“U.S. District Court”) that objected to the creation of the $3.5 billion loss reserve and instead proposed a plan to distribute the remaining assets of the money market fund on a pro rata basis to shareholders that have not been fully redeemed since September 15, 2008. A majority of the claimants agreed with the SEC’s plan and on November 25, 2009, the U.S. District Court issued an order which provides for a pro rata distribution of the remaining assets. LyondellBasell AF has received redemptions totaling $160 million through December 31, 2009, including $23 million in 2009, $137 million in 2008 and an additional $12 million in January 2010. The January 2010 redemption exceeds LyondellBasell AF’s $9 million carrying value at December 31, 2009. Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF will recognize a $3 million gain on redemption in January 2010.

13. Accounts Receivable

LyondellBasell AF sells its products primarily to other industrial concerns in the petrochemicals and refining industries. LyondellBasell AF performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and, in certain circumstances, requires letters of credit from them. LyondellBasell AF’s allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, which is reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a reduction of accounts receivable, totaled $109 million and $100 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Consolidated Statements of Operations included provisions for doubtful accounts of $18 million and $47 million in 2009 and 2008, and a credit to income of $14 million in 2007.

On December 20, 2007, in connection with the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, certain U.S. subsidiaries entered into a $1,150 million accounts receivable securitization facility to sell, through a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary, on an ongoing basis and without recourse, interests in a pool of U.S. accounts receivable to financial institutions participating in the facility.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

13. Accounts Receivable—(Continued)

 

The amount of outstanding receivables sold under the new facility was $503 million as of December 31, 2008. On January 9, 2009, as a result of the filing for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the $1,150 million accounts receivable sales facility was terminated and repaid in full, using $503 million of the initial proceeds of the DIP Financing. For a discussion of LyondellBasell AF’s other accounts receivable securitization programs, see Note 16.

14. Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following components at December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008

Finished goods

   $ 2,073    $ 2,116

Work-in-process

     164      119

Raw materials and supplies

     1,040      1,079
             

Total inventories

   $ 3,277    $ 3,314
             

LyondellBasell AF recorded charges of $127 million and $1,256 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively, to adjust the value of its inventory to market value, which was lower than the carrying cost at December 31, 2009 and 2008.

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, approximately 42% and 59%, respectively, of inventories, excluding materials and supplies, were valued using the LIFO method and the remainder were valued using the FIFO method. As a result of the significant drop in prices, the value of inventories based on the FIFO and LIFO methods of inventory accounting both reflected market values and current replacement cost at December 31, 2008. The excess of current replacement cost over LIFO cost of inventories amounted to $801 million at December 31, 2009. During 2009, liquidations of LIFO inventory layers resulted in a charge of $30 million.

15. Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Other Assets

The components of property, plant and equipment, at cost, and the related accumulated depreciation were as follows at December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008  

Land

   $ 297      $ 297   

Manufacturing facilities and equipment

     17,665        17,333   

Construction in progress

     1,029        1,069   
                

Total property, plant and equipment

     18,991        18,699   

Less accumulated depreciation

     (3,839     (2,308
                

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 15,152      $ 16,391   
                

On February 25, 2010, based on the continued impact of global economic conditions on polypropylene demand, LyondellBasell AF announced a project to cease production at, and permanently shut down, its polypropylene plant at Terni, Italy. LyondellBasell AF expects to recognize impairment charges of approximately $30 million plus severance and other charges which have yet to be determined but which could be significant. In conjunction with the project, LyondellBasell AF has started consultation with representatives of the works council with respect to the consequences for approximately 120 affected employees at the site.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

15. Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Other Assets—(Continued)

 

In 2009, LyondellBasell AF recognized impairment charges totaling $16 million, primarily related to the permanent shutdown of one polypropylene line in Wesseling, Germany and the low density polyethylene plant located at the Carrington, U.K. site. Based on the current market environment and LyondellBasell AF’s future projections, it was determined that the Carrington, U.K. LDPE plant was no longer economically viable. Approximately 50 employees will be affected by the closure of the facility, and LyondellBasell AF has started consultations with the trade union and its employee representatives.

In April 2009, based on reduced demand in North American automotive and other durable goods industries, as well as the expected slow recovery of these markets, the Debtors made the decision to temporarily idle three production lines at the Mansfield, Texas, advanced polyolefin compounding facility. As a result of strengthening demand in the latter half of 2009, two of the lines resumed operations while the third line was permanently shut down. As a result, this and a related site reduced their workforce by approximately 30% compared to 2008.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, management revised LyondellBasell AF’s long range cash flow projection in response to significantly deteriorating business conditions. The revised cash flow projection reflected a decrease in future revenues compared to earlier cash flow forecasts. As a result, LyondellBasell AF analyzed all of its assets for impairment, using discounted cash flows to determine the fair value of assets, and concluded that the assets related to the Berre Refinery were impaired. Accordingly, in 2008, LyondellBasell AF recognized a $218 million charge for impairment of the carrying value of the assets related to the Berre Refinery.

Also in 2008, LyondellBasell AF recognized a $7 million charge for impairment of the ethylene glycol facility in Beaumont, Texas.

In 2007, charges of approximately $20 million were incurred, primarily relating to the impairment of a plant in Varennes, Canada, and the impairment of capitalized engineering costs in Germany.

Capitalized interest expense related to property, plant and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $35 million, $13 million and $3 million, respectively.

During the fourth quarter of 2008, LyondellBasell AF performed its annual impairment tests for goodwill. As a result of the review, LyondellBasell AF determined that the goodwill associated with its fuels Refining and Oxyfuels, O&P–Americas and Intermediates and Derivatives business segments was impaired. The impairment was based on a review of the business segments performed by management in which discounted cash flows did not support the carrying value of the goodwill due to the rapid deterioration in the global economy and the effects on LyondellBasell AF’s operations in the latter part of the fourth quarter of 2008. Accordingly, in the fourth quarter of 2008, LyondellBasell AF recorded a charge to earnings of $4,982 million, for impairment of goodwill, including $4,921 million related to the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical. In the fourth quarter of 2009, LyondellBasell AF recorded an adjustment related to prior periods which increased income from operations and net income for the three-month period ended December 31, 2009, by $65 million. The adjustment related to an overstatement of goodwill impairment in 2008.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

15. Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Other Assets—(Continued)

 

The components of identifiable intangible assets, at cost, and the related accumulated amortization were as follows at December 31:

 

     2009    2008

Millions of dollars

   Cost    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net    Cost    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net

Technology, patent and license costs

   $ 1,021    $ (338   $ 683    $ 1,008    $ (239   $ 769

Emission allowances

     733      (62     671      692      —          692

Various contracts

     350      (118     232      350      (61     289

Debt issuance costs

     598      (477     121      298      (57     241

Software costs

     71      (6     65      91      (14     77

Catalyst costs

     127      (89     38      118      (39     79

Other

     111      (60     51      106      (12     94
                                           

Total intangible assets

   $ 3,011    $ (1,150   $ 1,861    $ 2,663    $ (422   $ 2,241
                                           

Amortization of these identifiable intangible assets for the next five years is expected to be $288 million in 2010, $162 million in 2011, $131 million in 2012, $96 million in 2013 and $84 million in 2014.

LyondellBasell AF has surplus emissions allowances related to highly-reactive volatile organic compounds (“HRVOCs”) that would be reallocated to other industry participants under proposed legislation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Consequently, LyondellBasell AF recognized a $44 million charge related to these surplus allowances in December 2009. Also in December 2009, LyondellBasell AF recognized a $9 million impairment for non-U.S. emission rights.

For purposes of its annual impairment test, fair value was measured based on estimates of cost to implement alternative emission reduction technology.

The components of other assets were as follows at December 31:

 

    

2009

  

2008

Precious metals

   $ 90    $ 84

Company-owned life insurance

     52      52

Pension assets

     19      16

Deferred tax assets

     115     

Other

     87      50
             

Total other assets

   $ 363    $ 202
             

Depreciation and amortization expense is summarized as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008    2007

Property, plant and equipment

   $ 1,515    $ 1,628    $ 396

Investment in PO joint ventures

     57      59      1

Technology, patent and license costs

     123      93      61

Software costs

     21      15      11

Other

     58      116      3
                    

Total depreciation and amortization

   $ 1,774    $ 1,911    $ 472
                    

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

15. Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill and Other Assets—(Continued)

 

Asset Retirement Obligations —At some sites LyondellBasell AF is contractually obligated to decommission its plants upon site exit. LyondellBasell AF has provided for the net present value of the estimated costs. Typically such costs are incurred within three years after a plant’s closure. The changes in LyondellBasell AF’s asset retirement obligations were as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008  

Balance, January 1

   $ 108    $ 144   

Payments

          (5

Changes in estimates

          (8

Accretion expense

     17      9   

Effects of exchange rate changes

     7      (9

Reduction as a result of business acquisition

          (23
               

Balance, December 31

   $ 132    $ 108   
               

A $23 million asset retirement obligation to the former owner of the Berre Refinery was cancelled in 2008 upon acquisition of the Berre Refinery by LyondellBasell AF.

LyondellBasell AF believes that there are asset retirement obligations associated with some of its facilities, but that the present value of those obligations normally is not material in the context of an indefinite expected life of the facilities. As part of its reorganization plan, LyondellBasell AF is reviewing the optimal future alternatives for its facilities. Any decision to retire one or more facilities may result in an increase in the present value of such obligations.

16. Short-Term Debt

Loans, notes and other short-term debt due to banks and other unrelated parties consisted of the following at December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008

Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreements:

     

Term Loan facility due 2010:

     

New Money Loans

   $ 2,167    $

Roll-up Loans—Senior Secured Credit Facility:

     

Term Loan A due 2013—U.S. tranche

     385     

Term Loan A due 2013—Dutch tranche

     122     

Term Loan B due 2014—U.S. tranche ($3 million of discount)

     2,012     

Term Loan B due 2014—German tranche

     465     

Revolving Credit Facility—U.S. tranche

     202     

Revolving Credit Facility—Dutch tranche

     54     

ABL Facility

     325     

Receivables securitization program

     377      705

Accounts receivable factoring facility

     24     

Financial payables to equity investees

     12      13

Other

     37      56
             

Total short-term debt

   $ 6,182    $ 774
             

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Short-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

The amended DIP Financing described below matures on, and requires the Debtors to emerge from the Bankruptcy Cases by April 6, 2010, unless extended by the Debtors to June 3, 2010 pursuant to the Debtor’s one-time extension option. The maturity date of the DIP Financing agreement will be adjusted with the plan confirmation milestone, as may be extended based on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s availability. The capital structure of the Debtors on emergence from chapter 11 will be set in the reorganization plan that must be confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

DIP Financing —On January 8, 2009, the Debtors received interim U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval, and on March 1, 2009, the final U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval, of the debtor-in possession financings that provided for facilities in an aggregate amount up to $8,500 million, as follows, comprising: (i) a $6,500 million term loan facility (“DIP Term Loan Facility”) consisting of: (a) $3,250 million of new funding (the “New Money Loans”) and (b) $3,250 million of a dollar-for-dollar “roll up” of previously outstanding senior secured loans (the “Roll-Up Loans”)and (ii) an asset-based facility with a revolving credit line initially in an amount up to $1,540 million (“DIP ABL Facility” and together with the DIP Term Loan Facility, the “DIP Financing”) subject to a borrowing base, with an option to increase this facility through the addition of new lenders by an amount up to $460 million so that the aggregate DIP ABL Facility equaled an amount up to $2,000 million. On March 12, 2009 and July 15, 2009, new lenders were added increasing the DIP Financing by $30 million and $50 million, respectively, to $8,120 million.

The initial proceeds of the DIP Financing were used: (i) to refinance, in full, (A) the Senior Secured Inventory-Based Facility, (B) the $1,150 million Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility (see Note 13), (C) the $200 million North American accounts receivable securitization program, and (D) the $100 million super emergency interim DIP Financing; (ii) to pay related transaction costs, fees and expenses; (iii) to provide working capital; and (iv) for other general corporate purposes of the Debtors as well as the non-U.S. subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF. Not more than €700 million of the proceeds under the DIP Financing may be used to fund LyondellBasell AF’s non-U.S. subsidiaries. For the period from January 6, 2009 to December 31, 2009, the maximum amount advanced to LyondellBasell AF’s non-U.S. subsidiaries, pursuant to the term of the DIP Financing, was $634 million (€481 million at historical rates). At December 31, 2009, advances of $115 million (€80 million) were outstanding. Total cash held by LyondellBasell AF’s foreign operations may not exceed €200 million, after excluding certain items, including cash deemed restricted under the DIP Financing agreements due to settlement procedures under the European receivables securitization program, tax and legal considerations in certain countries, and pursuant to letters of credit and guarantees. On a weekly basis, cash in excess of the €200 million limit must be transferred to Lyondell Chemical, provided that the excess is at least €5 million.

The required pre-petition lenders have entered into forbearance agreements, as applicable, with respect to the exercise of certain remedies under the amended and restated pre-petition Senior Secured Credit Agreement and Interim Loan, originally dated as of December 20, 2007.

DIP Term Loan Facility —On January 9, 2009, the Debtors borrowed $2,167 million under the DIP Term Loan Facility and received proceeds, net of related fees, of $2,089 million. Of the $2,089 million proceeds: (i) $672 million was used, together with borrowings under the DIP ABL Facility, to refinance, in full, the pre-existing asset-based facilities; (ii) $507 million was used to fund the operations of non-U.S. subsidiaries; and (iii) $100 million was used to repay a demand note related to emergency post-petition funding. During the remainder of its term, the Debtors may borrow an additional $1,083 million under the DIP Term Loan Facility. During 2009, the Debtors paid fees of $96 million, primarily related to the DIP Facilities, including fees associated with amendments to the DIP Financing agreement described in “DIP Financing Amendments,” below.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Short-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Upon completion of the syndication of the DIP Facilities on March 5, 2009, the roll up of previously outstanding senior secured loans in an aggregate amount equal to $3,250 million into the DIP Term Loan Facility became effective. This roll up consisted of: (i) $385 million of the U.S. Tranche A Dollar Term Loan; (ii) $2,015 million of the U.S. Tranche B Dollar Term Loan; (iii) $465 million of the German Tranche B Euro Term Loan; (iv) $202 million of the U.S. Revolving Credit Facility, all of which were held by the Debtors; and (v) $128 million of the Dutch Tranche A Dollar Term Loan; and (vi) $54 million of the Dutch Revolving Credit Facility.

Loans under the DIP Term Loan Facility bear interest at either the Base Rate or the Eurodollar Rate, (both as defined in the DIP Term Loan Facility), plus, in either case, an applicable margin. The Eurodollar Rate cannot decrease below 3% for New Money Loans, and for 62% of the Roll-Up Loans cannot decrease below 3.25%. In the case of New Money Loans, the applicable margin per annum is 9% for Base Rate Loans and 10% for Eurocurrency Loans. The applicable margin per annum for Roll-Up Loans is 2.69% for Base Rate Loans and 3.69% for Eurocurrency Loans, subject to adjustment. In the event of default, interest will increase by 200 basis points. Interest on Eurocurrency Loans is payable on the last day of the applicable interest period and on the maturity date and for Base Rate Loans, on the last day of each calendar month and on the maturity date. Additional fees under the DIP Term Loan Facility include a 1.5% per annum fee on the daily unused portion of the New Money Loan commitments and a 3% exit fee due upon prepayment of New Money Loans. An exit fee is also applicable to any voluntary reduction of the New Money Loan commitments and Roll-Up Loans. To the extent a New Money Loan commitment is voluntarily reduced or an outstanding New Money Loan is prepaid, such amounts cannot be borrowed or re-borrowed. LyondellBasell AF has recorded a $195 million liability related to the 3% exit fee and a corresponding deferred asset, which will be amortized over the term of the DIP Term Loan Facility and is reflected in “Amortization of debt-related costs” in the Statement of Cash Flows.

Subject to certain limitations, net proceeds arising from the disposition of assets, or the settlement of casualty claims relating to collateral on which DIP Term Facility lenders have a first priority security interest, or from the incurrence of debt, must first be used to repay outstanding New Money Loans under the DIP Term Facility and then used to reduce undrawn commitments, next used to pay down the DIP ABL Facility loans and, finally, to repay the Roll-Up Loans.

DIP ABL Facility —Pursuant to the DIP ABL Facility, the Debtors may currently, subject to a borrowing base, borrow up to $1,620 million. The borrowing base is determined using formulae applied to accounts receivable and inventory balances, and is reduced to the extent of outstanding letters of credit under the facility, which are limited to $700 million. Under the terms of the DIP ABL Facility, the asset-based facility may be increased up to an aggregate maximum commitment amount of $2,000 million, in increments of at least $25 million. On March 12, 2009 and July 15, 2009, the Debtors exercised their option to increase the DIP ABL Facility by designating New Lenders, increasing the commitments under the DIP ABL Facility from $1,540 million to $1,620 million.

On January 9, 2009, the Debtors borrowed $810 million under the DIP ABL Facility, paying $93 million of fees related to the new facility and, together with proceeds from the DIP Term Loan Facility, refinanced the pre-existing asset-based facilities. At December 31, 2009, there were net borrowings of $325 million outstanding under the DIP ABL Facility and outstanding letters of credit totaled $424 million. The borrowing base was $1,612 million, after giving effect to a $100 million unused availability requirement.

Subject to certain limitations in the DIP ABL Facility Agreement and provisions in the DIP Term Loan Agreement, net proceeds arising from the disposition of assets, the incurrence of debt or casualty claims related to collateral of the ABL Facility must be used to repay outstanding loans under the DIP ABL Facility. In

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Short-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

addition, if on any day the total amount of loans outstanding under the DIP ABL Facility, including the amount of outstanding letters of credit, exceed the maximum available under the DIP ABL Facility, a payment equal to or greater than the excess borrowings must be made on the following business day.

Covenants —Subject to certain exceptions, the DIP Facilities contain covenants that restrict, among other things, debt incurrence, lien incurrence, investments, certain payments on indebtedness, sales of assets and mergers, amendment of terms of certain indebtedness and material obligations, alterations in the conduct of Lyondell Chemical’s business, and affiliate transactions and distributions by LyondellBasell AF and its subsidiaries.

In addition, the DIP Facilities contain covenants that establish or require the Debtors to maintain quarterly capital expenditures at levels below the maximum defined in the DIP Facilities, daily minimum levels of liquidity and monthly minimum levels of cumulative Consolidated EBITDAR (as defined in the DIP Facilities).

The DIP Facilities (see “ DIP Financing Amendments ,” below) also contain a covenant establishing certain milestones related to the plan of reorganization, including obtaining the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s confirmation of the plan by May 20, 2010, subject to the extension described in Note 3 and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s availability.

Security and Guarantees —Loans under the DIP Financing agreements are secured by priming first priority interests in and liens on substantially all pre-petition and post-petition property of all borrowers and U.S. guarantors under the DIP Financing agreements, including, but not limited to, material fee-owned property and equipment, general intangibles, investment and intellectual property, and proceeds of the foregoing, as well as share capital of certain subsidiaries. The collateral provided by Germany Holdings is limited to the share capital of its direct subsidiaries.

Guarantors include each borrower, certain Debtors, any Additional Debtor (as defined in the DIP Financing agreements), LyondellBasell AF and each of its subsidiaries that is a guarantor of the pre-existing Senior Secured Credit Facility and Interim Loan. The guarantees are joint and several and full and unconditional.

DIP Financing Amendments —The DIP Financing credit agreements have been amended as follows:

 

   

Effective as of July 24, 2009, the DIP Financing credit agreements were amended, among other things, to address certain changes in specific reporting requirements, to increase certain investment and indebtedness limitations for the purpose of permitting certain business operations and opportunities, and provide for the confidentiality of certain proprietary business information;

 

   

On August 14, 2009, the DIP Financing agreements were amended to modify the delivery terms for the plan of reorganization and disclosure statement;

 

   

Effective October 5, 2009, the DIP Financing agreements were amended to extend the milestone related to the approval of the disclosure statement for the plan of reorganization from October 15 to November 13, 2009, and plan confirmation milestone from December 1 to December 15, 2009; and

 

   

In October and December 2009, the DIP Financing agreements were further amended to, among other things, extend the milestone related to the approval of the disclosure statement for the plan of reorganization to April 6, 2010 and the plan confirmation milestone to May 20, 2010, subject to

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Short-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

 

further extension based on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s availability. The amendments extended the maturity of the DIP Financing agreements from December 15, 2009 to April 6, 2010, with a one-time option to further extend the maturity to June 3, 2010. The maturity date of the DIP Financing agreements will be adjusted with the plan confirmation milestone, as maybe extended based on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s availability (see Note 3).

Structured Financing —In July 2007, LyondellBasell AF entered into a structured financing transaction with a European bank (the “Bank”). Upon closing, Basell Funding S.à r.l., Luxembourg, (“BFS”) granted to BAFB B.V. (“BAFB”), the Netherlands, Dutch certificaten van aandelen (“Certificates”) with respect to 50 fixed-return preferred shares issued by Basell Holdings B.V., Netherlands (“BH”) for consideration of €1,000 million ($1,344 million). The Certificates gave BAFB the right to receive from LyondellBasell AF dividends and other distributions that BFS received from BH in relation to the preferred shares. BAFB was incorporated by the Bank with ordinary shares of €1,000 million. LyondellBasell AF and the Bank further entered into a put and call option agreement with respect to the shares of BAFB whereby at any moment at their respective sole discretion either LyondellBasell AF could call or the Bank could put the shares of BAFB for a purchase price of €1,000 million. As a consequence of this arrangement, LyondellBasell AF was deemed to control BAFB. The majority of BAFB’s stock was owned by the Bank and the Bank acted as its managing director. LyondellBasell AF invested the proceeds in a pledged deposit with an affiliate of the Bank bearing interest at floating market rates which were swapped to a fixed rate of interest through an interest rate swap. In September 2008, LyondellBasell AF exercised its option to call the BAFB shares. In October 2008, LyondellBasell AF redeemed the BAFB shares using the restricted cash of €1,000 million ($1,363 million) and terminated the related interest rate swap, resulting in the recognition of a non-cash charge to interest of $55 million. LyondellBasell AF did not incur breakage costs related to the termination of this transaction.

Receivables Securitization Programs —LyondellBasell AF has an accounts receivable securitization program, under which LyondellBasell AF may receive funding of up to €450 million against eligible receivables of certain European subsidiaries. Transfers of accounts receivable under this program do not qualify as sales; therefore, the transferred accounts receivable and the proceeds received through such transfers are included in trade receivables, net, and short-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

Previously, LyondellBasell AF had a €620 million European accounts receivable securitization program. In early 2009, LyondellBasell AF received a notification that all funding under the €620 million European accounts receivable securitization program would cease. On March 4, 2009, LyondellBasell AF amended and restated this facility to the present €450 million facility.

The European accounts receivable securitization program provides that a certain termination event occurs in connection with the standstill period related to the Senior Notes due 2015 (see Note 3). The parties to the securitization program have generally agreed to a temporary waiver of such termination event until April 6, 2010. Absent a deferral of the expiration of the standstill period related to the Senior Notes due 2015, the purchaser may require a change in the settlement process that may reduce available liquidity during certain periods.

On January 26, 2010, LyondellBasell AF obtained an amendment to the European accounts receivable securitization program to, among other things, extend the program to April 6, 2010, with an option to further extend the program to June 3, 2010, provided that the DIP Financing agreements are also extended to June 3, 2010.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Short-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

The Debtors had an accounts receivable securitization program, which was entered into in 2005, to provide funding of up to $200 million to North American subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF. In connection with the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases, this facility was terminated and repaid with proceeds from the DIP Financing.

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, amounts of $377 million and $591 million, respectively, were funded under the European receivables securitization program. At December 31, 2008, $114 million was funded under the $200 million North American program. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the interest rates on amounts outstanding under the European facility were 10% and 8.66%. As of December 31, 2008, the interest rate on amounts outstanding under the U.S. facility was 4.96%.

On October 8, 2009, a non-debtor subsidiary of LyondellBasell AF entered into an accounts receivable factoring facility for up to €100 million. The factoring facility is for an indefinite period, non-recourse, unsecured and terminable by either party subject to notice. The amount of outstanding receivables sold under this facility was $24 million as of December 31, 2009.

17. Accounts Payable

Accounts payable at December 31, 2009 and 2008 included liabilities in the amount of $13 million and $11 million, respectively, for checks issued in excess of associated bank balances, but not yet presented for collection.

18. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following components at December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008

Payroll and benefits

   $ 403    $ 466

Taxes other than income taxes

     209      287

Interest

     26      241

Product sales rebates

     156      297

Debtor-in-possession exit fees

     195     

Derivatives

          231

Income taxes

     84      57

Deferred revenues

     36      27

Other

     281      432
             

Total accrued liabilities

   $ 1,390    $ 2,038
             

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Long-Term Debt

Loans, notes, debentures and other long-term debt due to banks and other unrelated parties consisted of the following at December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008  

Bank credit facilities:

    

Senior secured credit facility:

    

Term loan A due 2013

    

U.S. tranche

   $      $ 1,429   

Dutch tranche

     331        477   

Term loan B due 2014

    

U.S. tranche

            7,410   

German tranche

            1,800   

$1,000 million revolving credit facility

     164        950   

$1,600 million inventory-based credit facility

            766   

Interim Loan

            8,000   

Senior Notes, due 2015, $615 million

            615   

Senior Notes, due 2015, €500 million

            699   

Guaranteed Notes, due 2027

     300        300   

Debentures due 2010, 10.25%

            103   

Debentures due 2020, 9.8%

            222   

Debentures due 2026, 7.55%

            130   

Senior Debentures due 2026, 7.625%

            241   

Other

     7        53   
                

Total

     802        23,195   

Less current maturities

     (497     (22,891
                

Long-term debt

   $ 305      $ 304   
                

As a result of the Bankruptcy Cases, LyondellBasell AF’s $8,000 million Interim Loan, $615 million Senior Notes due 2015, €500 million Senior Notes due 2015, Senior Debentures due 2026, and portions of the Senior Secured Credit Facility comprising the U.S. tranche of Term Loan A, the U.S. and German tranches of Term Loan B, the U.S. tranche of the Revolving Credit Facility, as well as the 10.25% Debentures due 2010, the 9.8% Debentures due 2020 and the 7.55% and 7.625% Debentures due 2026 a $6 million note payable to KIC Ltd. and a $1 million note payable to the State of Maryland, all of which are deemed to be undersecured, are classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” on the December 31, 2009 consolidated balance sheet (see Note 21).

At December 31, 2009, long-term debt comprised the $300 million guaranteed notes due 2027 and other debt, all of which is held by non-debtors.

Guaranteed Notes due 2027 —LyondellBasell AF has outstanding fixed interest rate Guaranteed Notes of $300 million with a maturity date of March 15, 2027. The interest rate is 8.1% and the interest payment dates are September 15 and March 15.

The Guaranteed Notes are guaranteed by LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., a subsidiary of LyondellBasell AF. The 2027 Guaranteed Notes provide certain restrictions with respect to the level of maximum debt that can be incurred and security that can be granted by the operating companies in Italy and The Netherlands that are direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

The 2027 Notes contain customary provisions for default, including, among others, the non-payment of principal and interest on the 2027 Notes, certain failures to perform or observe any other obligation under the 2027 Agreement on the 2027 Notes, the occurrence of certain defaults under other indebtedness, failure to pay certain indebtedness and the insolvency or bankruptcy of certain LyondellBasell AF subsidiaries.

At December 31, 2008, LyondellBasell AF was not in compliance with certain of its covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, which would have constituted a default under the Senior Secured Credit Facility once the covenant compliance certificate would have been provided. On January 6, 2009, the Initial Debtors filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases also constituted an event of default under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. Pursuant to the cross-default provisions contained in certain of LyondellBasell AF’s indebtedness, a significant portion of LyondellBasell AF’s debt was capable of being accelerated at December 31, 2008. Accordingly at December 31, 2008, the affected debt was classified as current maturities of long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheet.

Beginning on March 2, 2009, the Debtors are obligated to pay interest, at the non-default rate, on the outstanding amounts under the Senior Secured Credit Facility not designated as Roll-Up Loans, subject to a minimum liquidity test calculated on the last day of the previous month. Interest will be paid to the extent “liquidity,” as defined in the final order approving the DIP Financing, is greater than $1,015 million after giving effect to the payment. Any unpaid interest at the end of the period may be asserted as a claim by the lenders thereunder. Through December 31, 2009, the minimum liquidity requirement was met or exceeded and the related interest expense was accrued and is being paid.

Pursuant to the final order approving the DIP Financing, the pre-petition Senior Secured Credit Facility, the Debentures due 2010 and 2020 and the 7.55% Senior Notes due 2026, were granted, on a pari passu basis, a third priority lien on the DIP Collateral, described in the “Security and Guarantees” section of Note 16. The pre-petition Senior Secured Credit Facility continues to have first priority liens, on a pari passu basis with the Roll-Up Loans, on pre-petition Senior Secured Credit Facility collateral that is not DIP Collateral. Additionally, under the adequate protection provisions, the Interim Loan was granted fourth and fifth priority liens on the DIP Collateral and continues to have a second and third priority lien on pre-petition Senior Secured Credit Facility collateral that is not DIP Collateral.

Each DIP Facility lender has entered into forbearance agreements, as applicable, with respect to the exercise of certain remedies under the amended and restated pre-petition Senior Secured Credit Agreement and Interim Loan, each originally dated as of December 20, 2007.

Senior Secured Credit Facility— On December 20, 2007, in connection with the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, LyondellBasell AF entered into a Senior Secured Credit Facility. The Senior Secured Credit Facility consists of a six-year $2,000 million Term Loan A facility due 2013, a seven-year $7,550 million and €1,300 million Term Loan B facility due 2014 and a six-year $1,000 million multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility due 2013. Loans under the Senior Secured Credit Facility bear interest at rates equal to adjusted LIBOR plus the applicable margin or the higher of the federal funds rate plus 0.5% and the prime rate plus the applicable margin.

The Senior Secured Credit Facility contains covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, restrict, among other things: (i) debt incurrence; (ii) lien incurrence; (iii) investments, dividends and distributions; (iv) certain payments on indebtedness, sales of assets and mergers, amendment of terms of certain indebtedness and material obligations; (v) the conduct of business; and (vi) affiliate transactions or transactions limiting LyondellBasell’s

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

and certain of its subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or to incur or permit liens. In addition, the credit facility contains covenants that establish maximum levels of annual capital expenditures and require LyondellBasell to maintain the following specified financial ratios: (1) the First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio, as defined, may not exceed 3.75:1 on a consolidated basis and (2) the Consolidated Debt Service Ratio, as defined, may not be less than 1.1:1.

The Senior Secured Credit Facility is secured by first priority interests in all material assets including, but not limited to, material fee-owned property and equipment, general intangibles, investment and intellectual property, and proceeds of the foregoing, as well as share capital of certain subsidiaries, of all borrowers and guarantors under the facility, except assets of certain subsidiaries of Millennium Chemicals Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Millennium”).

Under the terms of the financing for the Lyondell Chemical acquisition, the joint lead arrangers (“JLAs”) retained the right to flex certain provisions of the financing, including pricing and the reallocation and retranching of the Term Loans. Effective April 30, 2008, the JLAs exercised the price flex provisions and, in conjunction with the exercise, the Senior Secured Credit Facility was amended to (i) convert each of the U.S. Tranche B Dollar Term Loan and the German Tranche B Euro Term Loan into three separate tranches, some of which tranches are subject to a prepayment penalty, (ii) increase interest rates and fee rates by 0.5%, (iii) establish a LIBOR floor of 3.25% on the U.S. Tranche B Dollar Term Loan, (iv) modify certain debt covenants, including increasing a general debt basket from $750 million to $1,000 million, eliminating an interest rate hedging requirement, increasing the asset backed facility basket by $500 million, and adding a covenant prohibiting reduction of aggregate commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility with AI International S.à.r.l. before its initial maturity, (v) amend the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA, as defined, for the purpose of determining compliance with the debt requirements, to reflect adjustments to present 2007 cost of sales in accordance with FIFO inventory accounting, and (vi) make other changes, including technical and typographical corrections.

In conjunction with the exercise by the JLAs of their flex rights, additional amendments were made to each of the Interim Loan, Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility, Revolving Credit Facility with AI International S.à.r.l. and Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility (see Note 13). The amendments to the Interim Loan and Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility with AI International S.à.r.l. were effective on April 30, 2008. The amendments to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility were effective on May 6, 2008.

Each of the Interim Loan, the Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility, the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility and Revolving Credit Facility with AI International S.à.r.l. were amended to (i) conform to certain of the amendments to the Senior Secured Credit Facility and (ii) make other changes, including technical and typographical corrections. In addition, the Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility was amended to allow LyondellBasell AF the future option to increase the aggregate amount of commitments under the facility by a further $500 million.

As a result of the Bankruptcy Cases in early January 2009, all unused commitments under the $1,000 million Revolving Credit Facility were cancelled. Prior to the Bankruptcy Cases, amounts available under the Revolving Credit Facility were reduced to the extent of outstanding borrowings by LyondellBasell AF and outstanding letters of credit provided under the credit facility, which were $950 million and $39 million, respectively, at December 31, 2008.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Inventory-Based Credit Facility —On December 20, 2007, LyondellBasell AF also entered into a five-year $1,000 million Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility. Under the terms of the Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility, as amended, LyondellBasell AF could elect to increase commitments under the facility by up to an aggregate $1,100 million. Effective April 30, 2008, LyondellBasell AF exercised the option to increase the facility by $600 million and, as a result, aggregate commitments under the facility increased from $1,000 million to $1,600 million.

Concurrent with the exercise of the increase in commitments, Lyondell Chemical Company became a lien grantor and added the following as collateral: (i) a first priority pledge of all equity interests owned by Lyondell Chemical Company in, and all indebtedness owed to it by, LyondellBasell Receivables I, LLC (the seller under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility) and (ii) a first priority security interest in all accounts receivable, inventory and related assets owned by Lyondell Chemical Company, subject to customary exceptions.

The Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility contained restrictive covenants and covenants that established maximum levels of capital expenditures, all of which were substantially similar to the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility also provided that if for any period of four consecutive quarters the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined, of LyondellBasell AF, on a consolidated basis, was less than 1.1:1, then during the next quarter, Total Excess Availability (as defined) could not be less than $200 million for five consecutive business days or more, unless, on each such day, Total Excess Availability was at least $150 million and Total Collateral Availability (as defined) was at least $275 million. The proceeds of loans under the Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility could not be used by the LyondellBasell AF subsidiaries that were borrowers under the facilities to make certain dividends or distributions in the event that the daily average Total Excess Availability failed to exceed $225 million on any of the five consecutive business days prior to the date of the dividend or distribution.

Loans under this facility bore interest, at the option of the borrower, of the applicable margin plus the alternate base rate, as defined, or the current LIBOR rate, as defined. The borrowers’ ability to borrow under the Senior Secured Inventory-Based Credit Facility was effectively terminated as a result of the chapter 11 filing, and was repaid on January 9, 2009 using proceeds from the DIP Financing and replaced by the DIP ABL Facility.

Interim Loan— The Interim Loan, together with proceeds from borrowings under certain tranches of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, was used to finance the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical.

Prior to giving effect to the amendments discussed below, the Interim Loan bore interest at LIBOR plus an initial margin of 4.625%, which margin increased by 0.5% in each of June 2008 and September 2008 and was to increase by 0.5% for each three-month period thereafter, subject to a maximum interest rate of 12% per annum (or 12.5% in the event of certain rating declines) (the “Applicable Margin”). The interest rate at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was 10.02% and 9.57%, respectively.

Through a series of actions, the validity of which LyondellBasell AF disputed, the JLAs had attempted to increase the applicable rate under the Interim Loan to 12% per annum. Since June 16, 2008, LyondellBasell AF had been paying 12% interest, which was approximately 4% higher than the applicable rate under the Interim Loan as at June 30, 2008, in order to avoid any allegation of default by the lenders. LyondellBasell AF had protested the higher rate of interest and had reserved its right to recover any such amounts based upon a determination that the JLAs’ attempt to impose a rate increase is not supported by the terms of the applicable loan documentation.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

On October 17, 2008, the agreement governing the Interim Loan was amended and restated. Under the amended and restated agreement, the $8 billion principal amount of initial loans outstanding were retranched into:

 

  (a) $3.5 billion of fixed rate second lien loans, which bore interest at a rate equal to 12% per annum (12.5% in the case of certain ratings downgrades);

 

  (b) $2.0 billion of floating rate second lien loans; and

 

  (c) $2.5 billion of floating rate third lien loans.

All of the floating rate loans bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR (in the case of U.S. dollar loans) or EURIBOR (in the case of euro loans) plus the Applicable Margin.

The economic impact of the interest rates applicable to the retranched loans was effective as of June 16, 2008.

The amendments also included provisions allowing lenders

 

  (i) within 180 days after October 17, 2008, to convert retranched fixed rate second lien loans into fixed rate second lien notes or a combination of fixed rate second lien notes and up to $1 billion in aggregate principal amount of fixed rate third lien notes and/or fixed rate unsecured notes (and pursuant to a notice provided by the lenders on October 17, 2008, all of the fixed rate second lien loans were to automatically convert into fixed rate second lien notes if no election was made by the lenders to convert a portion of the fixed rate second lien loans to fixed rate third lien or unsecured notes within this 180-day period) and

 

  (ii) following the time that the fixed rate second lien loans were converted into exchange notes and certain lenders under the amended and restated agreement hold, in aggregate, less than $950 million of such notes, to convert new floating rate second lien loans into fixed rate second lien notes and to convert new floating rate third lien loans into fixed rate third lien notes and/or fixed rate unsecured notes. In all such cases, the exchange notes were to bear interest at a rate equal to 12% per annum (12.5% in the case of certain ratings downgrades), could be denominated in euro or dollars, and were to have maturity dates between June 2015 and December 2019.

In addition, the amendments included revisions to some of the terms of the exchange notes to make them consistent, in some instances, with similar provisions of the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The amendments also made other changes, including technical and typographical corrections. LyondellBasell AF pre-paid fees of $59 million in connection with this amendment, which were applied to interest payments in the fourth quarter of 2008.

In December 2008, the initial Interim Loans converted to senior secured loans that were due June 2015.

At December 31, 2008, the Interim Loan was secured, depending on the tranche, by a second or third priority interest over the collateral securing the Senior Secured Credit Facility.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Senior Notes due 2015 —Under an indenture dated August 10, 2005, which has been amended from time to time thereafter, LyondellBasell AF issued €500 million ($699 million) and $615 million of senior notes (the “Senior Notes”), which mature on August 10, 2015. These Senior Notes, which were issued at a discount of €27 million ($38 million), bear interest at a rate of 8.375%. Interest is payable on August 15 and February 15.

Under the indenture governing the Senior Notes, LyondellBasell AF is required to comply with certain covenants related to the conduct of its business. Non-compliance with any of these covenants would constitute an event of default.

Certain subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF have provided guarantees for the obligations of LyondellBasell AF as issuer of the Senior Notes subject to typical limitations required by the laws in the relevant jurisdictions.

LyondellBasell AF, as issuer of the Senior Notes, has granted a pledge over shares in its subsidiary Basell Funding S.à r.l. and a pledge over the loan whereby the proceeds of the Senior Notes were loaned to Basell Holdings B.V. Such security is a second ranking security subordinated to any security granted to the lenders under the Senior Facility Agreement and the Interim Loan.

On February 6, 2009, the Initial Debtors filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking a preliminary injunction prohibiting certain creditors from enforcing pre-petition guarantees issued by LyondellBasell AF and certain of its non-Debtor subsidiaries for obligations of the Debtors and certain Non-Debtors and seeking to prevent the holders of LyondellBasell AF’s 8.375% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “Senior Notes”) from among other things, taking action to accelerate the maturity of the Senior Notes. On February 26, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court granted this injunction for a period of 60 days. LyondellBasell AF and its general partner filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on April 24, 2009 (prior to the expiration of the 60-day period). As a result of these filings, the ability of creditors to enforce their claims against LyondellBasell AF and its general partner is stayed by applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

On March 23, 2009, the trustee under the indenture dated August 10, 2005 relating to the Senior Notes, served notice that an event of default had occurred under the indenture as a result of the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases and LyondellBasell AF’s failure to pay interest on the Senior Notes when due, which failure continued beyond the applicable grace period. Pursuant to an Intercreditor Agreement dated December 21, 2007 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”), the notice of default started a 179-day period (“Standstill Period”) during which the holders of the Senior Notes and the trustee may not take action to enforce their rights with respect to the Senior Notes or the guarantees thereof. Upon the expiration of the Standstill Period, the trustee may pursue claims against non-Debtor affiliates who are guarantors of the Senior Notes. The Standstill period was originally scheduled to expire on September 18, 2009.

On August 28, 2009, the Debtors initiated an adversary proceeding seeking a permanent and preliminary injunction to prevent the holders of the Senior Notes and the trustee from taking certain actions against non-Debtor affiliates obligated under the Senior Notes. On October 1, 2009, the Senior Notes trustee initiated an adversary proceeding against LyondellBasell AF, the lenders who participated in the financing of the merger of Lyondell Chemical and Basell (now known as LyondellBasell AF ) and certain others, seeking, among other things, a declaratory judgment that the Intercreditor Agreement and its provisions subordinating the interests of the holders of Senior Notes are null and void and an equitable subordination of the claims of certain of the Debtors’ lenders.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, any action to accelerate payment obligations or enforce claims against LyondellBasell AF, the Debtors, and non-Debtor affiliates of the Debtors that are obligated under the Senior Secured Credit Facility was prohibited during the Standstill Period. By agreement of the parties, on February 12, 2010, the Standstill Period has been extended through April 15, 2010.

Revolving Credit Facility with Access Industries —In March 2008, LyondellBasell AF entered into a senior unsecured $750 million, eighteen-month revolving credit facility under which two subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF were borrowers. The $750 million revolving credit facility was in addition to the existing credit facilities available to LyondellBasell AF, and was provided to LyondellBasell AF by Access Industries Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Access Industries. On December 17, 2008, the $750 million revolving credit facility was assigned by Access Industries Holdings LLC to AI International S.à.r.l., another affiliate of Access Industries. The revolving credit facility had substantially the same terms as the Senior Secured Credit Facility, except that it was unsecured and was not guaranteed by the subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF.

At each borrower’s option, loans under the revolving credit facility bore interest at rates equal to LIBOR plus 6% or the higher of the (i) federal funds rate plus 0.5% and (ii) the prime rate, plus, in each case, 5%. Interest rates could have been adjusted, from time to time, based upon the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio as calculated at such time and as further described in the revolving credit facility.

On December 30, 2008, LyondellBasell AF submitted a request to borrow $750 million under the facility, which was denied by AI International S.à.r.l. The Debtors’ ability to borrow funds under the $750 million revolving credit facility effectively terminated as a result of the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases.

Debentures —The Debentures due 2010 and 2020 and the 7.55% Senior Notes due 2026, assumed in the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, were equally and ratably secured with the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, with respect to certain operating plants.

The indenture for the 7.55% Senior Notes due 2026, which was assumed in the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, contains covenants at December 31, 2009 that, subject to exceptions, restrict, among other things, lien incurrence, sale and leaseback transactions and mergers.

The indenture for the 7.625% Senior Debentures, which was assumed in the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, contains covenants at December 31, 2009 that, subject to exceptions, restrict, among other things, debt incurrence by subsidiaries, lien incurrence, sale and leaseback transactions and mergers.

Other —In 2009, LyondellBasell AF made mandatory quarterly amortization payments of the Dutch Tranche A Dollar Term Loan totaling $24 million, $6 million of which was related to the corresponding DIP Roll Up loan. In 2008, LyondellBasell AF made quarterly amortization payments of $71 million and $24 million, respectively, on the U.S. Tranche A Dollar Term Loan and the Dutch Tranche A Dollar Term Loan and $75 million and $19 million, respectively, on the U.S. Tranche B Dollar Term Loan and the German Tranche Euro B Term Loan.

In addition in 2008, Lyondell Chemical repaid the remaining $158 million of its 4% convertible debentures and $31 million principal amount due under notes that were called in 2007 but were not tendered until the first quarter 2008, and paid premiums totaling $2 million.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Amortization of debt premiums, including adjustments to fair values included in accounting for the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, and debt issuance costs resulted in amortization expense of $499 million, $513 million and $7 million in 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively, that was included in interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In 2009, in conjunction with the reclassification of debt to “Liabilities Subject to Compromise,” LyondellBasell AF wrote off the associated unamortized debt issuance costs of $228 million, which are reflected in “Reorganization items” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

For discussion of the impact of the chapter 11 filing on LyondellBasell’s debt, as well as the senior secured superpriority DIP Financing approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, see Note 16.

20. Lease Commitments

LyondellBasell AF leases office facilities, railcars, vehicles, and other equipment under long-term operating leases. Some leases contain renewal provisions, purchase options and escalation clauses. Additionally, LyondellBasell AF has entered into a long-term agreement with an information technology service provider that is cancellable by LyondellBasell AF with a six-month notice period and payment of a cancellation fee. This agreement is classified as an operating lease.

The aggregate future estimated payments under these commitments are:

 

Millions of dollars

    

2010

   $ 267

2011

     227

2012

     189

2013

     168

2014

     148

Thereafter

     993
      

Total minimum lease payments

   $ 1,992
      

Rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $315 million, $556 million and $72 million, respectively.

21. Liabilities Subject to Compromise

As a result of the Bankruptcy Cases, the payment of prepetition indebtedness may be subject to compromise or other treatment under the Debtors’ plan of reorganization. Although actions to enforce or otherwise effect payment of prepetition claims are generally stayed, at hearings held in January 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court granted final approval of the Debtors’ “first-day” motions, generally designed to stabilize the Debtors’ operations and covering, among other things, employee wages, health and benefit plans, qualified pension and savings plans, supplier relations, customer relations, business operations, utilities, tax matters, cash management and retention of professionals.

The Debtors have been paying and intend to continue to pay substantially all of their undisputed postpetition claims in the ordinary course of business. In addition, the Debtors may reject prepetition executory contracts and unexpired leases with respect to the Debtors’ operations with the approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Damages resulting from rejection of executory contracts and unexpired leases are treated as general unsecured prepetition claims and will be classified as liabilities subject to compromise.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

21. Liabilities Subject to Compromise—(Continued)

 

On May 14, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court entered an order establishing June 30, 2009 as the claims bar date. The claims bar date is the date by which most claims against the Debtors arising prior to the Debtors’ chapter 11 filings must be filed if the claimants wish to receive any distribution in the Bankruptcy Cases. On May 26, 2009, the Debtors commenced notification, including publication, to all known actual and potential creditors informing them of the bar date and the required procedures with respect to the filing of proofs of claim. As part of the Bankruptcy Cases, claims timely filed by the claims bar date will ultimately be reconciled against the amounts listed by, with certain exceptions, the Debtors in their Schedules of Assets and Liabilities. In most cases, to the extent the Debtors object to any filed claims, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court will make the final determination as to the amount, nature and validity of such claims. Moreover, the treatment of allowed claims against the Debtors will be determined pursuant to the terms of the plan of reorganization, which was filed September 11, 2009 and amended on December 11 and December 24, 2009, but is subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Accordingly, while LyondellBasell AF continues to reassess these liabilities, the ultimate amount and treatment of such liabilities has not yet been determined.

Prepetition liabilities that are subject to compromise are reported at the amounts expected to be allowed, even if they potentially may be settled for lesser amounts. Accordingly, the amounts currently classified as liabilities subject to compromise may be subject to future adjustments depending on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s actions, further developments with respect to disputed claims, the values of any collateral securing such claims, or other events.

Liabilities subject to compromise consist of the following at December 31, 2009:

 

Millions of dollars

    

Accounts payable

   $ 587

Employee benefits

     997

Accrued interest

     277

Conversion fee—Interim Loan

     161

Estimated claims

     1,726

Interest rate swap obligations

     201

Related party payable

     82

Rebate accrual

     20

Other accrued liabilities

     73

Long-term debt

     18,370
      

Total liabilities subject to compromise

   $ 22,494
      

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

21. Liabilities Subject to Compromise—(Continued)

 

The following debt outstanding immediately preceding the Chapter 11 filings, on January 6, 2009, has been reclassified from long-term debt and is currently reflected on the December 31, 2009, balance sheet as “Liabilities subject to compromise.”

 

Millions of dollars

    

Bank credit facilities:

  

Interim Loan

   $ 8,000

First lien secured debt:

  

Senior Secured Credit Facility:

  

Term Loan A due 2013—U.S. tranche

     1,044

Term Loan B due 2014:

  

U.S. tranche

     5,459

German tranche

     1,258

Revolving Credit Facility

     548

Debentures due 2010, 10.25%

     100

Debentures due 2020, 9.8%

     225

Debentures due 2026, 7.55%

     150

Senior Notes due 2015, $615 million

     615

Senior Notes due 2015, €500 million

     723

Senior Debentures due 2026, 7.625%

     241

State of Maryland

     1

KIC Ltd

     6
      

Total

   $ 18,370
      

In 2009, environmental remediation liabilities related to third-party sites were reclassified from “Other liabilities” to “Liabilities subject to compromise.” Also in 2009, in accordance with the bankruptcy claims process, the basis for certain accrued liabilities was adjusted to reflect the Debtors’ estimated claims to be allowed, including executory contracts and environmental liabilities that are classified in “Reorganization items” (see Notes 3 and 25).

As part of its ongoing claims resolution process, LyondellBasell AF is investigating differences between claim amounts filed by creditors and LyondellBasell AF’s estimates of the probable allowed amount of its liabilities subject to compromise. As of February 25, 2010, the difference between the amounts claimed and amounts accrued in liabilities subject to compromise is $400 million. Adjustments to its liabilities subject to compromise are reasonably possible as additional information becomes available with respect to these claims.

22. Financial Instruments and Derivatives

LyondellBasell AF is exposed to market risks, such as changes in commodity pricing, currency exchange rates and interest rates. To manage the volatility related to these exposures, LyondellBasell AF selectively enters into derivative transactions pursuant to LyondellBasell AF’s policies. Designation of the derivatives as fair-value or cash-flow hedges is performed on a specific exposure basis. Hedge accounting may or may not be elected with respect to certain short-term exposures. The changes in fair value of these hedging instruments are offset in part or in whole by corresponding changes in the fair value or cash flows of the underlying exposures being hedged.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

22. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

As a result of the voluntary filings of petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and the associated perceived credit risk, LyondellBasell AF is limited in its ability to further engage in derivative transactions. LyondellBasell AF is not participating in interest rate transactions at this time due to a lack of willing counterparties and its foreign currency transactions are restricted to a few currencies and primarily to spot or near spot transactions. LyondellBasell AF continues to enter into commodity derivative contracts in the ordinary course of business on a limited basis, and only through exchange traded futures contracts, which are supported by cash deposits.

Commodity Prices —LyondellBasell AF is exposed to commodity price volatility related to anticipated purchases of natural gas, crude oil and other raw materials and sales of its products. LyondellBasell AF selectively uses commodity swap, option, and futures contracts with various terms to manage the volatility related to these risks. Such contracts are generally limited to durations of one year or less. Cash-flow hedge accounting is normally elected for these derivative transactions; however, in some cases, when the duration of a derivative is short, hedge accounting is not elected. When hedge accounting is not elected, the changes in fair value of these instruments are recorded in earnings. When hedge accounting is elected, gains and losses on these instruments are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), to the extent that the hedge remains effective, until the underlying transaction is recognized in earnings.

LyondellBasell AF entered into futures contracts in 2009 and 2008, with respect to sales of gasoline and heating oil. These futures transactions were not designated as hedges, and the changes in the fair value of the futures contracts were recognized in earnings. LyondellBasell AF also settled futures positions for gasoline of 853 million gallons and 855 million gallons, respectively, in 2009 and 2008, resulting in a net gain of $26 million and a net loss of $1 million, respectively. LyondellBasell AF settled futures positions for heating oil of 484 million gallons and 257 million gallons, respectively, in 2009 and 2008, resulting in net gains of $9 million and $5 million, respectively. In addition, LyondellBasell AF settled futures positions for crude oil of 3 million barrels in 2009, resulting in net gains of $3 million. At December 31, 2009, futures contracts for 19 million gallons of gasoline and heating oil in the notional amount of $38 million, maturing in February 2010, were outstanding. At December 31, 2008, futures contracts for 24 million gallons of gasoline and heating oil in the notional amount of $61 million, maturing in February and March 2009, were outstanding. The fair values, based on quoted market prices, resulted in a net payable of $2 million at December 31, 2009 and a net receivable of $4 million at December 31, 2008.

LyondellBasell AF’s earnings for 2009 included a $50 million gain, previously deferred in AOCI in connection with the termination of swaps for 2.8 million barrels of distillates. During 2008, LyondellBasell AF entered into commodity swaps with respect to purchases of crude oil and sales of distillates, which were to mature in the period from October 2008 through April 2009. These swaps were designated as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these commodity swaps were deferred in AOCI until the underlying transaction occurred. During 2008, LyondellBasell AF settled commodity swap positions of 9 million barrels, which resulted in a net gain of $62 million. At December 31, 2009, there were no swaps outstanding.

Foreign Currency Rates— LyondellBasell AF enters into transactions denominated in other than the functional currency and is, therefore, exposed to foreign currency risk on receivables and payables. LyondellBasell AF maintains risk management control systems intended to monitor foreign currency risk attributable to both the outstanding foreign currency balances and future commitments. The risk management control systems involve the centralization of foreign currency exposure management, the offsetting of exposures and the estimating of expected impacts of changes in foreign currency rates on LyondellBasell AF’s earnings. LyondellBasell AF entered into foreign currency forward contracts to reduce the effects of its net currency exchange exposures.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

22. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

For forward contracts that economically hedge recognized monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies, no hedge accounting is applied. Changes in the fair value of foreign currency forward contracts are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and offset the currency exchange results recognized on the assets and liabilities.

For the periods ended December 31, 2008, and 2007, other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations reflected $20 million and $3 million, respectively, of net gains. Since January 6, 2009 when certain subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, LyondellBasell AF and its subsidiaries have not been able to enter into new foreign currency forward contracts to reduce the effects of their net currency exchange exposures. All foreign currency forward contracts outstanding at the time of filing have since expired and been settled.

Certain LyondellBasell AF subsidiaries have entered into license agreements denominated in U.S. dollars whereas the functional currency of the subsidiaries entering into these transactions is the euro. Accordingly, these subsidiaries have recognized embedded derivatives, which are accounted for separately from the host license agreements. These embedded derivatives are treated as foreign exchange forward contracts and recognized at fair value. The changes in the fair values are recognized in the income statement as the contracts are not designated as hedges. LyondellBasell AF recognized a $15 million loss in “Other income” related to these embedded derivatives during 2009 with the offset recorded as a payable that was outstanding at December 31, 2009.

LyondellBasell AF has designated the $300 million of outstanding 8.1% Guaranteed Notes due 2027, $250 million of the outstanding 8.375% Senior Notes due 2015 and the $500 million Dutch Tranche Term A loan due 2013 as net investment hedges of part of its investment in subsidiaries and equity investments denominated in U.S. dollar or U.S. dollar related functional currencies. The changes in the euro value of the debt, to the extent that they are designated as a hedge, are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income.” As a result of devaluation in the hedged investment, the $500 million Dutch Tranche Term A loan due 2103 net investment hedge was de-designated during the first quarter of 2009. Subsequently all related foreign exchange translation differences were recorded in earnings. During the three years ended December 31, 2009, LyondellBasell AF recognized a gain of $17 million in 2009, a loss of $43 million in 2008 and a gain of $55 million in 2007 in accumulated other comprehensive income.

LyondellBasell AF entered into a cross-currency interest rate swap for a principal amount of $365 million in conjunction with the issuance of the $615 million Senior Notes due 2015. The swap involved the payment of fixed interest and, upon maturity, principal amounts in euro in exchange for corresponding receipts in U.S. dollars. This swap was designated as a cash-flow hedge. Accordingly, in 2008, a $22 million loss was reclassified from AOCI to “Other income, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to the changes in fair value.

In January 2009, LyondellBasell AF received notice of termination for this cross-currency interest rate swap agreement after certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (see Note 3). LyondellBasell AF recognized a $15 million loss in “Other income” in 2009 related to the termination of these swaps.

Foreign Currency Gain (Loss) —For the periods ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations reflected gains of $123 million, $20 million and $3 million, respectively, related to changes in currency exchange rates.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

22. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

Interest Rates —During 2008, LyondellBasell AF entered into interest rate swap agreements, maturing in 2013, in the notional amount of $2,350 million. These interest rate swaps were designated as cash-flow hedges of the interest cash flows for the period between April 2009 and June 2013 and effectively convert a portion of LyondellBasell AF’s variable rate, long-term debt to fixed rate debt for the period of the hedge. The variable portion of the interest rate would have converted to a fixed rate ranging from 3.6% to 4.6%.

In January 2009, LyondellBasell AF received notice of termination for these interest rate swap agreements after certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for protection under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (see Note 3). At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the fair value of these interest rate swap agreements resulted in payables of $201 million and $196 million, respectively, which were classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” and “Accrued liabilities,” respectively.

As of December 31, 2007, LyondellBasell AF had an outstanding interest rate swap as part of the Structured Finance Transaction (see Note 16) in the notional amount of €1,000 million ($1,471 million) converting a fixed-rate deposit to a floating rate to match the floating-rate borrowing of an equivalent amount. The interest rate swap was accounted for as a hedge and was terminated in September 2008. The interest rate swap was settled in October 2008, resulting in non-cash charges related to interest of $55 million (see Note 16).

Stock Option Plans —LyondellBasell AF had outstanding total return swaps on shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG, which economically hedges obligations stemming from the stock option and share appreciation rights plans. The initial agreement for the total return swaps matured in October 2008 and was renewed for an additional three-year period. LyondellBasell AF received amounts equal to the dividends paid on the underlying shares. At maturity of the swap, LyondellBasell AF would have paid or received the difference between the price of the underlying shares at the settlement date and the price at the inception of the swap, adjusted for the payment of financing costs. Under the total return swaps, LyondellBasell AF retained an economic interest in the underlying shares without owning these shares. The total return swaps were valued at fair value with any gains or losses included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In January 2009, LyondellBasell AF received notice of termination of the total return swaps after certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (see Note 3). LyondellBasell AF recognized a $7 million loss in 2009 related to the termination of the swap.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

22. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes financial instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2009 that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the bases used to determine their fair value in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Millions of dollars

   Notional
Amount
   Total    Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

2009

              

Liabilities at fair value:

              

Derivatives:

              

Gasoline, heating oil and crude oil

   $ 38    $ 2    $    $ 2    $

Foreign currency

     234      20           20     
                                  
   $ 272    $ 22    $    $ 22    $
                                  

2008

              

Assets at fair value:

              

Derivatives:

              

Gasoline, heating oil and crude oil

   $ 61    $ 4    $    $ 4    $
                                  

Liabilities at fair value:

              

Derivatives:

              

Interest rate swaps

   $ 2,350    $ 196    $    $ 196    $

Cross currency swaps

     365      30           30     

Foreign currency

     234      7           7     

Total return swaps

     44      5      5          
                                  
   $ 2,993    $ 238    $ 5    $ 233    $
                                  

The following table provides the fair value of derivative instruments and their balance sheet classification at December 31, 2009:

 

Millions of Dollars

   Balance Sheet Classification    December 31,
2009

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments Liability Derivatives

     

Not designated as hedges:

     

Foreign currency

   Accrued liabilities    $ 20

Commodities

   Accrued liabilities      2
         

Total derivatives

      $ 22
         

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

22. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the pretax effect of derivative and non-derivative instruments, effective and terminated, included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), reclassified from AOCI to income and charged directly to income for the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

     Effect of Financial Instruments for the year ended
December 31, 2009

Millions of dollars

   Gain (Loss)
Recognized
in AOCI
    Gain (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
to Income
    Additional
Gain (Loss)
Recognized
in Income
    Income Statement
Classification

Derivatives designated as cash-flow hedges:

        

Commodities

   $      $ 50      $      Cost of sales

Cross-currency interest rate

     23        23             Other income

Interest rate

     (5     (31          Interest expense
                          
     18        42            
                          

Derivatives not designated as hedges:

        

Commodities

                   36      Cost of sales

Foreign currency

                   (15   Other income

Stock option plans

                   (3   Other income
                          
                   18     
                          

Total derivatives

   $ 18      $ 42      $ 18     
                          

Non-derivatives designated as hedges of foreign currency:

        

Net foreign investment—

        

8.1% Guaranteed Notes due 2027

   $ 9      $      $     

8.375% Senior Notes due 2015

     8                   
                          

Total non-derivatives

   $ 17      $      $     
                          

The amounts included in AOCI represent the effective portion of the hedge. The ineffective portion of hedges is recognized in income and is not material. Foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedges are offset by foreign exchange gains of $146 million resulting from the underlying exposures of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities. The net pre-tax amount to be reclassified from AOCI to income within the next 12 months is a $49 million loss for interest rate swaps.

The carrying value and the estimated fair value of LyondellBasell’s non-derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 are shown in the table below:

 

     2009    2008

Millions of dollars

   Carrying
Value
   Fair
Value
   Carrying
Value
   Fair
Value

Short and long-term debt, including current maturities

   $ 25,354    $ 13,986    $ 23,969    $ 8,973
                           

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

22. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the bases used to measure certain liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, which are recorded at historical cost or amortized cost, in the consolidated balance sheet:

 

          Fair Value Measurement

Millions of dollars

   Carrying
Value
December 31,
2009
   Fair Value
December 31,
2009
   Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

Short and long-term debt, including current maturities

   $ 25,354    $ 13,986    $    $ 13,204    $ 782

Accounts payable, including related parties

     2,730      2,405           277      2,128

Other short-term accruals

     1,717      1,309           69      1,240
                                  

Total

   $ 29,801    $ 17,700    $    $ 13,550    $ 4,150
                                  

The fair value of all nonderivative financial instruments included in current assets, including cash and cash equivalents, and accounts receivable, approximated carrying value due to the short maturity of those instruments.

The following table is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of Level 3 inputs:

 

     Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
 

Millions of dollars

   Total     Short and
Long-term
debt, including
current
maturities
    Accounts
payable,
including
related parties
   Other short-
term accruals
 

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 5,392      $ 3,176      $ 1,628    $ 588   

Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net)

     372        293        99      (20

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

     (1,614     (2,687     401      672   
                               

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 4,150      $ 782      $ 2,128    $ 1,240   
                               

For liabilities classified as Level 2, fair value is based on the price a market participant would pay for the security, adjusted for the terms specific to that asset and liability. For debt valuations broker quotes were obtained from well established and recognized vendors of market data. Quotes were then adjusted downwards, if applicable, to represent the mechanics of payment set forth in LyondellBasell AF’s second amended plan of reorganization. As such, the inputs for liabilities classified as Level 3 reflect LyondellBasell AF’s assessment of the assumptions that a market participant would use in determining the price of the asset or liability, including the liquidity risk of LyondellBasell AF at December 31, 2009.

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

LyondellBasell AF has defined benefit pension plans which cover employees in various countries, primarily Germany, the U.S., the United Kingdom and Canada. LyondellBasell AF also sponsors postretirement benefit plans other than pensions for U.S. and Canadian employees, which provide medical benefits to those employees. In Italy and Germany, LyondellBasell AF provides other post employment benefits such as early retirement and deferred compensation severance benefits. LyondellBasell AF uses a measurement date of December 31 for all of its benefit plans.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

Employees in the U.S. are eligible to participate in defined contribution plans (Employee Savings Plans) by contributing a portion of their compensation. LyondellBasell AF matches a part of the employees’ contributions. With LyondellBasell AF’s filing of voluntary petitions for reorganization under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, these matching contributions were suspended.

Pensions —Substantially all of LyondellBasell AF’s employees in Germany are covered under several defined benefit pension plans, which provide for benefits based on years of service and average rates of pay. Up to a certain salary level, the benefit obligations regarding the majority of the German employees are covered by contributions of LyondellBasell AF and the employees to the Pensionskasse der BASF VVaG. In 2009 LyondellBasell AF contributions into this plan were $27 million. In addition, LyondellBasell AF offers an unfunded supplementary plan for employees earning in excess of the local social security limits. For certain employees LyondellBasell AF offers an unfunded pension plan.

Until February 2007, substantially all of LyondellBasell AF’s Basell employees in the U.S. and Canada were covered under non-contributory defined benefit pension plans, which provide for benefits based on years of service and average rates of pay. LyondellBasell AF’s funding policy was to contribute annually not less than the amounts set forth in employee benefit and tax laws.

In February 2007, Basell communicated its decision to align then-existing pension and other post-retirement benefit plans of Basell USA Inc. and Basell Canada Inc. with prevailing terms and conditions commonly adopted in the relevant market place. The announced changes affected all then-existing plans and reduced future costs of North American defined benefit plans. At the same time certain conditions under existing or new defined contribution plans were expanded.

The most significant changes were:

 

   

No additional benefits could be earned under existing defined benefit retirement plans after December 31, 2007.

 

   

Existing defined contribution retirement plans were transferred to new defined contribution plans as of January 1, 2008 and substantially all U.S. employees were automatically enrolled in these plans. Under these new plans Basell’s contribution was increased.

 

   

Benefits provided under existing defined benefit post-retirement health care plans for both active employees and retirees were capped and higher deductibles were effective beginning January 1, 2008 (July 1, 2007 in Canada).

These changes in the employee benefit plans, which did not affect Lyondell Chemical benefit plans, had a significant effect on LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated financial statements in 2007, including a $43 million curtailment gain in North America, and will continue to affect future years.

In 2008, LyondellBasell AF announced that it would amend the existing U.S. defined benefit final pay plans of Lyondell Chemical and Equistar Chemicals, LP effective January 1, 2009. Under this change, which was approved by management in July 2008, retirement benefits for affected employees are based on a cash balance formula. As a result of the amendment, the affected plans were remeasured as of September 30, 2008, resulting in a reduction of the projected benefit obligation of $113 million due to the plan amendment and $77 million due to an increase in the discount rate. The declining market values resulted in a decrease of $154 million in plan assets

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

at September 30, 2008. The discount rate used to determine the projected benefit obligation at September 30, 2008 was 7.5%, compared to 6.25% used at December 31, 2007. The net increase in the funded status of the plans, which is reflected as a credit in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, was recognized as a reduction in net periodic pension costs beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The assumptions used in the re-measurement of the affected benefit plans were as follows at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively:

 

     2008     2007  

Discount rate

   7.50   6.25

Expected return on plan assets

   8.00   8.00

Rate of compensation increase

   4.50   4.50

The decrease in the fair value of the amended plans’ assets and the increase in the discount rate reflected the significant turmoil in financial markets since December 31, 2007 that included declines in asset values and increases in corporate bond yields. The actual return on plan assets in 2008 was a negative 24%. For 2009 the actual return on plan assets was 23%.

The U.S. bankruptcy court approved the termination of the U.S. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans as of January 6, 2009. The termination of these plans resulted in a gain of $4 million. Due to the bankruptcy no benefits were paid as a result of the plan termination. The beneficiaries of these plans have outstanding claims of $40 million filed with the bankruptcy court. The liability balance for these claims continues to be reported in the benefit obligation at December 31, 2009.

In 2009, the settlement gain of $11 million in the U.S. plans reflected payments of lump sum benefits in the Pension Plan for Eligible Hourly Represented Employees of Equistar Chemicals, LP and the Houston Refining LP Retirement Plan for Represented Employees. In 2008, lump sum payments due to change of control were made from the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans and resulted in a settlement charge of $7 million.

The accounting for a reduction in expected years of future service due to the headcount reduction program resulted in an $5 million curtailment charge in 2009 related to the U.S. plans: LyondellBasell Retirement Plan, Equistar Chemicals, LP Retirement Plan, and Basell Retirement Income Plan.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of projected benefit obligations, plan assets and the funded status of LyondellBasell’s U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans:

 

     2009     2008  

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Change in benefit obligation:

        

Benefit obligation, January 1

   $ 1,595      $ 960      $ 1,732      $ 576   

Acquisition through business combinations

                          411   

Service cost

     50        28        50        30   

Interest cost

     90        53        105        50   

Actuarial loss (gain)

     113        37        27        (20

Plan amendments

     (10            (146       

Benefits paid

     (60     (44     (150     (36

Settlement

     (39     (6     (23       

Curtailment

     8                        

Foreign exchange effects

            3               (47

Other

                          (4
                                

Benefit obligation, December 31

     1,747        1,031        1,595        960   
                                

Change in plan assets:

        

Fair value of plan assets, January 1

     1,036        457        1,650        272   

Acquisition through business combinations

                          253   

Actual return on plan assets

     215        31        (467     (61

Company contributions

            52        27        53   

Benefits paid

     (60     (44     (150     (36

Participant contributions

            3       

Foreign exchange effects

            (7            (28

Settlement

     (39     (6     (23       

Other

                   (1     4   
                                

Fair value of plan assets, December 31

     1,152        486        1,036        457   
                                

Funded status of continuing operations, December 31

   $ (595   $ (545   $ (559   $ (503
                                

 

     2009     2008  

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:

        

Prepaid benefit cost

   $ 17      $ 2      $ 13      $ 9   

Accrued benefit liability, current

            (1     (5     (14

Accrued benefit liability, long-term

     (612     (546     (567     (498
                                

Funded status, December 31

   $ (595   $ (545   $ (559   $ (503
                                

 

     2009    2008

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.    U.S.     Non-U.S.

Amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:

         

Actuarial and investment loss (gain)

   $ 521      $ 60    $ 568      $ 44

Prior service cost (credit)

     (124          (143     3
                             

Balance at December 31

   $ 397      $ 60    $ 425      $ 47
                             

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

The following additional information is presented for U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans of LyondellBasell:

 

     2009    2008

Millions of dollars

   U.S.    Non-U.S.    U.S.    Non-U.S.

Accumulated benefit obligation for defined benefit plans, December 31

   $ 1,720    $ 1,002    $ 1,543    $ 928

Pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of assets are summarized as follows at December 31:

 

     2009    2008

Millions of dollars

   U.S.    Non-U.S.    U.S.    Non-U.S.

Projected benefit obligations

   $ 1,731    $ 757    $ 1,580    $ 713

Fair value of assets

     1,119      210      1,008      203

Pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the fair value of assets are summarized as follows at December 31:

 

     2009    2008

Millions of dollars

   U.S.    Non-U.S.    U.S.    Non-U.S.

Accumulated benefit obligations

   $ 1,704    $ 734    $ 1,543    $ 638

Fair value of assets

     1,119      210      1,008      143

The following table provides the components of net periodic pension costs:

 

     2009     2008     2007  

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Net Periodic Pension Cost:

            

Service cost

   $ 50      $ 28      $ 50      $ 30      $ 10      $ 17   

Interest cost

     90        53        105        50        19        23   

Actual return on plan assets

     (215     (31     467        61        (22     (11

Less—return in excess of (less than) expected return

     125        3        (593     (96            (2
                                                

Expected return on plan assets

     (90     (28     (126     (35     (22     (13

Settlement and curtailment loss (gain)

     2        (2     1        (1     (31     (12

Prior service cost (benefit) amortization

     (14     8        (3     2               2   

Actuarial and investment loss amortization

     27        (3            (1     (1     6   
                                                

Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)

   $ 65      $ 56      $ 27      $ 45      $ (25   $ 23   
                                                

Management’s goal is to manage pension investments over the longer term to achieve optimal returns with an acceptable level of risk and volatility. The assets are externally managed by professional investment firms and performance is evaluated continuously against specific benchmarks.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

LyondellBasell AF’s targeted asset allocation, during the period and target allocation for its plans are as follows:

 

     2009     2008  
     Actual     Target     Actual     Target  

Canada

        

Equity securities

   62   60   58   60

Fixed income

   38   40   42   40

United Kingdom—Lyondell Chemical Plans

        

Equity securities

   51   50   41   50

Fixed income

   49   50   59   50

United Kingdom—Basell Plans

        

Equity securities

   97   60   60   60

Fixed income

   3   40   40   40

United States

        

Equity securities

   64   65   64   65

Fixed income

   29   30   30   30

Real Estate

   3   5   6   5

Other

   4      

Netherlands—Lyondell Chemical Plans

        

Equity securities

   15   50   23   50

Fixed income

   85   50   77   50

Netherlands—Basell Plans

        

Equity securities

   19   17.5   24   17.5

Fixed income

   81   82.5   76   82.5

LyondellBasell AF estimates the following contributions to its pension plans in 2010:

 

Millions of dollars

   U.S.    Non-U.S.

Defined benefit plans

   $ 56    $ 33

Multi-employer plans

          7
             

Total

   $ 56    $ 40
             

As of December 31, 2009, future expected benefit payments by LyondellBasell AF’s pension plans which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, were as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   U.S.    Non-U.S.

2010

   $ 182    $ 30

2011

     120      31

2012

     127      32

2013

     125      84

2014

     132      33

2015 through 2019

     740      183

The following table sets forth the principal assumptions on discount rates, projected rates of compensation increase and expected rates of return on plan assets, where applicable. These assumptions vary for the different plans, as they are determined in consideration of the local conditions.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

The assumptions used in determining the net benefit liabilities for LyondellBasell AF’s pension plans were as follows at December 31:

 

     2009     2008  
     U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Weighted-average assumptions as of December 31:

        

Discount rate

   5.75   5.51   6.00   5.73

Rate of compensation increase

   4.00   3.12   4.45   3.25

The assumptions used in determining net benefit costs for LyondellBasell AF’s pension plans were as follows for the year ended December 31:

 

     2009     2008     2007  
     U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Weighted-average assumptions for the year:

            

Discount rate

   6.00   5.73   6.33   5.30   5.77   4.54

Expected return on plan assets

   8.00   5.78   8.08   6.35   8.07   6.35

Rate of compensation increase

   4.45   3.25   4.50   3.11   4.44   3.11

The discount rate assumptions reflect the rates at which the benefit obligations could be effectively settled, based on published long-term bond indices where the term closely matches the term of the benefit obligations. The expected rate of return on assets was estimated based on the plans’ asset allocation, a review of historical capital market performance, historical plan performance and a forecast of expected future asset returns. LyondellBasell AF reviews these long-term assumptions on a periodic basis.

LyondellBasell AF’s pension plans have not invested in securities of LyondellBasell AF, and there have been no significant transactions between any of the pension plans and LyondellBasell AF or related parties thereof.

The pension investments that are measured at fair value as of December 31, 2009 are summarized below:

 

     U.S. Pension
Basis of Fair Value Measurement

Millions of dollars

   Balance at
December 31,
2009
   Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

U.S.

           

Common stocks

   $ 737    $ 737    $    $

Fixed income securities

     339      41      298     

Short term investments

     18      18          

Real estate

     36                36

Convertible investments

     2           2     

John Hancock GACs

     5                5

Metropolitan Life Insurance GAC

     15                15
                           

Total U.S. Pension Assets

   $ 1,152    $ 796    $ 300    $ 56
                           

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

     Non-U.S. Pension
Basis of Fair Value Measurement

Millions of dollars

   Balance at
December 31,
2009
   Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

Non-U.S.

           

Common stocks

   $ 195    $ 195    $    $

Fixed income securities

     291           291     
                           

Total Non-U.S. Pension Assets

   $ 486    $ 195    $ 291    $
                           

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the level 3 plan assets for the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

     U.S. Pension
Level 3 Assets
 

Millions of dollars

   Real
estate
    Metropolitan
Life GAC
    John
Hancock
GACs
   Total  

Balance, beginning of year

   $ 54      $ 18      $ 4    $ 76   

Realized gain

     2        2             4   

Unrealized (loss) gain relating to instruments still held at the reporting date

     (26     (5     1      (30

Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net)

     6                    6   
                               

Balances, end of year

   $ 36      $ 15      $ 5    $ 56   
                               

Other Postretirement Benefits— LyondellBasell AF sponsors unfunded defined benefit health care and life insurance plans covering certain eligible retired employees and their spouses. Generally, the medical plans pay a stated percentage of medical expenses reduced by deductibles and other coverage. Life insurance benefits are generally provided by insurance contracts. LyondellBasell AF retains the right, subject to existing agreements, to modify or eliminate these benefits.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations of LyondellBasell AF’s unfunded other postretirement benefit plans:

 

     2009     2008  

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Change in benefit obligation:

        

Benefit obligation, January 1

   $ 328      $ 44      $ 321      $ 40   

Acquisition through business combinations

                          4   

Service cost

     5               6          

Interest cost

     18        2        20        2   

Plan amendments

     (23            (19       

Actuarial loss (gain)

            4        22        (1

Benefits paid

     (27     (4     (27     (3

Participant contributions

     7              

Foreign exchange effects

            (1     5        2   
                                

Benefit obligation, December 31

     308        45        328        44   
                                

Change in plan assets:

        

Fair value of plan assets, January 1

                            

Employer contributions

     20        4        22        3   

Participant contributions

     7               5          

Benefits paid

     (27     (4     (27     (3
                                

Fair value of plan assets, December 31

                            
                                

Funded status, December 31

   $ (308   $ (45   $ (328   $ (44
                                

 

     2009     2008  

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:

        

Accrued benefit liability, current

   $ (21   $ (2   $ (23   $ (3

Accrued benefit liability, long-term

     (287     (43     (305     (41
                                

Funded status, December 31

   $ (308   $ (45   $ (328   $ (44
                                

 

     2009     2008  

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:

        

Actuarial and investment loss (gain)

   $ 4      $ (1   $ 2      $ (6

Prior service cost

     (76            (59     (1
                                

Balance at December 31,

   $ (72   $ (1   $ (57   $ (7
                                

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

The following table provides the components of net periodic other postretirement benefit costs:

 

     2009    2008     2007  

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.    U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Net Periodic Other Postretirement Benefit Costs:

             

Service cost

   $ 5      $    $ 6      $      $ 2      $   

Interest cost

     18        2      19        2        4        2   

Prior service cost (benefit) amortization

     (7          (5     (1     (4     (1

Actuarial amortization gain

     (1          (2            (1     (1

Curtailment gain

                                      (5
                                               

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 15      $ 2    $ 18      $ 1      $ 1      $ (5
                                               

The curtailment gain of $5 million in 2007 reflected termination of a benefit plan in Italy.

For the U.S. plans, the assumed annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits as of December 31, 2009 was 8.0% for 2010 decreasing 0.5% per year to 5.0% in 2016 and thereafter. At December 31, 2008, similar cost escalation assumptions were used. At December 31, 2009, the assumed annual rate of increase was 8.5%. For the Canadian plans, the assumed annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits as of December 31, 2009 was 8.5% for 2010 decreasing 0.5% per year to 5% in 2017 and thereafter. At December 31, 2009, the assumed annual rate of increase was 8.0%. The health care cost trend rate assumption does not have a significant effect on the amounts reported due to limits on maximum contribution levels to the medical plans. To illustrate, increasing or decreasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point in each year would change the accumulated other postretirement benefit liability as of December 31, 2009 by less than $1 million and would not have a material effect on the aggregate service and interest cost components of the net periodic other postretirement benefit cost for the year then ended.

The assumptions used in determining the net benefit liabilities and net benefit costs for LyondellBasell AF’s other postretirement benefit plans are the same as those used for the pension plans.

As of December 31, 2009, future expected benefit payments by LyondellBasell AF’s other postretirement benefit plan, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, were as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   U.S.    Non-U.S.

2010

   $ 21    $ 3

2011

     22      2

2012

     22      2

2013

     23      3

2014

     24      2

2015 through 2019

     124      13

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income— The following pre-tax amounts were recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Benefits  

Millions of dollars

   Actuarial
(Gain) Loss
    Prior Service
Cost (Credit)
    Actuarial
(Gain) Loss
    Prior Service
Cost (Credit)
 

December 31, 2007

   $ (78   $ 6      $ (23   $ (48

Arising during the period

     692        (146     21        (19

Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost

     1        1        2        6   

Gain due to settlements

     (7                     

Exchange rate effects

     4        (1     (4     1   
                                

December 31, 2008

     612        (140     (4     (60

Arising during the period

     6        (3     7        (1

Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost

     (7     (7     2        8   

(Gain) loss due to settlements and curtailments

     (30     26        (2       

Gain due to plan amendments

                          (23
                                

December 31, 2009

   $ 581      $ (124   $ 3      $ (76
                                

The related deferred income taxes amount to $118 million and $133 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2009 expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in 2010 are as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   Pension
Benefit Cost
    Other
Benefit Cost
 

Net actuarial loss (gain)

   $ 27      $ (1

Prior service credit

     (14     (8

Pension Claim —Two legacy Basell subsidiaries, Basell UK Ltd and Basell Polyolefins UK Ltd were subject to a claim totaling £40.8 million ($70.4 million) related to exit fees charged by two UK pension funds of a former shareholder. The claims were made following the termination of the membership of these two subsidiaries in these funds in connection with the 2005 acquisition of Basell by Access Industries. These claims were net settled with the two pension funds for £17 million ($32.1 million) on August 20, 2008. LyondellBasell AF subsequently initiated arbitration proceedings against its former shareholder for indemnification of the net settlement amount. These proceedings were settled in October 2009 for £9.5 million ($15.7 million), which amount was recognized in the 2009 Consolidated Statement of Income.

LyondellBasell AF also maintains voluntary defined contribution savings plans for eligible employees. Contributions to these plans were $8 million in 2009, $31 million in 2008, and $32 million in 2007.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

24. Income Taxes

The significant components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:

 

     For the year ended
December 31,
 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007  

Current:

      

U.S. federal

   $ (142   $ (79   $ 1   

Non-U.S.

     114        17        354   

State

     16        16          
                        

Total current

     (12     (46     355   
                        

Deferred:

      

U.S. federal

     (1,310     (948     3   

Non-U.S.

     (66     178        (71

State

     (23     (32     (8
                        

Total deferred

     (1,399     (802     (76
                        

Provision for income taxes before tax effects of other comprehensive income

     (1,411     (848     279   

Tax effects of elements of other comprehensive income:

      

Pension and postretirement liabilities

     (15     (127     33   

Financial derivatives

     (27     (68       

Foreign currency translation

     (6     (12     24   
                        

Total income tax expense in comprehensive income

   $ (1,459   $ (1,055   $ 336   
                        

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

24. Income Taxes—(Continued)

 

The deferred tax effects of tax losses carried forward and the tax effects of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements, reduced by a valuation allowance where appropriate, are presented below:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008  

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Accelerated tax depreciation

   $ 3,251      $ 3,585   

Investments in joint venture partnerships

     482        474   

Accrued interest

     341          

Other intangible assets

     142        154   

Inventory

     238        240   

Deferred charges and revenues

     307        498   

Deferred income

            58   

Other

     17        178   
                

Total deferred tax liabilities

     4,778        5,187   
                

Deferred tax assets:

    

Net operating loss carryforwards

     1,031        983   

Employee benefit plans

     543        536   

Deferred interest carryforwards

     638          

AMT credits

     214        175   

Goodwill

     44        54   

State and foreign income taxes, net of federal tax benefit

     107        100   

Deferred charges and revenues

     19        114   

Environmental reserves

     549        59   

Other

     167        323   
                

Total deferred tax assets

     3,312        2,344   

Deferred tax asset valuation allowances

     (666     (625
                

Net deferred tax assets

     2,646        1,719   
                

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ 2,132      $ 3,468   
                

Balance sheet classifications:

    

Deferred tax assets—current

   $ 4      $ 9   

Deferred tax assets—long-term

     115          

Deferred income liability—current

     170        236   

Deferred income liability—long term

     2,081        3,241   
                

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ 2,132      $ 3,468   
                

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, LyondellBasell AF had total tax losses carried forward in the amount of $3,262 million and $3,144 million, respectively, for which a deferred tax asset was recognized at December 31, 2009 and 2008 of $1,031 million and $983 million, respectively. A valuation allowance of $665 million and $625 million was established for these tax losses and other deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

24. Income Taxes—(Continued)

 

Certain income tax returns of LyondellBasell AF and various of its subsidiaries are under examination by U.S. and non-U.S. tax authorities. In many cases, these audits may result in proposed assessments by the tax authorities. LyondellBasell AF believes that its tax positions comply with applicable tax law and intends to defend its positions through appropriate administrative and judicial processes.

Tax benefits totaling $68 million, $49 million and $34 million relating to uncertain tax positions were unrecognized as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007  

Balance at January 1

   $ 49      $ 34      $ 22   

Acquisition of Lyondell Chemical

                   15   

Additions for tax positions of current year

     1               1   

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     30        42          

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     (7     (25     (6

Cash Settlements

     (5     (3       

Effects of currency exchange rates

            1        2   
                        

Balance at December 31

   $ 68      $ 49      $ 34   
                        

The 2009, 2008 and 2007 balances, if recognized subsequent to 2009, will affect the effective tax rate. LyondellBasell AF is no longer subject to any significant income tax examination by tax authorities for years prior to 2007 in The Netherlands, 2005 in the U.S. and Italy, and 2003 in Germany, its principal tax jurisdictions, and for years prior to 2001 in various other jurisdictions. LyondellBasell AF expects to settle a significant percentage of the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months due to the expected resolution of a German income tax audit.

LyondellBasell AF recognizes interest expense and penalties related to uncertain income tax positions in operating expenses. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, LyondellBasell AF’s accrued liability for interest expense was $9 million and $10 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, LyondellBasell AF accrued interest expense of $2 million and $3 million, respectively, and in 2008 reversed accruals of $4 million related to prior years as a reduction in goodwill. During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, $3 million and $7 million of interest was paid in connection with various settlements.

The expiration of the tax losses carried forward and the related deferred tax asset, before valuation allowance, as of December 31, 2009 was as follows:

 

Millions of dollars,

   Tax loss carry
forwards
   Gross
deferred tax
on loss carry
forwards

Year

     

2010

   $    $

2011

     196      51

2012

         

2013

     153      39

2014

     109      29

Thereafter

     1,878      596

Indefinite

     926      316
             
   $ 3,262    $ 1,031
             

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

24. Income Taxes—(Continued)

 

Valuation allowances are provided against certain net deferred tax assets for tax losses carried forward in The Netherlands, Canada, France, Japan, Luxembourg, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

In assessing the recoverability of the deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies. In order to fully realize the deferred tax assets related to the net operating losses, LyondellBasell AF will need to generate sufficient future taxable income in the countries where these net operating losses exist during the periods in which the net operating losses can be utilized. Based upon projections of future taxable income over the periods in which the net operating losses can be utilized and/or the temporary differences can be reversed, management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets in excess of the valuation allowance of $666 million at December 31, 2009 will be realized.

In most cases, deferred taxes have not been provided for possible future distributions of earnings of subsidiaries as such dividends are not expected to be subject to further taxation upon their distribution. Deferred taxes on the unremitted earnings of certain equity joint ventures of $20 million, $29 million and $32 million at December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, have been provided to the extent that such earnings are subject to taxation on their future remittance.

The components of income (loss) before income taxes in the U.S. and other countries and reconciliation of the income tax provision to theoretical income tax computed by applying the U.S. federal tax rate are as follows:

 

     For the year ended
December 31,
 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008     2007  

Income (loss) before income taxes:

      

U.S.

   $ (4,352   $ (8,301   $ (104

Non-U.S.

     75        117        1,044   
                        

Total

   $ (4,277   $ (8,184   $ 940   
                        

Theoretical income tax at U.S. statutory rate

   $ (1,497   $ (2,864   $ 329   

Increase (reduction) resulting from:

      

IPR&D

                   33   

Impairment of goodwill

            1,746          

Non-U.S. income taxed at lower statutory rates

     (1     (59     (117

Changes in valuation allowances

            200        16   

Non-taxable (income) and non-deductible expenses

     124        44        20   

Notional royalties

     (47              

Other income taxes, net of federal benefit

     24        34          

Uncertain tax position

     24        33          

Other, net

     (38     18        (2
                        

Income tax provision (benefit)

   $ (1,411   $ (848   $ 279   
                        

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

25. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments —LyondellBasell AF has various purchase commitments for materials, supplies and services incident to the ordinary conduct of business, generally for quantities required for its businesses and at prevailing market prices. These commitments are designed to assure sources of supply and are not expected to be in excess of normal requirements. At December 31, 2009, LyondellBasell AF had commitments of approximately $44 million related to rebuilding an expanded world-scale high-density polyethylene plant at its Münchsmünster, Germany site. LyondellBasell AF’s other capital expenditure commitments at December 31, 2009 were in the normal course of business.

CEO Compensation —During the second quarter 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved an employment agreement between LyondellBasell AF and its chief executive officer (“CEO”) under which the CEO will receive certain equity awards, including restricted shares and options to purchase shares of LyondellBasell’s common stock, upon LyondellBasell AF’s emergence from bankruptcy. Accordingly, these equity awards have not been accrued as of December 31, 2009.

The restricted stock, which is also contingent upon continued employment, is valued at $25 million and vests on May 14, 2014. The stock options, which would equal 1% of the number of common stock shares expected to be outstanding at Lyondell Chemical’s emergence from bankruptcy, vest and become exercisable in five equal, annual installments beginning on May 14, 2010. Vesting is contingent upon employment through each applicable vesting date. The stock options may be exercised for a period of seven years following the grant date at a price equal to the per share value of the common stock anticipated in the plan of reorganization even if employment ends on or after the fifth anniversary of LyondellBasell AF’s emergence from bankruptcy.

Consultants’ Fees— In connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, LyondellBasell AF has retained the services of and entered into Bankruptcy Court-approved contractual agreements with various outside consultants to assist it in the bankruptcy process. The contractual agreements provide for various fee payments upon, or shortly after, emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases, the most significant of which are “success fees.” The success fees are contingent upon emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases. Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF has not currently accrued any liability with respect to these commitments, which are currently estimated at approximately $85 million.

Environmental Remediation —LyondellBasell AF’s accrued liability for future environmental remediation costs at current and former plant sites and other remediation sites, except those classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise,” totaled $89 million and $256 million as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In 2009, the liabilities for individual sites range from less than $1 million to $20 million. The remediation expenditures are expected to occur over a number of years, and not to be concentrated in any single year. In the opinion of management, there is no material, estimable reasonably possible loss in excess of the liabilities recorded for environmental remediation. However, it is possible that new information about the sites for which the accrual has been established, new technology or future developments such as involvement in investigations by regulatory agencies or resolution by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of LyondellBasell AF’s legal position regarding environmental liabilities, could require LyondellBasell AF to reassess its potential exposure related to environmental matters.

As a result of the Bankruptcy cases, the Debtors have discontinued funding and/or ceased performing cleanups at various third-party sites (including sites where the Debtors were subject to a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or similar state order to fund or perform such cleanup, such as the river and the other portions of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site that the Debtors do not own). Several government agencies have contested the Debtors’ position and actions. The Debtors are seeking a

 

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25. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

determination from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court that any claims or fines asserted against a Debtor with respect to such sites would be pre-petition claims, the collection of which is stayed by the applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and that will ultimately be discharged as a general unsecured claim under the Debtors’ plan of reorganization. Accordingly, in 2009, liabilities in the amount of $129 million related to the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site, as well as $40 million in liabilities related to certain other third-party sites, were reclassified from “Other liabilities” to “Liabilities subject to compromise.”

The following table summarizes the activity in LyondellBasell’s accrued environmental liability included in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other liabilities” for the twelve months ended December 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009     2008  

Balance at January 1

   $ 256      $ 260   

Additional provisions

     8        8   

Amounts paid

     (7     (28

Reclassification to “Liabilities subject to compromise”

     (169       

Adjustments to purchase price allocation

            22   

Foreign exchange effects

     1        (2

Other

            (4
                

Balance at December 31

   $ 89      $ 256   
                

As of December 31, 2008, the liabilities for individual sites ranged from less than $1 million to $130 million. The $130 million liability related to the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site recognized by Lyondell Chemical in the acquisition of Millennium.

At the time of Lyondell Chemical’s acquisition of Millennium in 2004, a Millennium subsidiary had been identified as a Potential Responsible Party (“PRP”) with respect to the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site. The site involves cleanup of river sediments and floodplain soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, cleanup of former paper mill operations, and cleanup and closure of landfills associated with the former paper mill operations.

In 2000, the Kalamazoo River Study Group (the “KRSG”), of which the Millennium subsidiary and other PRPs are members, submitted to the State of Michigan a Draft Remedial Investigation and Draft Feasibility Study, which evaluated a number of remedial options for the river. The estimated costs for these remedial options ranged from $0 to $2.5 billion. Although the KRSG study identified a broad range of remedial options, not all of those options would represent reasonably possible outcomes. Management does not believe that any single remedy among those options represented the highest-cost reasonably possible outcome.

In 2004, Millennium recognized a liability representing the subsidiary’s interim allocation of 55% of the $73 million total of estimated cost of riverbank stabilization, recommended as the preferred remedy in 2000 by the KRSG study, and of certain other costs.

At the end of 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) took lead responsibility for the river portion of the site at the request of the State of Michigan. In 2004, the EPA initiated a confidential process to facilitate discussions among the agency, the Millennium subsidiary, other PRPs, the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, and certain federal natural resource trustees about the need for additional investigation activities and different possible approaches for addressing the contamination in and

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

25. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

along the Kalamazoo River. As these discussions continued, Millennium obtained new information about regulatory oversight costs and other remediation costs, including a proposed remedy to be applied to a specific portion of the river, and was able to reasonably estimate anticipated costs for certain other segments of the river, based in part on experience with the remedy being applied to the one portion of the river. As a result, management was able to reasonably estimate the probable spending for remediation of three segments of the river, which was accrued as of December 31, 2008. Management’s best estimates for costs relating to other segments of the river, which may remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, also were accrued, based on the KRSG study.

While the probable additional future remediation spending associated with the river could not be determined with certainty, the amounts accrued at December 31, 2008 were believed to be the best estimate of future costs, based on information available at the time of filing the bankruptcy petitions. The balance of the liability related to the river at December 31, 2008 was $85 million.

In addition, LyondellBasell AF recognized a liability primarily related to the Millennium subsidiary’s estimated share of remediation costs for two former paper mill sites and associated landfills, which are also part of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site. At December 31, 2008, the balance of the liability was $45 million. Although no final agreement had been reached as to the ultimate remedy for these locations, the subsidiary had begun remediation activity related to these sites.

The balance, at December 31, 2009, of the remediation liabilities related to this subsidiary’s sites, other than third-party sites, was $7 million.

Remediation liabilities for other sites, which include LyondellBasell AF’s obligations with respect to soil contamination at the Ferrara and Brindisi sites in Italy, totaled $82 million at December 31, 2009. A former shareholder indemnified LyondellBasell AF for the full potential obligation that could arise with respect to costs arising from soil contamination at the Ferrara and Brindisi sites in Italy. Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF has recorded a corresponding receivable from the former shareholder.

Litigation and Other Matters —On April 12, 2005, BASF Corporation (“BASF”) filed a lawsuit in New Jersey against Lyondell Chemical asserting various claims relating to alleged breaches of a product sales contract and seeking damages in excess of $100 million. Lyondell Chemical denies it breached the contract. Lyondell Chemical believes the maximum refund due to BASF is $22.5 million on such product sales and has paid such amount to BASF. On August 13, 2007, the jury returned a verdict in favor of BASF in the amount of approximately $170 million (which includes the above $22.5 million). On October 3, 2007, the judge determined that prejudgment interest on the verdict would be $36 million. Lyondell Chemical is appealing this verdict and has posted a bond, which is collateralized by a $200 million letter of credit. Accordingly, the judgment is deemed to be fully secured and not subject to compromise. On August 14, 2009, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order modifying the automatic stay to permit Lyondell Chemical to continue with the state court appeal.

Together with alleged past manufacturers of lead-based paint and lead pigments for use in paint, a Millennium subsidiary has been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings in the U.S. alleging personal injury, property damage, and remediation costs allegedly associated with the use of these products. The majority of these legal proceedings assert unspecified monetary damages in excess of the statutory minimum and, in certain cases, equitable relief such as abatement of lead-based paint in buildings. Legal proceedings relating to lead pigment or paint are in various trial stages and post-dismissal settings, some of which are on appeal. These cases have been stayed pursuant to the automatic stay provided by the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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25. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

On April 16, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court held a hearing on a motion by the Debtors (the “Stay Motion”) to enforce the automatic stay and for an injunction against further prosecution of a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of California by certain California city and county government plaintiffs, captioned County of Santa Clara, et al. v. Atl. Richfield Co., et al ., Case No. CV 788657 (the “Santa Clara Lawsuit”), that asserted a public nuisance claim against the defendants in that action, including Millennium Holdings LLC (a Debtor), arising from the alleged effects of exposure to lead paint in houses and buildings, and seeking an order requiring the defendants to fund a remedial fund for lead paint removal. On April 23, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court entered an order on the Stay Motion: (i) requiring the California government plaintiffs to file a commitment by a stated deadline agreeing to refrain from proceeding against Millennium Holdings, LLC, in the Santa Clara Lawsuit or asserting claims against such Debtor based on the operative facts in that case without first moving for and obtaining leave to do so from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court; and (ii) if such plaintiffs fail to file such a commitment by the deadline, enjoining them from proceedings against such Debtor in the Santa Clara Lawsuit or otherwise asserting claims based on the operative facts in that case. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court also stated from the bench at the hearing on the Stay Motion that any such claim asserted against the Debtors would be a pre-petition claim that is barred by the automatic stay provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (and would not qualify under any “police power” exception to the automatic stay). In response to the Bankruptcy Court’s April 23, 2009 order, all of the California government plaintiffs filed the required commitment by the stated deadline.

While LyondellBasell AF believes that Millennium has valid defenses to all the lead-based paint and lead pigment proceedings and is vigorously defending them, litigation is inherently subject to many uncertainties. Any liability that the subsidiary may ultimately incur cannot be estimated at this time.

Millennium’s defense costs to date for lead-based paint and lead pigment litigation largely have been covered by insurance. Millennium has insurance policies that potentially provide approximately $1 billion in indemnity coverage for lead-based paint and lead pigment litigation. Millennium’s ability to collect under the indemnity coverage would depend upon, among other things, the resolution of certain potential coverage defenses that the insurers are likely to assert and the solvency of the various insurance carriers that are part of the coverage block at the time of such a request.

As part of its technology licensing contracts, LyondellBasell AF gives indemnifications to its licensees for liability arising from possible patent infringement claims with respect to proprietary licensed technology. Such indemnifications have a stated maximum amount and generally cover a period of five to ten years.

Indemnification —LyondellBasell AF S.C.A. and its subsidiaries are parties to various indemnification arrangements, including arrangements entered into in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and the formation of joint ventures. For example, Lyondell Chemical entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with the transfer of assets and liabilities from Atlantic Richfield Company to Lyondell Chemical prior to Lyondell Chemical’s initial public offering and in connection with Lyondell Chemical’s acquisition of the outstanding shares of ARCO Chemical Company; Equistar and its owner companies (including Lyondell Chemical and Millennium) entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with the formation of Equistar; and Millennium entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with its demerger from Hanson plc. Pursuant to these arrangements, Lyondell Chemical and its subsidiaries provide indemnification to and/or receive indemnification from other parties in connection with liabilities that may arise in connection with the transactions and in connection with activities prior to completion of the transactions. These indemnification arrangements typically include provisions pertaining to third party claims relating to environmental and tax matters and various

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

25. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

types of litigation. As of December 31, 2009, LyondellBasell AF has not accrued any significant amounts for such indemnification obligations and it is not aware of other circumstances that would likely lead to significant future indemnification obligations. LyondellBasell AF cannot determine with certainty the potential amount of future payments under the indemnification arrangements until events arise that would trigger a liability under the arrangements. In addition, LyondellBasell AF expects to take the position that many, if not all, potential liabilities arising from these indemnification arrangements are general unsecured prepetition claims that will be discharged through the Debtors’ plan of reorganization.

Other —LyondellBasell AF has identified certain activities related to a project in Kazakhstan that raise compliance issues under U.S. law. It has engaged outside counsel to investigate these activities, under the oversight of a special committee established by the Supervisory Board, and to evaluate internal controls and compliance policies and procedures. LyondellBasell AF made a voluntary disclosure of these matters to the U.S. Department of Justice and is cooperating fully with that agency.

LyondellBasell AF and its joint ventures are, from time to time, defendants in lawsuits and other commercial disputes, some of which are not covered by insurance. Many of these suits make no specific claim for relief. Although final determination of any liability and resulting financial impact with respect to any such matters cannot be ascertained with any degree of certainty, management does not believe that any ultimate uninsured liability resulting from these matters will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of LyondellBasell AF.

General —In the opinion of management, the matters discussed in this note are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position or liquidity of LyondellBasell AF. However, the adverse resolution in any reporting period of one or more of these matters could have a material impact on LyondellBasell AF’s results of operations for that period, which may be mitigated by contribution or indemnification obligations of others, or by any insurance coverage that may be available.

26. Management Incentive Plan

In August 2009, the Bankruptcy Court authorized the implementation of the Debtors’ management incentive plan (the “MIP”). The MIP is designed to provide the Debtors’ workforce with appropriate market-level competitive compensation and to align the interests of the Debtors, their employees and their creditors. The MIP covers the Debtors’ senior officers and managers, and provides for payouts upon LyondellBasell AF achieving certain EBITDAR targets. The maximum amount payable on an annual basis under the MIP is $45 million. Payment is subject to emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases. Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF has not currently accrued any liability with respect to the 2009 year.

In April 2008, LyondellBasell AF implemented a long-term incentive plan (“LTI”) for certain key managers. Under the terms of the plan, the key managers invested in a holding company that indirectly invests in LyondellBasell AF by purchasing investment units and received matching phantom units, as defined in the plan. The value of the investment units and phantom units are determined based on the independently-determined appraised fair value of the investment units at inception of the plan, and the value of the units is subject to increases or decreases in the enterprise value of LyondellBasell AF over the three-year vesting period. The phantom units will be revalued annually to equal the appraised value and represent the right to a cash payment equal to their appraised value upon vesting.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

26. Management Incentive Plan—(Continued)

 

Phantom units are accounted for as a liability award with compensation cost recognized over the vesting period. The phantom units vest in full after three years of continuous employment and are otherwise forfeited except on involuntary termination prior to December 31, 2008. The appraised value of the phantom units at the grant date was $15 million and the related accrued liability at December 31, 2008, was $2 million. These awards resulted in compensation expense of $2 million in 2008.

In April 2009, the holding company acknowledged the redemption and cancellation of the investment units it held in an indirect subsidiary of Access Industries, thus relinquishing its ownership in LyondellBasell AF.

27. Stockholder’s Deficit and Non-Controlling Interests

Common Voting Shares— On July 26, 2005, BI S.à r.l., LyondellBasell AF’s immediate shareholder, contributed to LyondellBasell AF all its assets and liabilities at a value of €860 million ($1,040 million) by the issuance of 403,226 new common voting shares with a par value of €124 each. This resulted in a new par value of $60 million and additional paid in capital of $979 million. Immediately thereafter LyondellBasell AF decreased the subscribed but unissued share capital by $14,995 (100 shares), see Note 1.

During 2007, LyondellBasell AF distributed $439 million of additional paid in capital to its shareholder.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) —The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

      

December 31, 2009

  

Pension and postretirement liabilities

   $ (273

Financial derivatives

     (60

Foreign currency translation

     35   

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

     12   
        

Total

   $ (286
        

December 31, 2008

  

Pension and postretirement liabilities

   $ (237

Financial derivatives

     (89

Foreign currency translation

     81   

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

     (19
        

Total

   $ (264
        

Transactions recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” are recognized net of tax.

The unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities represents LyondellBasell AF’s share of such gain recorded by equity investees.

Non-controlling Interest —The non-controlling interest represents unrelated investors’ 21% interest in a partnership that owns the PO/SM II plant in Channelview, Texas. LyondellBasell AF owns the remaining 79% interest. Non-controlling interest was $129 million and $135 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The $6 million decrease was primarily due to distributions to non-controlling interest shareholders

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

27. Stockholder’s Deficit and Non-Controlling Interests—(Continued)

 

of $22 million, net of $15 million of net income. Comprehensive loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, attributable to non-controlling interests was $6 million and included the $15 million of net income less $21 million of fixed operating fees paid to Lyondell Chemical by the PO/SM II plant. Non-controlling interest decreased $9 million from $144 million at December 31, 2007 to $135 million at December 31, 2008. This decrease was primarily due to distributions to non-controlling interest shareholders of $25 million, net of $18 million of net income. Comprehensive loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 attributable to non-controlling interests was $7 million and included the $18 million of net income net of $25 million of fixed operating fees paid to Lyondell Chemical by the PO/SM II plant.

28. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Supplemental cash flow information is summarized as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008    2007

Interest paid

   $ 1,221    $ 1,457    $ 272
                    

Net income taxes paid

   $ 57    $ 145    $ 211
                    

29. Segment and Related Information

As part of its reorganization, LyondellBasell AF reassessed its segment reporting based on its current management structure. Based on this analysis LyondellBasell AF concluded that management is focused on the following five segments:

 

   

Refining and Oxyfuels, primarily manufacturing and marketing of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, aromatics, lubricants (“lube oils”), naphtha, VGO, liquefied petroleum gas, bitumen, heating oil, and gasoline blending components, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (“MTBE”), ethyl tertiary butyl ether (“ETBE”) and alkylate;

 

   

Olefins and Polyolefins—Americas, primarily manufacturing and marketing of polyolefins, including polyethylene, comprising HDPE, LDPE and linear low density polyethylene (“LLDPE”), and polypropylene; and Catalloy process resins; and ethylene; its co-products, including propylene, butadiene, benzene and toluene; and ethylene derivative, ethanol;

 

   

Olefins and Polyolefins—Europe, Asia, International (“O&P—EAI”), primarily manufacturing and marketing of olefins, including ethylene and its co-products, primarily propylene and butadiene; polyolefins, including polyethylene, comprising HDPE, LDPE and polypropylene; polypropylene-based compounds, materials and alloys (“PP Compounds”), Catalloy process resins and polybutene-1 polymers;

 

   

Intermediates and Derivatives , primarily manufacturing and marketing of ethylene derivatives, including ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide (“EO”), and other EO derivatives; acetyls, including vinyl acetate monomer, acetic acid and methanol; PO; PO co-products, including styrene and tertiary butyl alcohol (“TBA”), TBA derivative isobutylene; PO derivatives, including propylene glycol, propylene glycol ethers and butanediol; and fragrance and flavor chemicals; and

 

   

Technology, primarily licensing of polyolefin process technologies and supply of polyolefin catalysts and advanced catalysts.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

29. Segment and Related Information—(Continued)

 

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” (see Note 2), except that segment operating results reported to management reflect costs of sales determined using current costs, which approximates results using the LIFO method of accounting for inventory. These current cost-basis operating results are reconciled to consolidated operating income in the tables below. Sales between segments are made primarily at prices approximating prevailing market prices, with the exception of sales of MTBE and ETBE sourced from PO co-products, representing approximately 75% of MTBE/ETBE capacity, which are sold by the I&D segment to the Refining and Oxyfuels segment at a formula-based cost.

No customer accounted for 10% or more of LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated sales during any year in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009.

On September 1, 2008, LyondellBasell AF completed the sale of its TDI business, including production assets in Pont-du-Claix, France, related inventories, contracts, customer lists and intellectual property, receiving net proceeds of €77 million ($113 million). As a result, LyondellBasell AF’s TDI business, which was part of LyondellBasell AF’s I&D segment, is presented as discontinued operations (see Note 6) and therefore is excluded from the operations of the I&D segment below.

Summarized financial information concerning reportable segments is shown in the following table for the periods presented. Presentation of prior years’ amounts have been reclassified to conform to LyondellBasell AF current operating segments.

 

Millions of dollars

  Refining
and
Oxyfuels
    Olefins and
Polyolefins
—Americas
    Olefins and
Polyolefins
—Europe,
Asia,
International
    Intermediates &
Derivatives
    Technology     Other     Total  

2009

             

Sales and other operating revenues:

             

Customers

  $ 10,835      $ 8,652      $ 7,128      $ 3,777      $ 436      $      $ 30,828   

Intersegment

    604        1,878        309        1        87        (2,879       
                                                       
    11,439        10,530        7,437        3,778        523        (2,879     30,828   

Impairments

    (9     (47     (16            (1     56        (17

Segment operating income (loss)

    (357     169        (13     250        210        29        288   

Current cost adjustment

                29   
                   

Operating income

                317   

Income (loss) from equity investments

           7        (172     (16                   (181

Capital expenditures

    167        142        411        21        32        6        779   

Depreciation and amortization expense

    556        537        212        331        100        38        1,774   

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

29. Segment and Related Information—(Continued)

 

Millions of dollars

  Refining
and
Oxyfuels
    Olefins and
Polyolefins
—Americas
    Olefins and
Polyolefins
—Europe,
Asia,
International
    Intermediates &
Derivatives
    Technology   Other     Total  

2008 (a)

             

Sales and other operating revenues:

             

Customers

  $ 17,370      $ 13,193      $ 13,489      $ 6,218      $ 434   $ 2      $ 50,706   

Intersegment

    992        3,219                      149     (4,360       
                                                     
    18,362        16,412        13,489        6,218        583     (4,358     50,706   

Impairments:

             

Goodwill

    (2,305     (624     (61     (1,992                (4,982

Other

    (218     (7                              (225

Segment operating income (loss)

    (2,378     (1,355     220        (1,915     202     (134     (5,360

Current cost adjustment

                (568
                   

Operating loss

                (5,928

Income (loss) from equity investments

           6        34        (2                38   

Capital expenditures

    196        201        509        37        33     24        1,000   

Depreciation and amortization expense

    566        558        295        360        97     35        1,911   

2007

             

Sales and other

operating revenues:

             

Customers

  $ 478      $ 2,823      $ 13,145      $ 350      $ 363   $ (39   $ 17,120   

Intersegment

           (6            79        134     (207       
                                                     
    478        2,817        13,145        429        497     (246     17,120   

Segment operating income (loss)

    21        61        934        (42     152     (248     878   

Current cost adjustment

                56   
                   

Operating income

                934   

Income from equity investments

           12        150                          162   

Capital expenditures

    4        42        333        6        26            411   

Depreciation and amortization expense

           72        244               117     39        472   

Sales and other operating revenues and operating income (loss) in the “Other” column above include elimination of intersegment transactions and businesses that are not reportable segments in the periods presented.

In 2009, LyondellBasell AF recognized charges of $696 million to write off the carrying value of assets, $680 million of which are reflected in “Reorganization items,” on the consolidated statements of operations. These charges included $624 million related to the O&P—Americas business segment, all of which was associated with a lease rejection at an olefin plant at Chocolate Bayou, Texas and $55 million related to the I&D business segment associated with an interest in an ethylene glycol facility in Beaumont, Texas.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

29. Segment and Related Information—(Continued)

 

Also in 2009, operating results for the O&P—Americas and Refining and Oxyfuels business segments included charges of $47 million and $9 million, respectively, primarily for impairment of the carrying value of surplus emission allowances related to HRVOCs and non-U.S. emission rights (see Note 15).

The remaining $16 million, which is included in “Impairments” on the consolidated statements of operations related to the O&P—EAI business segment, of which $6 million was related to an LDPE plant at Fos-sur-Mer, France, $6 million was related to the closure of a polypropylene line at Wesseling, Germany, $3 million was related to an LDPE plant at Carrington, U.K and $1 million was related to an advanced polyolefins compounding facility in Mansfield, Texas.

In 2009 LyondellBasell AF determined that there had been a diminution in the value of its investments in certain joint ventures and such loss was other than temporary. This determination resulted in pretax impairment charges of $257 million that was included in “Income (loss) from equity investments” for 2009 in the O&P—EAI business segment.

Long-lived assets of continuing operations, including goodwill, are summarized and reconciled to consolidated totals in the following table:

 

Millions of dollars

  Refining
and
Oxyfuels
  Olefins and
Polyolefins
—Americas
  Olefins and
Polyolefins—
Europe,
Asia,
International
  Intermediates &
Derivatives
  Technology   Other   Total

2009

             

Property, plant and equipment, net

  $ 4,888   $ 4,170   $ 3,115   $ 2,583   $ 323   $ 73   $ 15,152

Investment in PO Joint Ventures

                922             922

Equity and other investments

        117     869     99             1,085

2008

             

Property, plant and equipment, net

  $ 5,200   $ 5,044   $ 2,964   $ 2,746   $ 355   $ 82   $ 16,391

Investment in PO Joint Ventures

                954             954

Equity and other investments

        87     1,014     114             1,215

Property, plant and equipment, net, included in the “Other” column above includes assets related to corporate and support functions.

The following geographic data for revenues are based upon the delivery location of the product and for long-lived assets, the location of the assets.

 

     Revenues

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008    2007

Europe

   $ 10,931    $ 19,223    $ 12,272

North America

     16,566      28,118      3,183

All other

     3,331      3,365      1,665
                    

Total

   $ 30,828    $ 50,706    $ 17,120
                    

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

29. Segment and Related Information—(Continued)

 

     Long-Lived Assets

Millions of dollars

   2009    2008

United States

   $ 11,211    $ 12,680

Non-U.S.:

     

Germany

     1,958      1,793

The Netherlands

     1,283      1,318

France

     857      801

Other non-U.S.

     765      753
             

Total non-U.S.

     4,863      4,665
             

Total

   $ 16,074    $ 17,345
             

Long-lived assets include investments in PO joint ventures (see Note 10).

 

(a) LyondellBasell AF has revised its segment information for the year ended December 31, 2008 to correct segment income for a misallocation of inventory costs and impairments as follows:

 

       Refining
and
Oxyfuels
    Olefins and
Polyolefins
—Americas
    Olefins and
Polyolefins
—Europe,
Asia &
International
    Intermediates &
Derivatives
    Technology    Other     Total  

2008

               

Segment income (loss) as previously reported

   $ (2,762   $ (908   $ 354      $ (2,367   $ 202    $ (127   $ (5,608

Adjustment to segment operating income (loss)

     384        (447     (134     452             (7     248   
                                                       

Segment income (loss) as adjusted

   $ (2,378   $ (1,355   $ 220      $ (1,915   $ 202    $ (134   $ (5,360
                                                 

Current cost adjustment (previously reported as $320 million)

                                             (568
                     

Operating loss

                $ (5,928
                     

Impairments:

               

Goodwill as previously reported

   $ (2,305   $ (293   $      $ (2,384   $    $      $ (4,982

Adjustment to goodwill

            (331     (61     392                      
                                                       

Goodwill as adjusted

   $ (2,305   $ (624   $ (61   $ (1,992   $    $      $ (4,982
                                                       

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

30. Unaudited Quarterly Results

Selected financial data for the quarterly periods in 2009 and 2008 are presented in the following table.

 

     For the quarter ended  

Millions of dollars

   March 31     June 30     September 30     December 31  

2009

        

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 5,900      $ 7,499      $ 8,612      $ 8,817   

Operating income (loss) (g)

     (141     89        419        (50

Income (loss) from equity investments (a)

     (20     22        (168     (15

Reorganization items (b)

     (948     (124     (928     (961

Net income (loss) (c) (g)

     (1,016     (351     (650     (848

2008

        

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 12,765      $ 15,599      $ 14,086      $ 8,256   

Operating income (loss) (e) (f)

     376        428        274        (7,006

Income from equity investments

     33        39        22        (56

Net income (loss) (d) (e) (f)

     19        (14     (136     (7,190

 

(a) Loss from equity investments in the third and fourth quarters of 2009 included pretax charge for impairment of the carrying value of certain equity investments of $215 million and $13 million, respectively.
(b) See Note 4 for a description of reorganization items.
(c) The 2009 results included after tax charges of $1,924 million for reorganization items; $167 million for impairment of certain equity investments and $78 million for involuntary conversion gains on insurance proceeds related to damages sustained at a polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany.
(d) The 2008 results included $15 million of earnings of the discontinued operations of the TDI business in Pont-du-Claix, France.
(e) The fourth quarter 2008 results included nontaxable charges of $4,982 million for the impairment of goodwill, including $4,921 million related to the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, and a pretax charge of $218 million, $142 million after tax, for the impairment of long-lived assets of the Berre Refinery acquired in April 2008.
(f) The 2008 results include a charge of $1,256 million to adjust the value of inventory to market value, which was lower than the carrying cost at December 31, 2008 and $51 million, after tax, for involuntary conversion gains.
(g) In the fourth quarter of 2009, LyondellBasell AF recorded an adjustment related to prior periods which increased income from operations and net income for the three-month period ended December 31, 2009, by $65 million. The adjustment related to an overstatement of goodwill impairment in 2008.

 

     After evaluating the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the error, LyondellBasell AF has concluded that its previously issued financial statements were not materially misstated and the effect on the 2009 annual financial statements, of recognizing the adjustment during the fourth quarter of 2009, is not material.

31. Subsequent Events

LyondellBasell AF has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholder

of Lyondell Chemical Company

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of Lyondell Chemical Company (the “Company”) for the period from December 21, 2007 to December 31, 2007 (Successor), in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As described in Note 19, on January 6, 2009 and April 24, 2009, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries and a German subsidiary, and the Company’s Parent, LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., each respectively filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In order to emerge from bankruptcy, LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. and the Company must gain bankruptcy court approval of their plan of reorganization (POR). The POR, among other things, requires raising new debt and equity financing in order to discharge certain liabilities, including the debtor-in-possession financing, which matures on April 6, 2010. The outcome of these events is uncertain and raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 19. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Houston, Texas

March 27, 2008, except for Notes 1 and 4, as to which the date is November 12, 2008, and

Note 19 and the second paragraph above, as to which the date is February 28, 2010

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

of Lyondell Chemical Company:

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated statements of income and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of Lyondell Chemical Company (the “Company”) for the period from January 1, 2007 to December 20, 2007 (Predecessor), in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Houston, Texas

March 27, 2008, except for Notes 1 and 4,

as to which the date is November 12, 2008

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     Successor            Predecessor  

Millions of dollars, except per share data

   For the
period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
           For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Sales and other operating revenues:

         

Trade

   $ 913           $ 26,474   

Related parties

     2             785   
                     
     915             27,259   

Operating costs and expenses:

         

Cost of sales

     941             25,124   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     8             696   

Research and development expenses

     2             72   

Purchased in-process research and development

     95               

Acquisition-related costs

                 62   
                     
     1,046             25,954   
                     

Operating income (loss)

     (131          1,305   

Interest expense:

         

Related parties

     (33            

Other

     (23          (614

Interest income:

         

Related parties

     3               

Other

     1             33   

Other income (expense), net:

         

Related parties

     10               

Other

     (1          (537
                     

Income (loss) before equity investments and income taxes

     (174          187   

Income from equity investments

                 2   
                     

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

     (174          189   

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (25          93   
                     

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     (149          96   

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

     3             (97
                     

Net loss

   $ (146        $ (1
                     

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Successor            Predecessor  

Millions of dollars

   For the
period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
           For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

         

Net loss

   $ (146        $ (1

(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (3          97   

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

         

Depreciation and amortization

     39             860   

Equity investments—Amounts included in net income

                 (2

Deferred income taxes

     (22          (31

Purchased in-process research and development

     95               

Debt prepayment premiums and charges

                 591   

Changes in assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash:

         

Accounts receivable

     98             248   

Inventories

     (23          (26

Accounts payable

     89             632   

Other, net

     (401          (312
                     

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities—continuing operations

     (274          2,056   

Net cash used in operating activities—discontinued operations

     3             (122
                     

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (271          1,934   
                     

Cash flows from investing activities:

         

Proceeds from sale of investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries, net of cash sold

                 592   

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

     (22          (495

Advances under loan agreements to related parties

     (135          (166

Acquisition—related payments

                 (94

Distributions from affiliates in excess of earnings

                 3   

Contributions and advances to affiliates

                 (47

Payments and distributions from discontinued operations

                 (97

Other

                 12   
                     

Net cash used in investing activities—continuing operations

     (157          (292

Net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations before required repayment of debt

                 1,089   

Other net cash provided by investing activities—discontinued operations

                 82   
                     

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     (157          879   
                     

 

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)

 

     Successor            Predecessor  

Millions of dollars

   For the
period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
           For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Cash flows from financing activities:

         

Repurchase of common stock

                 (11,262

Proceeds from loan agreements with related parties

                 7,883   

Issuance of long-term debt

                 9,412   

Repayment of long-term debt

     (4          (8,158

Net borrowings (repayments) under revolving credit facility

     (130          130   

Dividends paid

                 (229

Payments for stock options

                 (109

Proceeds from and tax benefits of stock option exercises

                 115   

Other, net

     (16          (6
                     

Net cash used in financing activities—continuing operations

     (150          (2,224

Debt required to be repaid upon sale of discontinued Operations

                 (99

Other net cash provided by financing activities—discontinued operations

                 23   
                     

Net cash used in financing activities

     (150          (2,300
                     

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

                 (11
                     

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (578          502   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     948             446   
                     

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

     370             948   

Less: Cash and cash equivalents at end of period—discontinued operations

                   
                     

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period—continuing operations

   $ 370           $ 948   
                     

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page

1.

  Basis of Presentation    F-95

2.

  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies    F-96

3.

  Acquisition of Lyondell by LyondellBasell Industries    F-98

4.

  Discontinued Operations    F-99

5.

  Hurricane Effects    F-100

6.

  Related Party Transactions    F-100

7.

  Equity Interest and Acquisition of Houston Refining LP    F-102

8.

  Investment in PO Joint Ventures    F-102

9.

  Accounts Receivable    F-103

10.

  Depreciation and Amortization    F-104

11.

  Long-Term Debt    F-104

12.

  Lease Commitments    F-107

13.

  Financial Instruments and Derivatives    F-107

14.

  Pension and Other Postretirement Cost    F-109

15.

  Income Taxes    F-111

16.

  Commitments and Contingencies    F-113

17.

  Share-Based Compensation    F-116

18.

  Supplemental Cash Flow Information    F-118

19.

  Subsequent Events    F-118

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation

Lyondell Chemical Company, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “Lyondell Chemical” or “the Company”), is a manufacturer of chemicals and plastics, a refiner of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil and a significant producer of gasoline blending components. The consolidated statements of operations and cash flows (the “financial statements”) include the accounts of Lyondell Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. Investments in joint ventures where Lyondell Chemical exerts a certain level of management control, but lacks full decision making ability over all major issues, are accounted for using the equity method. Under those circumstances, the equity method is used even though Lyondell’s ownership percentage may exceed 50%.

On December 20, 2007, LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (formerly known as Basell AF S.C.A.), indirectly acquired all of the shares of Lyondell common stock. As a result Lyondell Chemical is now an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries “LyondellBasell AF” and without Lyondell, the “Basell Group”) (see Note 3).

On September 1, 2008, Lyondell Chemical completed the sale of its toluene diisocyanate (“TDI”) business, including production assets in Pont-du-Claix, France, related inventories, contracts, customer lists and intellectual property, receiving net proceeds of €77 million ($113 million). For additional information, see Notes 2 and 4.

On May 15, 2007, Lyondell Chemical completed the sale of its worldwide inorganic chemicals business in a transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion, including the acquisition of working capital and assumption of certain liabilities directly related to the business. Accordingly, Lyondell Chemical’s inorganic chemicals business operations are presented as discontinued operations for periods prior to the sale (see Note 4).

As a result of Lyondell Chemical’s acquisition by LyondellBasell AF on December 20, 2007, the Company recorded $834 million of debt for which it is not the primary obligor, but which it has guaranteed, and which was used by LyondellBasell AF in the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical (“push-down debt”), and $179 million of related debt issuance costs.

In Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”), Topic 5J, Push Down Basis of Accounting Required in Certain Limited Circumstances , the Securities and Exchange Commission requires, among other things, that, in situations where debt is used to acquire substantially all of an acquiree’s common stock and the acquiree guarantees the debt or pledges its assets as collateral for the debt, the debt and related interest expense and debt issuance costs be reflected in, or “pushed down” to, the acquiree’s financial statements. Lyondell Chemical guarantees $834 million of debt, but under which Lyondell Chemical is not the primary obligor see Note 11.

The consolidated statement of operations for the 11-day period subsequent to the acquisition reflect depreciation and amortization expense based on the new value of the related assets and interest expense that resulted from the debt used to finance the acquisition; therefore, the financial information for the periods prior to and subsequent to the acquisition is not generally comparable. To indicate the application of a different basis of accounting for the period subsequent to the acquisition, the 2007 financial statements and certain notes to the consolidated financial statements present separately the period prior to the acquisition (“Predecessor”) and the 11-day period after the acquisition (“Successor”). If not so indicated, information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements is presented on a full year basis.

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition —Revenue from product sales is recognized at the time of transfer of title and risk of loss to the customer, which usually occurs at the time of shipment. Revenue is recognized at the time of delivery if Lyondell Chemical retains the risk of loss during shipment. For products that are shipped on a consignment basis, revenue is recognized when the customer uses the product. Costs incurred in shipping products sold are included in cost of sales. Billings to customers for shipping costs are included in sales revenue.

Discontinued Operations —Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to present Lyondell Chemical’s TDI business operations as discontinued operations. Unless otherwise indicated, information presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements related only to Lyondell Chemical’s continuing operations. Information related to Lyondell Chemical’s discontinued operations is presented in Note 4.

Cash and Cash Equivalents —Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid debt instruments such as certificates of deposit, commercial paper and money market accounts. Cash equivalents include instruments with maturities of three months or less when acquired. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Lyondell Chemical’s policy is to invest cash in conservative, highly rated instruments and to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one institution.

Lyondell Chemical has no requirements for compensating balances in a specific amount at a specific point in time. Lyondell Chemical does maintain compensating balances for some of its banking services and products. Such balances are maintained on an average basis and are solely at the Company’s discretion.

Allowance for Doubtful Account —The Company establishes provisions for doubtful accounts receivable based on management’s estimates of amounts that it believes are unlikely to be collected. Collectability of receivables is reviewed and the allowance for doubtful accounts is adjusted at least quarterly with charges to expense in the consolidated statements of operations, based on aging of specific accounts and other available information about the associated customers.

Inventories —Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and charged to expense using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for substantially all inventories, except for materials and supplies, which are valued using the average cost method.

Inventory exchange transactions, which involve fungible commodities and do not involve the payment or receipt of cash, are not accounted for as purchases and sales. Any resulting volumetric exchange balances are accounted for as inventory, with cost determined using the LIFO method.

Depreciation and Amortization —Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful asset lives, generally 25 years for major manufacturing equipment, 30 years for buildings, 5 to 15 years for light equipment and instrumentation, 15 years for office furniture and 3 to 5 years for information system equipment. Upon retirement or sale, Lyondell Chemical removes the cost of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation from the accounts and reflects any resulting gain or loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s policy is to capitalize interest cost incurred on debt during the construction of major projects exceeding one year.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment —The Company evaluates long-lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When it is probable that undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover an asset’s carrying amount, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value and impairment expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)

 

Goodwill —Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price paid by LyondellBasell AF over the fair value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of Lyondell Chemical. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment at least annually and impairment expense is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations (see Note 20).

Identifiable Intangible Assets —Costs to purchase and to develop software for internal use are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over periods of 3 to 10 years.

Costs of maintenance and repairs exceeding $5 million incurred as part of turnarounds of major units at Lyondell Chemical’s manufacturing facilities are deferred and amortized using the straight-line method over the period until the next planned turnaround, predominantly 4 to 7 years. These costs are necessary to maintain, extend and improve the operating capacity and efficiency rates of the production units.

Other intangible assets are carried at cost or amortized cost and primarily consist of emission credits, various contracts, technology, patents and license costs and deferred debt issuance costs. These assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or over the term of the related agreement, if shorter.

Environmental Remediation Costs —Anticipated expenditures related to investigation and remediation of contaminated sites, which include current and former plant sites and other remediation sites, are expensed when it is probable a liability has been incurred and the amount can reasonably be estimated. Only ongoing operating and monitoring costs, the timing of which can be determined with reasonable certainty, are discounted to present value. Future legal costs associated with such matters, which generally are not estimable, are not included in these liabilities.

Legal Costs —Lyondell Chemical expenses legal costs, including those incurred in connection with loss contingencies, as incurred.

Income Taxes —Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, as well as the net tax effects of net operating loss carryforwards. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Minority Interests —Minority interests primarily represent the interests of unaffiliated investors in a partnership that owns Lyondell Chemical’s PO/SM II plant at the Channelview, Texas complex and in a partnership that owns the LaPorte Methanol Company plant in LaPorte, Texas. The minority interests’ share of the partnerships’ income or loss is reported in “Other income (expense), net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Foreign Currency Translation —Lyondell Chemical operates primarily in two functional currencies: the euro for operations in Europe, and the U.S. dollar for the U.S. and other locations.

Use of Estimates —The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts related to the consolidated statements of cash flows and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)

 

Accounting and Reporting Changes —In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment to ARB No. 51 , which establishes new accounting and disclosure requirements for noncontrolling, or minority, interests, including their classification as a separate component of equity and the adjustment of net income to include amounts attributable to minority interests. SFAS No. 160 also establishes new accounting standards requiring recognition of a gain or loss upon deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is effective for Lyondell Chemical beginning in 2009, with earlier application prohibited.

The FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations in December 2007, which requires an acquiring entity to recognize all assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date at fair value with limited exceptions. SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007) will change the accounting treatment for certain specific items, including: expensing of most acquisition and restructuring costs; recording acquired contingent liabilities, in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) and noncontrolling, or minority, interests at fair value; and recognizing changes in income tax valuations and uncertainties after the acquisition date as income tax expense. SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007) also includes new disclosure requirements. For Lyondell Chemical, SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007) will apply to business combinations with acquisition dates beginning in 2009. Earlier adoption is prohibited.

Although certain past transactions, including the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF, would have been accounted for differently under SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), application of these statements in 2009 will not affect historical amounts.

The FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 in February 2007, which permits election of fair value to measure many financial instruments and certain other items. The new standard was applicable to Lyondell effective January 1, 2008 and does not have a material effect on Lyondell Chemical’s consolidated financial statements.

The FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements in September 2006. The new standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for its measurement and expands disclosures about such measurements. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2, delaying the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities. The January 1, 2009 adoption of these changes does not have a material effect on Lyondell’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Acquisition of Lyondell by LyondellBasell Industries

On December 20, 2007, LyondellBasell AF indirectly acquired the outstanding common shares of Lyondell Chemical for $48 per common share in an all cash transaction. As a result, Lyondell Chemical became an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of LyondellBasell AF. The purchase of Lyondell Chemical’s outstanding common stock and other equity instruments, assumption of debt and related transaction costs resulted in a total purchase price of $20,873 million, including the purchase of Lyondell Chemical common stock and other equity instruments for $12,371 million, the fair value of retained and refinanced debt of $7,506 million and transaction and other costs of $996 million. In addition, Lyondell Chemical recognized in its financial statements $834 million of the debt it has guaranteed, but for which it is not the primary obligor, and $179 million of related debt issuance costs. See Note 11 for discussion of the financing of the transaction. Lyondell Chemical’s results of operations in the Successor period included a charge of $95 million for the value of the acquired IPR&D.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

3. Acquisition of Lyondell by LyondellBasell Industries—(Continued)

 

Concurrent with the acquisition by LyondellBasell AF, Lyondell Chemical sold certain of its non-U.S. subsidiaries to other subsidiaries of the Basell Group for fair value of $1,288 million, including $668 million of debt payable to Lyondell Chemical by one of the subsidiaries. No gain or loss was recognized on the sale of Lyondell Chemical’s investment.

Certain of the non-U.S. subsidiaries sold to the Basell Group make payments to Lyondell Chemical under shared-service arrangements and also make royalty payments, based on sales, to Lyondell Chemical for use of the related technology. Prior to the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF on December 20, 2007, these payments were eliminated in consolidation. In addition, Lyondell Chemical sells product, primarily methyl tertiary butyl ether (“MTBE”) and ethyl tertiary butyl ether (“ETBE”), to these subsidiaries.

The following unaudited pro forma historical results of Lyondell Chemical for the 2007 Predecessor period assume the acquisition was consummated as of the beginning of the period:

 

Millions of dollars

      

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 25,188   

Loss from continuing operations

     (634

Net loss

     (731

The above pro forma results include the $95 million after-tax charge for purchased in-process research and development and reflect the sale of the non-U.S. subsidiaries to other subsidiaries of the Basell Group. The unaudited pro forma data do not include the charges of $591 million related to debt refinancing in the 2007 Predecessor period.

The unaudited pro forma data presented above are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations of Lyondell Chemical that would have occurred had the transaction actually been consummated as of the beginning of the respective period, nor are they necessarily indicative of future results.

4. Discontinued Operations

Lyondell Chemical’s discontinued operations comprise the operations of its inorganic chemicals and TDI businesses.

On September 1, 2008, Lyondell Chemical completed the sale of its TDI business, including production assets in Pont-du-Claix, France, related inventories, contracts, customer lists and intellectual property. On May 15, 2007, Lyondell Chemical completed the sale of its worldwide inorganic chemicals business in a transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion, including working capital and assumption of certain liabilities directly related to the business.

The following represent the elements of cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2007 related to the sale of the inorganic chemicals business:

 

Millions of dollars

   Predecessor  

Gross sales proceeds

   $ 1,143   

Cash and cash equivalents sold

     (37

Costs related to the sale

     (17
        

Net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations before required repayment of debt

     1,089   

Debt required to be repaid

     (99
        

Net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

   $ 990   
        

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

4. Discontinued Operations—(Continued)

 

The final amount that Lyondell Chemical will receive in compensation for working capital has not been determined. Unresolved amounts totaling less than $30 million are subject to possible arbitration proceedings.

The operations of the TDI and inorganic chemicals businesses have been classified as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. Unless otherwise indicated, information presented in the notes to the financial statements relates only to Lyondell Chemical’s continuing operations.

Amounts included in income from discontinued operations for all periods presented are summarized as follows:

 

     Successor          Predecessor  

Millions of dollars

   For the period
from December 21
through
December  31,
2007
         For the period
from January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 14        $ 929   
                   

Loss on sale of discontinued operations

     —            (25

Other income (loss) from discontinued operations

     5          (1

Provision for income taxes

     2          71   
                   

Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 3        $ (97
                   

The 2007 provision for income taxes primarily reflects the unfavorable effect of capital losses related to the inorganic chemicals business, the potential benefits of which were not expected to be available to Lyondell Chemical within the expiration period of such benefits. As a result of the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF (see Note 3) and the related sale by Lyondell Chemical to the Basell Group of certain of its non-U.S. subsidiaries, such benefits will be realized in the 2007 U.S. federal income tax return, and the value of such benefits was recognized in accounting for the acquisition.

5. Hurricane Effects

During 2005, two major hurricanes impacted the chemical and related industries in the coastal and off-shore regions of the Gulf of Mexico. During 2007, Lyondell Chemical recognized benefits of $33 million from insurance reimbursements for hurricane damages to Lyondell Chemical’s plants.

6. Related Party Transactions

As a result of the July 16, 2007 agreement and plan of merger between Basell and Lyondell Chemical (see Note 3), Lyondell Chemical began reporting transactions, including sales of product, with the Basell Group as related party transactions beginning in the third quarter 2007.

Concurrent with the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF, Lyondell Chemical sold certain of its non-U.S. subsidiaries to the Basell Group for fair value of $1,288 million, including $668 million of debt payable to Lyondell Chemical by one of the subsidiaries as discussed below. See Notes 3 and 11.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

6. Related Party Transactions—(Continued)

 

Certain of the non-U.S. subsidiaries sold to the Basell Group make payments to Lyondell Chemical under shared service arrangements and also make royalty payments, based on sales, to Lyondell Chemical for use of the related technology. Prior to the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF on December 20, 2007, these payments were eliminated in consolidation. In addition, Lyondell Chemical sells product, primarily MTBE and ETBE, to these subsidiaries.

Lyondell Chemical also conducts transactions with Occidental Petroleum Corporation (together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, collectively “Occidental”), which was considered a related party during the 2007 Predecessor period as a result of Occidental’s representation on Lyondell Chemical’s Board of Directors prior to December 20, 2007.

Product Transactions with Occidental —Lyondell Chemical’s subsidiary, Equistar Chemicals, LP (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Equistar”), and Occidental, previously one of the partners in the Equistar joint venture, entered into an ethylene sales agreement on May 15, 1998, which was amended effective April 1, 2004, pursuant to which Occidental agreed to purchase a substantial amount of its ethylene raw material requirements from Equistar. Either party has the option to “phase down” volumes over time. However, a “phase down” cannot begin until January 1, 2014 and the annual minimum requirements cannot decline to zero prior to December 31, 2018, unless certain specified force majeure events occur. In addition to the sales of ethylene, from time to time Equistar has made sales of ethers and glycols to Occidental, and Equistar has purchased various other products from Occidental, all at market-related prices. Lyondell Chemical’s subsidiary, Millennium, also purchases sodium silicate, and Houston Refining purchases caustic soda from Occidental. All of these agreements are on terms generally representative of prevailing market prices.

Current Account Agreements with Subsidiary of the Basell Group —On December 20, 2007, Lyondell Chemical and the Basell Group entered into two unsecured current account agreements for an indefinite period, under which Lyondell Chemical may deposit excess cash balances with the Basell Group and have access to uncommitted revolving lines of credit in excess of deposits. Deposits bear interest as the case may be at the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) 1 month rate for the U.S. dollar (“LIBOR 1 month rate for USD”) minus fifteen basis points. Borrowings under the lines of credit bear interest at the LIBOR 1 month rate for USD plus 350 basis points. At December 31, 2007, the balances under the two current account agreements reflected net borrowings of $717 million and net deposits of $135 million, respectively.

Notes Receivable from Subsidiaries of the Basell Group —Lyondell Chemical advanced $166 million to the Basell Group on December 20, 2007 under an unsecured loan agreement that matures on December 20, 2014. At the option of the Basell Group, interest is calculated in one-month, two-month, three-month or six-month periods and due on the last day of the applicable interest period. The note bears interest at the offered quotation in Euro for LIBOR (BBA convention) rates for the U.S. dollar for the applicable interest period plus 400 basis points.

Pursuant to a note payable to Lyondell Chemical, the Basell Group may borrow up to $1,000 million from Lyondell Chemical on a revolving basis. The note, which matures on December 31, 2012, bears interest at LIBOR plus 4%. Interest is due quarterly.

Note Payable to Subsidiary of the Basell Group —On December 20, 2007, Lyondell Chemical received proceeds of a $7,166 million unsecured loan from the Basell Group, which were used in connection with the December 20, 2007 acquisition and refinancing transactions. The loan, which matures in 2014, bears interest at the same rate as the Basell Group’s Interim loan plus 0.5%. Interest is due on the last business day of the interest

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

6. Related Party Transactions—(Continued)

 

period, which can vary concurrent with the interest period in effect under the interim loan. In addition, Lyondell Chemical recognized in its financial statements $834 million of the debt it has guaranteed, which includes the Interim Loan, but for which Lyondell Chemical is not the primary obligor, and $179 million of related debt issuance costs.

Revolving Line of Credit with Access Industries —On March 27, 2008, LyondellBasell AF entered into a $750 million committed revolving line of credit facility with Access Industries Holdings LLC. Borrowings under the facility are available to Lyondell Chemical and a subsidiary of the Basell Group.

Related party transactions are summarized as follows:

 

     Successor          Predecessor

Millions of dollars

   For the
period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
         For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007

Lyondell Chemical billed related parties for:

         

Sales of products and processing services—

         

Basell Group

   $ 2        $ 32

Occidental

              753
 

Shared services and shared site agreements—

         

Basell Group

     4         
 

Interest—Basell Group

     3         

Royalties—Basell Group

     6         
 

Lyondell Chemical was billed by related parties for:

         

Purchases of products and processing services—

         

Basell Group

   $        $ 6

Occidental

              38
 

Shared services, transition and lease agreements—

         

Occidental

              7
 

Interest—Basell Group

     33         

7. Equity Interest and Acquisition of Houston Refining LP

On August 16, 2006, Lyondell Chemical purchased CITGO’s 41.25% ownership interest in Houston Refining, resulting in 100% ownership and consolidation of Houston Refining. During 2007, a reimbursement of $94 million for taxes was made to CITGO, which Lyondell Chemical previously estimated to be $97 million, resulting in a $3 million reduction in the purchase price.

8. Investment in PO Joint Ventures

Lyondell Chemical, together with Bayer AG and Bayer Corporation (collectively “Bayer”), share ownership in a U.S. propylene oxide (“PO”) manufacturing joint venture (the “U.S. PO Joint Venture”) and a separate joint venture for certain related PO technology. Bayer’s ownership interest represents ownership of 1.6 billion pounds of annual in-kind PO production of the U.S. PO Joint Venture. Lyondell Chemical takes in kind the remaining PO production and all co-product (styrene monomer (“SM” or “styrene”) and tertiary butyl ether (“TBA”)) production from the U.S. PO Joint Venture.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

8. Investment in PO Joint Ventures—(Continued)

 

A separate manufacturing joint venture (the “European PO Joint Venture”), which includes a world-scale PO/SM plant at Maasvlakte near Rotterdam, The Netherlands, is owned 50% by Bayer and, through December 20, 2007, 50% by Lyondell Chemical. Concurrent with the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF, Lyondell Chemical sold certain non-U.S. subsidiaries to the Basell Group, including Lyondell Chemical’s subsidiaries that owned Lyondell Chemical’s investment in the European PO Joint Venture.

Lyondell Chemical and Bayer do not share marketing or product sales under the U.S. PO Joint Venture. Lyondell Chemical operates the U.S. PO Joint Venture’s plants and arranges and coordinates the logistics of product delivery. The partners share in the cost of production and logistics based on their product offtake. Similar arrangements prevailed through December 20, 2007 with respect to the European PO Joint Venture.

Lyondell Chemical reports the cost of its product offtake as inventory and cost of sales in its consolidated financial statements. Related cash flows are reported in the operating cash flow section of the consolidated statements of cash flows. Lyondell Chemical investment in the PO joint ventures is reduced through recognition of its share of the depreciation and amortization of the assets of the joint ventures which is included in cost of sales. Other changes in the investment balance are principally due to additional capital investments by Lyondell Chemical in the PO joint ventures and to revaluation of the investment to reflect the values assigned in LyondellBasell Industries’ accounting for the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical. Lyondell Chemical’s contributions to the PO joint ventures are reported as “Contributions and advances to affiliates” in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Changes in Lyondell Chemical’s investment in 2007 are summarized as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   U.S. PO
Joint Venture
    European PO
Joint Venture
    Total PO
Joint Ventures
 

Investment in PO joint ventures—January 1, 2007

   $ 504      $ 274      $ 778   

Cash contributions, net

     19        26        45   

Depreciation and amortization

     (33     (14     (47

Effect of exchange rate changes

            25        25   

Sale of investment to the Basell Group

            (405     (405

Revaluation of investment

     73        94        167   
                        

Investment in PO joint ventures—December 20, 2007

     563      $        563   
            

Cash contributions, net

     2          2   

Depreciation and amortization

     (1       (1
                  

Investment in U.S. PO joint venture—December 31, 2007

   $ 564        $ 564   
                  

9. Accounts Receivable

Lyondell Chemical sells its products primarily to other industrial concerns in the petrochemicals and refining industries. Lyondell Chemical performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and, in certain circumstances, requires letters of credit from them. The Consolidated Statements of Operations included a credit to income of $1 million in 2007.

On December 20, 2007, as part of the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF, Lyondell Chemical entered into a five-year $1,150 million Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility and terminated the

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

9. Accounts Receivable—(Continued)

 

$150 million and $600 million accounts receivable sales facilities, maintained by Lyondell Chemical Company (without its consolidated subsidiaries, “LCC”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Equistar, respectively.

Accounts receivable are reduced by the sales of interests in the pool. Increases and decreases in the amounts sold are reflected in operating cash flows in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, representing collections of sales revenue. Fees related to the sales are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The amount of outstanding receivables sold under the new facility was $1,000 million as of December 31, 2007.

10. Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense is summarized as follows:

 

     Successor          Predecessor

Millions of dollars

   For the
period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
         For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007

Property, plant and equipment

   $ 29        $ 664

Investment in PO joint ventures

     1          47

Turnaround costs

     4          85

Technology, patent and license costs

     1          6

Software costs

              23

Other

     4          38
                 

Total depreciation and amortization

   $ 39        $ 860
                 

In addition to the depreciation and amortization expense shown above, amortization of debt issuance costs included in interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations was $6 million and $15 million, respectively, for the Successor and Predecessor periods in 2007.

Amortization of identifiable intangible assets, included above as well as deferred debt issuance costs for the next five years is expected to be $454 million in 2008, $229 million in 2009, $199 million in 2010, $175 million in 2011, and $142 million in 2012.

Maintenance and repair expenses were $18 million and $630   million, respectively, in the 2007 Successor and Predecessor periods and $488 million.

11. Long-Term Debt

Lyondell Chemical’s long-term debt includes debt obligations of Lyondell Chemical’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Equistar and Millennium, and of Lyondell Chemical Company without its consolidated subsidiaries (“LCC”).

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

11. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Loans, notes, debentures and other long-term debt due to banks and other unrelated parties consisted of the following at December 31 2007, see Note 20:

 

Millions of dollars

   Amount
Outstanding
 

Bank credit facilities:

  

Lyondell Chemical senior secured credit facility:

  

Term loan A due 2013

   $ 1,500   

Term loan B due 2014 ($75 million of discount)

     7,475   

Lyondell Chemical $1,000 million inventory-based credit facility

     100   

LCC notes and debentures:

  

Debentures due 2010, 10.25% ($4 million of premium)

     104   

Debentures due 2020, 9.8% ($3 million of discount)

     222   

Senior Unsecured Notes due 2014, 8%

     3   

Senior Unsecured Notes due 2016, 8.25%

     1   

Equistar notes and debentures:

  

Senior Notes due 2008, 10.125%

     8   

Senior Notes due 2011, 10.625%

     4   

Debentures due 2026, 7.55% ($21 million of discount)

     129   

Notes due 2009, 8.75%

     15   

Millennium notes and debentures:

  

Senior Debentures due 2026, 7.625% ($72 million of discount)

     170   

Convertible Senior Debentures due 2023, 4%

     158   

Pushdown Debt from Parent—Bridge Loan

     8,000   
        

Total

     17,889   

Less current maturities

     (435
        
   $ 17,454   
        

On December 20, 2007, Lyondell Chemical entered into a note payable with LyondellBasell AF and received proceeds of $7,166 million. The note matures in 2014. In addition, Lyondell Chemical recognized in its financial statements $834 million of push-down debt for which Lyondell Chemical is not the primary obligor, but which it has guaranteed, and which was used by LyondellBasell AF in the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical. Combined, these represent the $8,000 million of Long-Term Debt—Related Parties. For additional information related to Long-Term Deb, see Note 21.

On December 20, 2007, in connection with the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF, Lyondell Chemical and other subsidiaries of the Basell Group entered into a Senior Secured Credit Facility. The Senior Secured Credit Facility consists of a six-year $2,000 million term loan A facility due 2013, a seven-year $7,550 million and €1,300 million term loan B facility due 2014 and a six-year $1,000 million multicurrency revolving credit facility due 2013. Lyondell Chemical borrowed $1,500 million and $7,550 million, respectively, under the term loans A and B facilities and none under the revolving credit facility, see Note 20.

Lyondell Chemical, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries Equistar and Houston Refining and a U.S.-based subsidiary of the Basell Group, also entered into a five-year $1,000 million senior secured inventory-based credit facility, which matures in December 2012. The revolving credit facility under the Senior Secured

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

11. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Credit Facility was undrawn at December 31, 2007 and amounts available under the facility were reduced by outstanding letters of credit provided under the credit facility, which totaled $20 million as of December 31, 2007.

LCC and certain of its subsidiaries are guarantors of certain debt of the Basell Group, including an $8,000 million Interim loan, 8.375% High Yield Notes due 2015, comprising borrowings of $615 million and €500 million ($736 million), and amounts borrowed by the Basell Group under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, consisting of $500 million borrowed under term loan A and €1,287 million ($1,894 million) under term loan B. The Interim loan is secured by a second priority interest over the collateral securing the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The Interim loan, together with the proceeds from other borrowings, was used to finance the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical. If not repaid prior to the 12 months tenure, the Interim Loan converts to a senior secured loan in December 2008 and is due December 2015. Accordingly, Lyondell Chemical recognized in its financial statements $834 million of this debt, for which it is not the primary obligor. In addition, certain subsidiaries of LCC are guarantors under the inventory-based credit facility. LCC also guarantees Equistar’s 7.55% Debentures due 2026 in the principal amount of $150 million, see Note 20.

LCC long-term debt —On December 20, 2007, LCC retired $1,753 million principal amount outstanding under its $2.65 billion senior secured term loan and terminated its then-existing senior secured credit facility, including the term loan and a $1,055 million revolving credit facility.

Pursuant to tender offers, in December 2007, LCC repaid $2,605 million principal amount of debt, comprising $899 million of its 8.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2016, $872 million of its 8% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2014, $510 million of its 6.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2017 and $324 million of its 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2013, paying premiums totaling $418 million.

LCC called and repaid the remaining principal amounts of $1 million of its 8.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 and $3 million of its 8% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2014 in February 2008, paying premiums totaling $1 million.

Also during 2007, LCC repaid $278 million principal amount of its 11.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2012, paying premiums totaling $18 million, and $18 million principal amount of the $2.65 billion LCC term loan due 2013. Lyondell Chemical also obtained consents to a proposed amendment of a restrictive provision of the indenture related to its 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2013, which required Lyondell Chemical to refinance subordinated debt with new subordinated debt. The amendment permitted the refinancing of subordinated debt with senior debt. As a result, Lyondell Chemical issued $510 million principal amount of LCC 6.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2017, paying debt issuance costs of $8 million, and repaid, at par, the outstanding $500 million principal amount of LCC’s 10.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009.

Equistar long-term debt —Equistar’s Debentures due 2026 are secured equally and ratably with the Senior Secured Credit Facility and the Interim loan generally by liens on any Equistar plant for the production of petrochemicals and ownership interests in entities with such plants.

On December 20, 2007, Equistar repaid $300 million principal amount outstanding under its $400 million inventory-based revolving credit facility and repurchased the $575 million amount of outstanding receivables sold under its $600 million accounts receivable sales facility (see Note 9) and terminated both facilities.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

11. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Pursuant to tender offers, in December 2007, Equistar repaid $1,373 million principal amount of debt, comprising $585 million of Equistar’s 8.75% Notes due 2009, $396 million of Equistar’s 10.625% Senior Notes due 2011 and $392 million of Equistar’s 10.125% Senior Notes due 2008, paying premiums totaling $71 million.

Also during 2007, Equistar repaid $300 million principal amount of its 10.125% Senior Notes due 2008 and $300 million principal amount of its 10.625% Senior Notes due 2011, paying premiums totaling $32 million.

In February 2008, Equistar called and repaid the remaining principal amounts of $15 million of Equistar’s 8.75% Notes due 2009, $4 million of Equistar’s 10.625% Senior Notes due 2011 and $8 million of Equistar’s 10.125% Senior Notes due 2008, paying premiums totaling $1 million.

Millennium long-term debt —In 2007, prior to Lyondell Chemical’s acquisition by LyondellBasell AF, $106 million principal amount of the 4% Convertible Senior Debentures due 2023 was repaid using a combination of Lyondell Chemical common stock and cash valued at $385 million. Pursuant to the indenture governing the Debentures due 2023 and subsequent to the acquisition, the Debentures were convertible at a conversion rate of 75.7633 shares of Lyondell Chemical common stock per one thousand dollar principal amount of the Debentures. The $44 million principal amount of the Debentures outstanding at December 31, 2007 was converted into cash of $158 million and paid in January 2008.

Also during 2007, Millennium repaid the remaining $373 million principal amount of its 9.25% Senior Notes due 2008, paying a premium of $13 million, and $4 million principal amount of its 7.625% Senior Debentures due 2026.

In 2006, a U.K. subsidiary of Millennium entered into a new €60 million, five-year, revolving credit facility. The U.K. subsidiary was part of the inorganic chemicals business and any borrowing under the facility was repaid and terminated by Millennium during 2007, as required, using proceeds of the sale of that business.

12. Lease Commitments

Lyondell Chemical leases various facilities and equipment under noncancelable operating lease arrangements for varying periods. Operating leases include leases of railcars used in the distribution of products in Lyondell Chemical’s business. Net rental expense for the 2007 Successor and Predecessor periods combined was $300 million.

13. Financial Instruments and Derivatives

Lyondell Chemical is exposed to market risks, such as changes in commodity pricing, currency exchange rates and interest rates. To manage the volatility related to these exposures, Lyondell Chemical selectively enters into derivative transactions pursuant to Lyondell Chemical’s policies. Designation of the derivatives as fair-value or cash-flow hedges is performed on a specific exposure basis. Hedge accounting may not be elected with respect to certain short-term exposures. The changes in fair value of these hedging instruments are offset in part or in whole by corresponding changes in the fair value or cash flows of the underlying exposures being hedged.

Commodity Price Risk Management —Lyondell Chemical is exposed to commodity price volatility related to anticipated purchases of natural gas, crude oil and other raw materials and sales of its products. Lyondell Chemical selectively uses commodity swap, option and futures contracts with various terms to manage

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

13. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

the volatility related to these risks. Such contracts are generally limited to durations of one year or less. Cash-flow hedging is normally elected for the derivative transactions; however, in some cases, when the duration of the derivative is short, hedge accounting is not elected. When the hedge accounting is not elected, the changes in fair value of these instruments are recorded in earnings. When hedge accounting is elected, gains and losses on these instruments are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) until the underlying transaction is recognized in earnings. Lyondell Chemical entered into futures contracts in 2007, with respect to purchases of crude oil and sales of gasoline and heating oil. These futures transactions were not designated as hedges, and the changes in the fair value of the futures contracts were recognized in earnings. During 2007, Lyondell Chemical settled futures positions of 1,336 million gallons of gasoline and heating oil, which resulted in a net gain of $53 million. In 2007, Lyondell Chemical entered into commodity swaps with respect to purchases of crude oil, which were designated as cash flow hedges. Lyondell Chemical settled futures contracts of 4 million barrels of crude oil during 2007, resulting in a net gain of $3 million.

At December 31, 2007 futures contracts for 20 million gallons of gasoline and heating oil in the notional amount of $25 million, maturing in February and March of 2008, were outstanding. Earnings included unrealized net gains of $60 million in 2007 related to these contracts.

Also during 2007, Lyondell Chemical entered into futures contracts designated as cash flow hedges to offset the effect of changes in the price of silver used as catalyst in the production process. At December 31, 2007, futures contracts for 1 million troy ounces of silver in the notional amount of $15 million, maturing in September 2008, were outstanding. Gains, related to these cash flow hedges, of less than $1 million were deferred in AOCI as of December 31, 2007.

Lyondell Chemical also entered into futures contracts designated as cash flow hedges to offset the changes in the price of natural gas. At December 31, 2007, futures contracts for 680,000 mmbtu of natural gas in the notional amount of $5 million were outstanding. Losses of less than $1 million related to these contracts, which matured in January and February 2008, were deferred in AOCI as of December 31, 2007.

Foreign Currency Exposure Management —Lyondell Chemical manufactures and markets its products in a number of countries throughout the world and, as a result, is exposed to changes in currency exchange rates. Costs in some countries are incurred, in part, in currencies other than the applicable functional currency. Lyondell Chemical selectively utilizes forward, swap and option derivative contracts with terms normally lasting less than three months to protect against the adverse effect that currency exchange rate fluctuations may have on foreign currency denominated trade receivables and trade payables. These derivatives generally are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. There were no outstanding foreign currency forward, swap or option contracts at December 31, 2007.

As a result of foreign currency transactions, Lyondell Chemical had a net gain of $43 million in 2007. The net gain in 2007 primarily related to intercompany loans and reflected the significant increase in value of the euro compared to the U.S. dollar during 2007 and the determination that certain outstanding intercompany debt will be repaid in the foreseeable future.

Interest Rate Risk Management —Lyondell Chemical selectively used derivative instruments to manage the ratio of fixed-to variable-rate debt at Millennium. In 2007, Lyondell Chemical terminated all of its outstanding interest rate swap agreements upon repayment of the underlying debt and recorded a loss of $2 million.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

14. Pension and Other Postretirement Cost

Lyondell Chemical has defined benefit pension plans which cover employees in the United States and a number of other countries. Retirement benefits are generally based on years of service and the employee’s highest compensation for any consecutive 36-month period during the last 120 months of service or other compensation measures as defined under the respective plan provisions. Lyondell Chemical funds the plans through contributions to pension trust funds, generally subject to minimum funding requirements as provided by applicable law. Lyondell Chemical also has unfunded supplemental nonqualified retirement plans, which provide pension benefits for certain employees in excess of the U.S. tax-qualified plans’ limits. In addition, Lyondell Chemical sponsors unfunded postretirement benefit plans other than pensions for U.S. employees, which provide medical and life insurance benefits. The postretirement medical plans are contributory, while the life insurance plans are generally noncontributory. The life insurance benefits under certain plans are provided to employees who retired before July 1, 2002.

The following table provides the components of net periodic pension costs allocated to continuing operations:

 

     Successor          Predecessor  
     For the period
from December 21
through
December 31,
2007
         For the period
from January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.          U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Service cost

   $ 2      $        $ 51      $ 11   

Interest cost

     3                 88        14   

Actual return on plan assets

     (5              (108     (1

Less- return in excess of (less than) expected return

     1                 10        (15
                                   

Expected return on plan assets

     (4              (98     (16

Prior service cost (benefit) amortization

                     (1       

Actuarial and investment loss amortization

                     15        1   
                                   

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 1      $        $ 55      $ 10   
                                   

The following table provides the components of net periodic other postretirement benefit costs allocated to continuing operations:

 

Millions of dollars

   For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Service cost

   $ 5   

Interest cost

     15   

Prior service benefit amortization

     (7

Recognized actuarial loss

       
        

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 13   
        

Amounts for the Successor period from December 20 to December 31, 2007 were immaterial.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

14. Pension and Other Postretirement Cost—(Continued)

 

The assumptions used in determining net benefit costs for Lyondell Chemical’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans were as follows for the year ended December 31, 2007:

 

     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Weighted-average assumptions for the year:

    

Discount rate

   5.75   4.21

Expected return on plan assets

   8.00   5.53

Rate of compensation increase

   4.50   4.44

The assumed annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits as of December 31, 2007 was 9% for 2008, decreasing 1% per year to 5% in 2012 and thereafter. At December 31, 2007, similar cost escalation assumptions were used. The health care cost trend rate assumption does not have a significant effect on the amounts reported due to limits on Lyondell Chemical’s maximum contribution level to the medical plan. To illustrate, increasing or decreasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point in each year would not have a material effect on the aggregate service and interest cost components of the net periodic other postretirement benefit cost for the year then ended.

Management’s goal is to manage pension investments over the long term to achieve optimal returns with an acceptable level of risk and volatility. Lyondell Chemical’s targeted asset allocations for the U.S. plans of 55% U.S. equity securities, 15% non-U.S. equity securities, 25% fixed income securities and 5% investments in real estate are based on recommendations by Lyondell’s independent pension investment advisor. Lyondell’s expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 8% is based on the average level of earnings that its independent pension investment advisor has advised could be expected to be earned over time on such allocation. Investment policies prohibit investments in securities issued by Lyondell or investment in speculative derivative instruments. The investments, except for real estate, are marketable securities that provide sufficient liquidity to meet expected benefit obligation payments.

Lyondell Chemical also maintains voluntary defined contribution savings plans for eligible employees. Contributions to these plans were $32 million in 2007.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

15. Income Taxes

The significant components of the provision for income taxes relating to continuing operations were as follows:

 

     Successor            Predecessor  

Millions of dollars

   For the
period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
           For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Current:

         

Federal

   $           $ 46   

Non-U.S.

                 63   

State

                 6   
                     

Total current

                 115   
                     

Deferred:

         

Federal

     (11          (3

Non-U.S.

     (6          (8

State

     (8          (11
                     

Total deferred

     (25          (22
                     

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes before tax effects of other comprehensive income

     (25          93   
 

Tax effects of elements of other comprehensive income:

         

Cumulative translation adjustment

     5             16   

Minimum pension liability

                   
                     

Total income tax expense in comprehensive income

   $ (20        $ 109   
                     

Income tax expenses related to discontinued operations are discussed in Note 4.

Certain income tax returns of Lyondell Chemical and various of its subsidiaries are under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and various other non-U.S. and state tax authorities. In many cases, these audits may result in proposed assessments by the tax authorities. Lyondell Chemical believes that its tax positions comply with applicable tax law and intends to defend its positions through appropriate administrative and judicial processes.

Tax benefits totaling $179 million relating to uncertain tax positions taken in prior years, including $44 million pertaining to discontinued operations, were unrecognized as of January 1, 2007 (see Note 2). The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2007:

 

Millions of dollars

      

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 179   

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     (46

Settlements

     (118
        

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 15   
        

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

15. Income Taxes—(Continued)

 

As a result of the sale of the inorganic chemicals business, unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions in prior years decreased by $44 million.

A substantial portion of the uncertainties at January 1, 2007 were related to passive foreign income for the years 1997 to 2001 and resulting capital loss benefits that were subsequently recognized. IRS audit examination and appeal of the matter was completed during 2007, and resulted in the $118 million decrease in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits during 2007, consisting of payments of $10 million and reversals of $108 million, which reduced goodwill by $34 million and deferred tax assets by $74 million.

The remaining amount of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would not affect the effective tax rate. Lyondell Chemical is no longer subject to any significant income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2005.

Lyondell Chemical recognizes interest related to uncertain income tax positions in interest expense. Lyondell Chemical’s accrued liability for interest expense was $17 million at December 31, 2007. During the year ended December 31, 2007, Lyondell Chemical paid interest of $26 million related to the settlements and reduced accrued interest by $43 million, which was recognized as a $36 million reduction in goodwill and a $7 million reduction of interest expense.

There were no undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries on which deferred income taxes were not provided at December 31, 2007.

The domestic and non-U.S. components of income (loss) before income taxes and a reconciliation of the income tax provision (benefit) to theoretical income tax computed by applying the U.S. federal statutory tax rate are as follows:

 

     Successor            Predecessor  

Millions of dollars

   For the
period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
           For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Income (loss) before income taxes:

         

Domestic

   $ (157        $ (9

Non-U.S.

     (17          198   
                     

Total

   $ (174        $ 189   
                     

Theoretical income tax at U.S. statutory rate

   $ (61        $ 66   

Increase (reduction) resulting from:

         

Purchased in-process R&D

     33               

Acquisition-related costs

                 14   

Redemption of life insurance

                 10   

Other effects of non-U.S. operations

     1             2   

Changes in estimates for prior year items

                 4   

State income taxes, net of federal

                 (8

Other, net

     2             5   
                     

Income tax provision (benefit)

   $ (25        $ 93   
                     

Effective income tax rate

     14.4          49.3
                     

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments —Lyondell Chemical has various purchase commitments for materials, supplies and services incident to the ordinary conduct of business, generally for quantities required for its businesses and at prevailing market prices. These commitments are designed to assure sources of supply and are not expected to be in excess of normal requirements.

At December 31, 2007, estimated future minimum payments under these contracts with noncancelable contract terms in excess of one year were as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

    

2008

   $ 494

2009

     429

2010

     418

2011

     415

2012

     406

Thereafter through 2023

     3,048
      

Total minimum contract payments

   $ 5,210
      

Lyondell Chemical’s total purchases under these agreements were $919 million in 2007.

Environmental Remediation —Lyondell Chemical’s accrued liability for future environmental remediation costs at current and former plant sites and other remediation sites totaled $207 million as of December 31, 2007 and. The remediation expenditures are expected to occur over a number of years, and not to be concentrated in any single year. In the opinion of management, there is no material estimable range of reasonably possible loss in excess of the liabilities recorded for environmental remediation. However, it is possible that new information about the sites for which the accrual has been established, new technology or future developments such as involvement in investigations by regulatory agencies, could require Lyondell Chemical to reassess its potential exposure related to environmental matters.

The following table summarizes the activity in Lyondell Chemical’s accrued environmental liability for the following periods:

 

     Successor          Predecessor  

Millions of dollars

   Period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
         Period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007
 

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 207        $ 176   

Additional provisions

              52   

Amounts paid

              (21
                   

Balance at end of period

   $ 207        $ 207   
                   

The liabilities for individual sites range from less than $1 million to $145 million in 2007. The $145 million liability relates to the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

A Millennium subsidiary has been identified as a Potential Responsible Party (“PRP”) with respect to the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site. The site involves cleanup of river sediments and floodplain soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, cleanup of former paper mill operations, and cleanup and closure of landfills associated with the former paper mill operations.

In 2000, the Kalamazoo River Study Group (the “KRSG”), of which the Millennium subsidiary and other PRPs are members, submitted to the State of Michigan a Draft Remedial Investigation and Draft Feasibility Study, which evaluated a number of remedial options for the river. The estimated costs for these remedial options ranged from $0 to $2.5 billion. Although the KRSG study identified a broad range of remedial options, not all of those options would represent reasonably possible outcomes. Management does not believe that any single remedy among those options represented the highest-cost reasonably possible outcome.

In 2004, Lyondell Chemical recognized a liability representing Millennium’s interim allocation of 55% of the $73 million total of estimated cost of riverbank stabilization, recommended as the preferred remedy in 2000 by the KRSG study, and of certain other costs.

At the end of 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) took lead responsibility for the river portion of the site at the request of the State of Michigan. In 2004, the EPA initiated a confidential process to facilitate discussions among the agency, the Millennium subsidiary, other PRPs, the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, and certain federal natural resource trustees about the need for additional investigation activities and different possible approaches for addressing the contamination in and along the Kalamazoo River. As these discussions have continued, management has obtained new information about regulatory oversight costs and other remediation costs, including a proposed remedy to be applied to a specific portion of the river, and has been able to reasonably estimate anticipated costs for certain other segments of river, based in part on experience to date with the remedy currently being applied to the one portion of the river. As a result, Lyondell Chemical recognized $47 million in 2007 for additional estimated probable future remediation costs.

As of December 31, 2007, the probable additional future remediation spending associated with the river cannot be determined with certainty, but the amounts accrued are believed to be the current best estimate of future costs, based on information currently available. The balance of the liability related to the river was $98 million at December 31, 2007.

In addition Lyondell Chemical has recognized a liability primarily related to Millennium’s estimated share of remediation costs for two former paper mill sites and associated landfills, which are also part of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site. At December 31, 2007, the balance of the liability was $47 million. Although no final agreement has been reached as to the ultimate remedy for these locations, Millennium has begun remediation activity related to these sites.

Millennium’s ultimate liability for the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site will depend on many factors that have not yet been determined, including the ultimate remedies selected, the determination of natural resource damages, the number and financial viability of the other PRPs, and the determination of the final allocation among the PRPs.

The balance, at December 31, 2007 and 2008, of Lyondell Chemical remediation liabilities related to Millennium sites other than the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site was $36 million.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

Litigation —On April 12, 2005, BASF Corporation (“BASF”) filed a lawsuit in New Jersey against Lyondell Chemical asserting various claims relating to alleged breaches of a PO sales contract and seeking damages in excess of $100 million. Lyondell Chemical denies it breached the contract. Lyondell Chemical believes the maximum refund due to BASF is $22.5 million on such PO sales and has paid such amount to BASF. On August 13, 2007, the jury returned a verdict in favor of BASF in the amount of approximately $170 million (which includes the above $22.5 million). On October 3, 2007, the judge determined that prejudgment interest on the verdict would be $36 million. Lyondell Chemical is appealing this verdict and has posted a bond, which is collateralized by a $200 million letter of credit. Lyondell Chemical does not expect the verdict to result in any material adverse effect on its business, financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

Together with alleged past manufacturers of lead-based paint and lead pigments for use in paint, Millennium has been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings alleging personal injury, property damage, and remediation costs allegedly associated with the use of these products. The majority of these legal proceedings assert unspecified monetary damages in excess of the statutory minimum and, in certain cases, seek equitable relief such as abatement of lead-based paint in buildings. Legal proceedings relating to lead pigment or paint are in various trial stages and post-dismissal settings, some of which are on appeal.

One legal proceeding relating to lead pigment or paint was tried in 2002. On October 29, 2002, the judge in that case declared a mistrial after the jury declared itself deadlocked. The sole issue before the jury was whether lead pigment in paint in and on Rhode Island buildings constituted a “public nuisance.” The re-trial of this case began on November 1, 2005. On February 22, 2006, a jury returned a verdict in favor of the State of Rhode Island finding that the cumulative presence of lead pigments in paints and coatings on buildings in the state constitutes a public nuisance; that a Millennium subsidiary, Millennium Holdings, LLC, and other defendants either caused or substantially contributed to the creation of the public nuisance; and that those defendants, including the Millennium subsidiary, should be ordered to abate the public nuisance. On February 28, 2006, the judge held that the state could not proceed with its claim for punitive damages. On February 26, 2007, the court issued its decision denying the post-verdict motions of the defendants, including Millennium, for a mistrial or a new trial. The court concluded that it would enter an order of abatement and appoint a special master to assist the court in determining the scope of the abatement remedy. On March 16, 2007, the court entered a final judgment on the jury’s verdict. On March 20, 2007, Millennium filed its notice of appeal with the Rhode Island Supreme Court. On December 18, 2007, the trial court appointed two special masters to serve as “examiners” and to assist the trial court in the proposed abatement proceedings. On May 15, 2008, the Rhode Island Supreme Court heard oral argument on, among other things, Millennium’s appeal of the jury’s verdict in favor of the State of Rhode Island. On July 1, 2008, the Rhode Island Supreme Court unanimously reversed the jury’s verdict and subsequent judgment against Millennium and the other defendants. The Rhode Island Supreme Court’s verdict effectively ends this legal proceeding.

Millennium’s defense costs to date for lead-based paint and lead pigment litigation largely have been covered by insurance. Millennium has insurance policies that potentially provide approximately $1 billion in indemnity coverage for lead-based paint and lead pigment litigation. Millennium’s ability to collect under the indemnity coverage would depend upon, among other things, the resolution of certain potential coverage defenses that the insurers are likely to assert and the solvency of the various insurance carriers that are part of the coverage block at the time of such a request.

While Lyondell Chemical believes that Millennium has valid defenses to all the lead-based paint and lead pigment proceedings and is vigorously defending them, litigation is inherently subject to many uncertainties. Any liability that Millennium may ultimately incur, net of any insurance or other recoveries, cannot be estimated at this time.

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

16. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

Indemnification —Lyondell Chemical and its joint ventures are parties to various indemnification arrangements, including arrangements entered into in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and the formation of joint ventures. For example, Lyondell Chemical entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with the transfer of assets and liabilities from Atlantic Richfield Company to Lyondell Chemical prior to Lyondell Chemical’s initial public offering and in connection with Lyondell Chemical’s acquisition of the outstanding shares of ARCO Chemical Company; Equistar and its owner companies (including Lyondell Chemical and Millennium) entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with the formation of Equistar; and Millennium entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with its demerger from Hanson plc. Pursuant to these arrangements, Lyondell Chemical and its joint ventures provide indemnification to and/or receive indemnification from other parties in connection with liabilities that may arise in connection with the transactions and in connection with activities prior to completion of the transactions. These indemnification arrangements typically include provisions pertaining to third party claims relating to environmental and tax matters and various types of litigation. As of December 31, 2007, Lyondell Chemical has not accrued any significant amounts for such indemnification obligations, and is not aware of other circumstances that would be likely to lead to significant future indemnification claims against Lyondell Chemical. Lyondell Chemical cannot determine with certainty the potential amount of future payments under the indemnification arrangements until events arise that would trigger a liability under the arrangements.

Other —Lyondell Chemical and its joint ventures are, from time to time, defendants in lawsuits and other commercial disputes, some of which are not covered by insurance. Many of these suits make no specific claim for relief. Although final determination of any liability and resulting financial impact with respect to any such matters cannot be ascertained with any degree of certainty, management does not believe that any ultimate uninsured liability resulting from these matters will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of Lyondell Chemical.

General —In the opinion of management, the matters discussed in this note are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position or liquidity of Lyondell Chemical. However, the adverse resolution in any reporting period of one or more of these matters could have a material impact on Lyondell Chemical’s results of operations for that period, which may be mitigated by contribution or indemnification obligations of others, or by any insurance coverage that may be available.

17. Share-Based Compensation

Under Lyondell’ Chemical s Amended and Restated 1999 Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”), Lyondell Chemical granted awards of performance units, restricted stock and stock options to certain employees. Restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock option awards were also made to directors under other incentive plans. In addition, Lyondell Chemical issued phantom restricted stock, phantom stock options and performance units to certain other employees under still other incentive plans. As a result of the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell, on December 20, 2007, all outstanding awards under these plans were settled for $319 million. At December 31, 2007, $49 million was unpaid. Lyondell Chemical has discontinued use of these incentive plans.

These awards resulted in compensation expense for 2007 of $200 million or $130 million, after tax. The compensation expense reflected awards vesting during the period and changes in valuation of previously vested awards other than stock options.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

17. Share-Based Compensation—(Continued)

 

Performance Units —Performance units represented the right to a cash amount, unless Lyondell Chemical’s Board of Directors determined to pay the performance units under the Incentive Plan in shares of common stock, equal to the market value at payout of a target number of shares of Lyondell Chemical common stock, adjusted for performance. The actual payout could have ranged from 0% to 200% of the target number of performance units based on Lyondell Chemical’s three-year cumulative total shareholder return (common stock price growth plus dividends) relative to a chemical industry peer group. Performance units were accounted for as a liability award with compensation cost recognized over the performance period. As a result of change-in-control provisions, all performance units under Lyondell Chemical’s plans immediately vested and were converted into the right to receive a single lump sum payment equal to $48 per equivalent share of common stock.

Cash payments of $174 million were distributed to participants during 2007.

Stock Options —Stock options were granted with an exercise price of at least 100% of market value, had a contractual term of ten years and vested at a rate of one-third per year over three years, with accelerated vesting upon death, disability, retirement or change of control. On December 20, 2007 in connection with the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF, all outstanding options of Lyondell Chemical became fully exercisable and were cancelled in exchange for a lump sum payment, in cash, of the excess of $48 over the exercise price of the stock option, resulting in an obligation of $110 million, substantially all which were paid in 2007.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2007 was $62 million and the related tax benefits were $20 million.

The fair value of each option award was estimated, based on several assumptions, on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 123 (revised), Lyondell Chemical modified its methods used to determine these assumptions prospectively based on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107. The fair value and the assumptions used for the stock option grants are shown in the table below. The expected volatility assumption was based on historical and implied volatility.

 

     2007  

Fair value per share of options granted

   $ 9.15   

Fair value assumptions:

  

Dividend yield

     3.60

Expected volatility

     35.09

Risk-free interest rate

     4.73

Expected term, in years

     6   

Stock options were accounted for as equity instruments, and compensation cost was recognized using graded vesting over the three-year vesting period for years prior to 2007. As a result of the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, all stock options vested and were settled in cash for an amount equal to $48 per share less the stock option exercise price. As a result, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options at December 20 and December 31, 2007.

Restricted Stock —Lyondell Chemical’s restricted stock arrangements under the Incentive Plan were divided equally into a restricted stock grant and an associated deferred cash payment. These restricted stock arrangements typically vested at a rate of one-third per year over three years, with accelerated vesting upon

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

17. Share-Based Compensation—(Continued)

 

death, disability, retirement or change in control. The associated deferred cash award, paid when the shares of restricted stock vested, was equal to the fair market value of the restricted stock issued on the vesting date. Restricted stock was accounted for as an equity award, while the deferred cash component was accounted for as a liability award. Compensation expense, based on the market price of Lyondell Chemical stock at the date of the grant for the restricted stock and, for the deferred cash components, the market price at the earlier of the vesting date or the balance sheet date, was recognized using graded-vesting over the three-year vesting period for years prior to 2007. The 2005 deferred cash awards vested and $3 million was paid out as a result of the November 20, 2007 special meeting of shareholders approving the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF. On December 20, 2007, as part of the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF, the remaining deferred cash awards vested and each outstanding share of restricted stock under Lyondell Chemical’s restricted stock plans and long-term incentive plans was converted into a right to receive $48 in cash, resulting in a total obligation of $15 million, which was paid in 2007.

Phantom Awards —Phantom awards were accounted for as liability awards and compensation cost was recognized using graded-vesting over the three-year vesting period for years prior to 2007. In connection with the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical by LyondellBasell AF, outstanding phantom awards were converted into a right to receive $48 in cash, resulting in an obligation of $76 million, of which $48 million was paid in 2007.

18. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Supplemental cash flow information is summarized as follows:

 

     Successor          Predecessor

Millions of dollars

   For the
period from
December 21
through
December 31,
2007
         For the
period from
January 1
through
December 20,
2007

Interest paid

   $        $ 736
                 

Net income taxes paid

   $        $ 240
                 

19. Subsequent Events

Impairments— During the fourth quarter of 2008, Lyondell Chemical performed its annual impairment tests for goodwill. As a result of the review, Lyondell Chemical determined that its goodwill was impaired. The impairment was based on a review of the business segments performed by management in which discounted cash flows did not support the carrying value of the goodwill due to the rapid deterioration in the global economy and the effects on Lyondell Chemical’s operations in the latter part of the fourth quarter of 2008. Accordingly, in the fourth quarter of 2008, Lyondell Chemical recorded a charge to earnings of $4,921 million for impairment of the remaining goodwill related to the December 20, 2007 acquisition of Lyondell by LyondellBasell.

Bankruptcy Cases —On January 6, 2009, certain of Lyondell Chemical’s subsidiaries and a European affiliate, Basell Germany Holdings GmbH (“Germany Holdings” and collectively the “Initial Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “U.S. Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York (“U.S. Bankruptcy Court”). In addition, voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code were filed by LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., the Luxembourg holding company, and its General Partner, LyondellBasell AF GP S.à.r.l.,

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Subsequent Events—(Continued)

 

on April 24, 2009, and by thirteen additional U.S. Lyondell Chemical subsidiaries on May 8, 2009 (collectively, with the Initial Debtors, the “Debtors”). The Debtors continue to operate their businesses as debtors-in-possession (“DIP”) under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

On January 8, 2009, the Debtors received interim U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval, and on March 1, 2009, the final U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval, of the debtor-in possession financings that provided for facilities in an aggregate amount up to $8,500 million, as follows, comprising: (i) a $6,500 million term loan facility (“DIP Term Loan Facility”) consisting of: (a) $3,250 million of new funding (the “New Money Loans”) and (b) $3,250 million of a dollar-for-dollar “roll up” of previously outstanding senior secured loans (the “Roll-Up Loans”) and (ii) an asset-based facility with a revolving credit line initially in an amount up to $1,540 million (“DIP ABL Facility” and together with the DIP Term Loan Facility, the “DIP Financing”) subject to a borrowing base, with an option to increase this facility through the addition of new lenders by an amount up to $460 million so that the aggregate DIP ABL Facility equaled an amount up to $2,000 million. On March 12, 2009 and July 15, 2009, new lenders were added increasing the DIP Financing by $30 million and $50 million, respectively, to $8,120 million.

The initial proceeds of the DIP Financing were used: (i) to refinance, in full, (A) the Senior Secured Inventory-Based Facility, (B) the $1,150 million Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility (see Note 13), (C) the $200 million North American accounts receivable securitization program, and (D) the $100 million super emergency interim DIP Financing; (ii) to pay related transaction costs, fees and expenses; (iii) to provide working capital; and (iv) for other general corporate purposes of the Debtors as well as the non-U.S. subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF. Not more than €700 million of the proceeds under the DIP Financing may be used to fund LyondellBasell AF’s non-U.S. subsidiaries. For the period from January 6, 2009 to December 31, 2009, the maximum amount advanced to LyondellBasell AF’s non-U.S. subsidiaries, pursuant to the term of the DIP Financing, was $634 million (€481 million at historical rates). At December 31, 2009, advances of $115 million (€80 million) were outstanding. Total cash held by LyondellBasell AF’s foreign operations may not exceed €200 million, after excluding certain items, including cash deemed restricted under the DIP Financing agreements due to settlement procedures under the European receivables securitization program, tax and legal considerations in certain countries, and pursuant to letters of credit and guarantees. On a weekly basis, cash in excess of the €200 million limit must be transferred to Lyondell Chemical, provided that the excess is at least €5 million.

The DIP Financing credit agreements were amended from time to time to, among other things, extend the maturity of the DIP Financing agreements from December 15, 2009 to April 6, 2010, with a one-time option to further extend the maturity to June 3, 2010. The maturity date of the DIP Financing agreements will be adjusted with the plan confirmation milestone, as may be extended based on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s availability.

In order to emerge from the Bankruptcy Cases, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court must find that the Debtors’ plan of reorganization complies with the requirements of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In addition, the Debtors must repay certain of their obligations under the DIP Financing and therefore, will be required to raise new debt and equity financing as stated in their Plan of Reorganization. The Debtors believe that their current and forecasted level of activity through April 6, 2010, the maturity date of the amended DIP Financing agreements, will be sufficient to maintain compliance with the DIP Financing and related forbearance agreements as discussed below, and to allow the Debtors to seek approval of a plan of reorganization and related restructuring of their debt. However, should business activity levels be below expectations or should margin volatility require

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19. Subsequent Events—(Continued)

 

more liquidity than the amount to which the Debtors have access through the DIP Financing or should any non-Debtor legal entity be subjected to an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, the Debtors could default on their DIP Financing obligations. Upon an event of default, the DIP Financing lenders could seek to impose onerous credit and other terms as a condition for waiving the default or demand other concessions. Ultimately, the lenders could declare all the funds borrowed under the DIP Financing, together with accrued and unpaid interest, due and payable and could exercise remedies against their collateral and seek other relief. The outcome of these events and, in general, the Bankruptcy Cases is uncertain, which raises substantial doubt about the ability of LyondellBasell AF to continue as a going concern. While the Company has filed its plan of reorganization and is negotiating agreements with its creditors to enable the Company to emerge from bankruptcy, the outcome of these events, and in general, the Bankruptcy Cases is uncertain, which raises substantial doubt about the ability of Lyondell Chemical to continue as a going concern.

In 2009, in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, Lyondell Chemical recognized charges related to its reorganization totaling $2,749 million, including charges for the write off of assets associated with a lease rejection; damage claims related to certain executory contracts; the net write off of unamortized debt issuance costs, premiums and discounts; environmental liabilities; professional fees associated with the chapter 11 proceedings; plant shutdown costs, primarily related to the shutdown of their olefin plant at Chocolate Bayou, Texas and the long-term idling of their ethylene glycol facility in Beaumont, Texas; and other costs.

 

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FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 

Millions of dollars

           2010                     2009          

Sales and other operating revenues:

    

Trade

   $ 9,606      $ 5,807   

Related parties

     149        93   
                
     9,755        5,900   

Operating costs and expenses:

    

Cost of sales

     9,130        5,792   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     217        207   

Research and development expenses

     41        42   
                
     9,388        6,041   
                

Operating income (loss)

     367        (141

Interest expense ($663 million and $557 million contractual interest for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively)

     (411     (445

Interest income

     2        20   

Other income (expense), net

     (198     90   
                

Loss from continuing operations before equity investments, reorganization items and income taxes

     (240     (476

Income (loss) from equity investments

     55        (20

Reorganization items

     207        (948
                

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

     22        (1,444

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     12        (432
                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     10        (1,012

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

            (4
                

Net income (loss)

   $ 10      $ (1,016
                

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

 

Millions, except shares and par value data

   March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 537      $ 558   

Short-term investments

     2        11   

Accounts receivable:

    

Trade, net

     3,413        3,092   

Related parties

     229        195   

Inventories

     3,590        3,277   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     946        1,133   
                

Total current assets

     8,717        8,266   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     14,687        15,152   

Investments and long-term receivables:

    

Investment in PO joint ventures

     880        922   

Equity investments

     1,125        1,085   

Other investments and long-term receivables

     90        112   

Intangible assets, net

     1,748        1,861   

Other assets

     338        363   
                

Total assets

   $ 27,585      $ 27,761   
                

LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT

    

Liabilities not subject to compromise:

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 487      $ 497   

Short-term debt

     6,675        6,182   

Accounts payable:

    

Trade

     1,694        1,627   

Related parties

     519        501   

Accrued liabilities

     1,220        1,390   

Deferred income taxes

     163        170   
                

Total current liabilities

     10,758        10,367   

Long-term debt

     304        305   

Other liabilities

     1,317        1,361   

Deferred income taxes

     2,012        2,081   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Liabilities subject to compromise

     22,058        22,494   

Stockholder’s deficit:

    

Common stock, €124 par value, 403,226 shares authorized and issued at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

     60        60   

Additional paid-in capital

     563        563   

Deficit

     (9,303     (9,313

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (295     (286
                

LyondellBasell AF’s share of stockholder’s deficit

     (8,975     (8,976

Non-controlling interests

     111        129   
                

Total deficit

     (8,864     (8,847
                

Total liabilities and deficit

   $ 27,585      $ 27,761   
                

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 

Millions of dollars

           2010                     2009          

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 10      $ (1,016

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

            4   

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     424        416   

Amortization of debt-related costs

     106        98   

Inventory valuation adjustment

            55   

Equity investments—

    

Equity (income) loss

     (55     20   

Distributions of earnings

     13        2   

Deferred income taxes

     (15     (434

Reorganization items

     (207     948   

Reorganization-related payments, net

     (87     (22

Unrealized foreign currency exchange loss (gains)

     202        (15

Changes in assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash:

    

Accounts receivable

     (480     332   

Inventories

     (384     310   

Accounts payable

     122        (213

Repayment of accounts receivable securitization facility

            (503

Accrued interest

     7        84   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     158        (107

Other, net

     (187     (526
                

Net cash used in operating activities—continuing operations

     (373     (567

Net cash used in operating activities—discontinued operations

            (4
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (373     (571
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

     (139     (197

Proceeds from insurance claims

            16   

Advances and contributions to affiliates

              

Proceeds from disposal of assets

            14   

Short-term investments

     12        12   

Other

            (18
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (127     (173
                

 

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) —(Continued)

 

     For the three months  ended
March 31,
 

Millions of dollars

   2010     2009  

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from issuance of debtor-in-possession term loan facility

            2,050   

Proceeds from note payable

            100   

Repayment of note payable

            (100

Repayments of debtor-in-possession term loan facility

     (3     (2

Net borrowings under debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility

     525          

Net repayments under pre-petition revolving credit facilities

            (766

Net repayments on revolving credit facilities

     (3     (510

Proceeds from short-term debt

     8          

Repayments of short-term debt

     (9     (29

Repayments of long-term debt

     (9     (49

Payments of debt issuance costs

     (13     (93

Other, net

     (6       
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     490        601   
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (11     (25
                

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (21     (168

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     558        858   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 537      $ 690   
                

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

1.

  

Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings

   F-126

2.

  

Basis of Presentation

   F-134

3.

  

Accounting and Reporting Changes

   F-134

4.

  

Reorganization

   F-135

5.

  

Insurance Claims

   F-136

6.

  

Investment in PO Joint Ventures

   F-137

7.

  

Equity Investments

   F-137

8.

  

Accounts Receivable

   F-139

9.

  

Inventories

   F-139

10.

  

Property, Plant and Equipment

   F-139

11.

  

Short-Term Debt

   F-140

12.

  

Accounts Payable

   F-143

13.

  

Long-Term Debt

   F-143

14.

  

Liabilities Subject to Compromise

   F-144

15.

  

Financial Instruments and Derivatives

   F-146

16.

  

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

   F-152

17.

  

Income Taxes

   F-153

18.

  

Commitments and Contingencies

   F-153

19.

  

Management Incentive Plan

   F-157

20.

  

Stockholder’s Deficit and Non-Controlling Interests

   F-158

21.

  

Segment and Related Information

   F-159

22.

  

Subsequent Events

   F-160

23.

  

Reorganization and Fresh Start Accounting Pro Forma Information

   F-161

 

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Table of Contents

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

1. Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings

Organization —As part of the emergence from chapter 11 proceedings on April 30, 2010 (the “Emergence Date”), LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (“LyondellBasell N.V.”) became the successor parent holding company for the subsidiaries of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. after completion of the Bankruptcy Cases. LyondellBasell N.V. is a limited liability company ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under Dutch law by deed of incorporation dated October 15, 2009. LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., which was the predecessor parent holding company, is no longer part of the consolidated LyondellBasell group subsequent to the Emergence Date.

Background —LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., a corporate partnership formed in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in April 2005, is wholly owned by Prochemie GmbH (“Prochemie”). Prochemie is owned 50% by Nell Limited, an affiliate of Access Industries, and 50% by ProChemie Holding Ltd.

LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively “the Company” or “LyondellBasell AF”), is a worldwide manufacturer of chemicals and polymers, a refiner of crude oil, a significant producer of gasoline blending components and a developer and licensor of technologies for production of polymers.

On January 6, 2009, certain of LyondellBasell AF’s indirect U.S. subsidiaries, including Lyondell Chemical Company (“Lyondell Chemical”), and its German indirect subsidiary, Basell Germany Holdings GmbH (“Germany Holdings” and collectively, the “Initial Debtors”), voluntarily filed petitions for relief under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “U.S. Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York (“U.S. Bankruptcy Court”). In April and May of 2009, voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code were filed by LyondellBasell AF and its General Partner, LyondellBasell AF GP S.à r.l., and by thirteen additional U.S. subsidiaries (collectively, with the Initial Debtors, the “Debtors”). Through the Emergence Date, the Debtors continued to operate their businesses as debtors-in-possession (“DIP”) under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

On March 10, 2010, the Debtors filed a Third Amended Plan of Reorganization and Third Amended Disclosure Statement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which incorporated the terms of the Amended Lender Litigation Settlement. The Third Amended Plan of Reorganization also incorporated a settlement (i) with the Bank of New York as trustee for the ARCO Notes and the Equistar Notes, whereby the holders of ARCO and Equistar Notes will share in certain distributions under any plan of reorganization in a formula driven relationship to distributions to be made on account of certain prepetition secured debt (ii) with the trustee for the Millennium Notes and certain holders of the Millennium Notes.

On March 11, 2010, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the Third Amended Disclosure Statement Relating to the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization for the Debtors as containing adequate information within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Code. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court also approved the process for soliciting votes to accept or reject the Plan of Reorganization. The Plan of Reorganization specifies the proposed treatment of each class of claims and interests upon confirmation of the Plan of Reorganization.

On April 23, 2010, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court confirmed LyondellBasell AF’s Third Amended Plan of Reorganization (“Plan of Reorganization”) and the Debtors emerged from chapter 11 protection on April 30, 2010.

Emergence from chapter 11 proceedings —As a result of the emergence from chapter 11 proceedings, certain prepetition liabilities against the Debtors were discharged to the extent set forth in the Plan of

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

1. Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings—(Continued)

 

Reorganization and otherwise applicable law and the Debtors are permitted to make distributions to their creditors in accordance with the terms of the Plan of Reorganization.

The Plan of Reorganization sets forth the structure of the Debtors that are being reorganized in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases (the “Reorganized Debtors”).

Under the Plan of Reorganization, the organizational structure of the Company in North America was simplified by the removal of 90 legal entities. The ultimate ownership of 49 of these entities (identified as Schedule III Debtors in the Plan) were transferred to a new owner, the Millennium Custodial Trust, a trust established for the benefit of certain creditors, and these entities are no longer part of LyondellBasell N.V. In addition, certain real properties owned by the Debtors, including the Schedule III Debtors (as defined in the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization), were transferred to the Environmental Custodial Trust, which now owns and will be responsible for these properties. Any associated liabilities of the entities transferred to and owned by the Millennium Custodial Trust will be the responsibility of those entities and claims regarding those entities will be resolved solely using their assets and the assets of the trust. In total, $250 million of cash was used to fund the two trusts, including approximately $80 million to the Millennium Custodial Trust and approximately $170 million to fund the Environmental Custodial Trust and to make certain direct payments to the Environmental Protection Agency and certain state environmental agencies.

As part of the emergence from chapter 11 proceedings, approximately 563.9 million shares of common stock of LyondellBasell N.V. were issued under the Plan, including 300 million shares of Class A new common stock issued in exchange for allowed claims under the Plan of Reorganization. Approximately 263.9 million shares of LyondellBasell N.V. Class B stock were issued in connection with a rights offering for gross proceeds of $2.8 billion.

Pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, administrative and priority claims, as well as the new money debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing were repaid in full. The DIP roll-up lenders received new third lien notes in the same principal amount as the DIP roll-up notes. Holders of senior secured claims received a combination of LyondellBasell N.V. Class A shares, rights to purchase Class B shares of LyondellBasell N.V., LyondellBasell N.V. stock warrants and cash in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization. Pursuant to the Amended Lender Litigation Settlement approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on March 11, 2010, allowed general unsecured claims received a combination of cash and Class A shares of LyondellBasell N.V.

In conjunction with the emergence from chapter 11, LyondellBasell N.V., through its wholly owned subsidiary, LBI Escrow Corporation, (“LBI Escrow”) raised $3.25 billion of first priority debt, including $2.25 billion and €375 million offerings of senior secured notes in a private placement and borrowings of $500 million under a senior term loan facility as part of its exit financing. Upon emergence, LBI Escrow merged with and into Lyondell Chemical, which replaced LBI Escrow as the issuer of the senior secured notes and as borrower under the term loan. The net proceeds from the sale of the notes, together with borrowings under the term loan, a new European securitization facility, and proceeds from the $2.8 billion rights offering, were used to repay and replace certain existing debt, including the debtor-in-possession credit facilities and an existing European securitization facility, and to make certain related payments. In addition, LyondellBasell N.V. entered into a new $1,750 million asset-based revolving credit facility, which can be used for advances or to issue up to $700 million of letters of credit.

Effective May 1, 2010, LyondellBasell N.V. adopted fresh-start accounting pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification 852, “Reorganizations.” Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF’s financial statements for periods prior to May 1, 2010 will not be comparable to the financial statements prepared for LyondellBasell N.V. after emergence from bankruptcy. The consolidated financial statements included herein do not include the

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

1. Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings—(Continued)

 

effects of fresh-start accounting. See Note 23 for an unaudited pro-forma presentation of the impact of emergence from chapter 11 proceedings and fresh start accounting on LyondellBasell N.V.’s financial position.

Debtor in Possession Financial Information —The financial statements of the Debtors are presented below.

Basis of Presentation

Condensed Combined Debtors-in-Possession Financial Statements —The following financial statements represent the condensed combined financial statements for the Debtors only. The Debtors’ non-Debtor subsidiaries are treated as non-consolidated affiliates in these financial statements. Accordingly, the net income of the non-Debtor subsidiaries is included in “Income from equity investments” in the statement of income, while the net assets of the non-Debtor affiliates are included as “Investments in non-Debtor affiliates.”

Claims —LyondellBasell AF recognizes claims at the probable allowed amount. Claims for rejected contracts are recorded at the earlier of default by LyondellBasell AF under the contract or notification to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of rejection.

Intercompany Transactions —Intercompany transactions between the Debtors have been eliminated in the accompanying combined financial statements. Intercompany transactions between the Debtors and non-Debtor affiliates have not been eliminated. Intercompany loans, which comprise the following balances, are classified as “Receivables – non-Debtor affiliates” in Stockholder’s Deficit in the accompanying combined balance sheet in accordance with U.S. GAAP:

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Short-term loans receivable

   $ 2,773    $ 2,601

Long-term loans receivable

     22      22
             

Net receivables—non-Debtor affiliates

   $ 2,795    $ 2,623
             

Reorganization Items —The Debtors reorganization items were as follows for the three months ended March 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2010     2009

Asset write-offs and rejected contracts

   $ (185   $ 662

Estimated claims

     (108     38

Professional fees

     80        54

Employee severance costs

            81

Plant closure costs

     7        17

Other

     3       
              

Total

   $ (203   $ 852
              

See Note 4 for further discussion of the Debtors’ reorganization.

Liabilities Subject to Compromise —See Note 14 for a description of liabilities subject to compromise. In addition, the Debtors’ balances in liabilities subject to compromise of $22,631 million and $23,085 million at March 31, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively, include payables to non-Debtor affiliates of $573 million and $591 million, respectively.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

1. Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 

Millions of dollars

           2010                     2009          

Sales and other operating revenues:

    

Trade

   $ 5,382      $ 3,341   

Non-Debtor affiliates

     244        81   
                
     5,626        3,422   

Operating costs and expenses:

    

Cost of sales

     5,377        3,411   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     105        82   

Research and development expenses

     11        14   
                
     5,493        3,507   
                

Operating income (loss)

     133        (85

Interest expense ($610 million and $517 million contractual interest for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively)

     (381     (377

Interest income

     42        7   

Other expense, net

     (75     (7
                

Loss before equity investments, reorganization items and income taxes

     (281     (462

Income of non-Debtor affiliates

     89        8   

Reorganization items

     203        (852
                

Income (loss) before income taxes

     11        (1,306

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     1        (365
                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     10        (941

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

            (3
                

Net income (loss)

   $ 10      $ (944
                

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

1. Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

BALANCE SHEET

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   December  31,
2009

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 311    $ 280

Short-term investments

          9

Accounts receivable:

     

Trade, net

     1,465      1,336

Related parties

          1

Non-Debtor affiliates

     325      400

Inventories

     2,167      1,980

Current deferred income tax assets

     6      6

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     452      612
             

Total current assets

     4,726      4,624

Property, plant and equipment, net

     9,512      9,648

Investments and long-term receivables:

     

Investment in PO joint venture

     569      569

Investments in non-Debtor affiliates

     4,927      5,034

Other investments and long-term receivables

     14      28

Intangible assets, net

     1,241      1,317

Noncurrent deferred tax assets

     115      115

Other assets

     184      186
             

Total assets

   $ 21,288    $ 21,521
             

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

1. Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

BALANCE SHEET—(Continued)

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT

    

Liabilities not subject to compromise:

    

Current liabilities:

    

Short-term debt

   $ 6,083      $ 5,556   

Accounts payable:

    

Trade

     874        880   

Related parties

     20        33   

Non-Debtor affiliates

     712        695   

Accrued liabilities

     615        762   

Short-term loans payable—non-Debtor affiliates

     156        132   

Deferred income taxes

     74        74   
                

Total current liabilities

     8,534        8,132   

Other liabilities

     197        159   

Deferred income taxes

     1,584        1,617   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Liabilities subject to compromise

     22,631        23,085   

Stockholder’s deficit:

    

Common stock

     60        60   

Additional paid-in capital

     563        563   

Deficit

     (9,303     (9,313

Receivables—non-Debtor affiliates

     (2,795     (2,623

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (294     (288
                

Debtors’ share of stockholder’s deficit

     (11,769     (11,601

Non-controlling interests

     111        129   
                

Total deficit

     (11,658     (11,472
                

Total liabilities and deficit

   $ 21,288      $ 21,521   
                

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

1. Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 

Millions of dollars

           2010                     2009          

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 10      $ (944

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

            3   

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     270        279   

Reorganization items

     (203     852   

Reorganization-related payments

     (79     (21

Income from equity investments

     (89     (8

Deferred income taxes

     2        (365

Amortization of debt-related costs

     100        95   

Unrealized foreign currency exchange losses

     119        7   

Changes in assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash:

    

Accounts receivable

     (144     (6

Inventories

     (186     62   

Accounts payable

     (91     338   

Repayment of accounts receivable securitization facility

            (503

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     162        (33

Other, net

     (45     (103
                

Net cash used in operating activities—continuing operations

     (174     (347

Net cash used in operating activities—discontinued operations

            (3
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (174     (350
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

     (64     (60

Net advances to non-Debtor affiliates

     (264     (653

Proceeds from disposal of assets

            14   

Other

     7        12   
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (321     (687
                

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

1. Emergence from Chapter 11 Proceedings—(Continued)

 

COMBINED DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION CONDENSED

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 

Millions of dollars

           2010                     2009          

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Short-term borrowings

            (7

Proceeds from issuance of debtor-in-possession term loan facility

            2,050   

Proceeds from note payable

            100   

Repayment of note payable

            (100

Net borrowings under debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility

     525          

Net repayments under pre-petition revolving credit facilities

            (766

Repayment of North American securitization facility

            (115

Payment of debt issuance costs

     (13     (93

Net proceeds from non-Debtor affiliate loans

     14          

Other financing

            1   
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     526        1,070   

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

              
                

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     31        33   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     280        386   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 311      $ 419   
                

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

2. Basis of Presentation

In the consolidated financial statements presented herein, LyondellBasell AF continues to consolidate its Debtor and non-Debtor subsidiaries as if LyondellBasell AF and the Initial Debtors filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on January 6, 2009. This consolidated presentation best reflects the substance of the group relationship during the administration of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Pursuant to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), certain pre-petition liabilities of the Debtors have been reclassified to long-term liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as liabilities subject to compromise (see Note 14). Liabilities subject to compromise currently include the Debtors’ long-term debt that is considered undersecured and amounts due from the Debtors to vendors and employees for goods and services received prior to the January 6, 2009, April 24, 2009 and May 8, 2009 petition dates and include damage claims created by the Debtors’ rejection of executory contracts. The Debtors continue to analyze and reconcile these amounts; therefore, the amounts reflected herein are current estimates and subject to change as additional analysis takes place. The Debtors recognize claims at the probable allowed amounts. Claims for rejected contracts are recorded at the earlier of default by the Debtors under the contract or notification to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of rejection. Liabilities subject to compromise are distinguished from pre-petition liabilities of the Debtors estimated to be fully secured, post-petition liabilities of the Debtors and liabilities of the non-Debtors for all of which the balance sheet classification is unchanged.

In addition, the accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared from the books and records of LyondellBasell AF in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

3. Accounting and Reporting Changes

Revenue Recognition —In April 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued additional guidance on the criteria that should be met for determining whether the milestone method of revenue recognition is appropriate. A vendor can recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a milestone in its entirety as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved only if the milestone meets all criteria to be considered substantive. This amendment is effective beginning third quarter of 2010. Earlier application of this amendment is permitted. LyondellBasell AF is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this amendment on its consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes —In April 2010, the FASB issued additional guidance on accounting for certain tax effects of the 2010 Health Care Reforms Act. The Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) requires entities to immediately recognize, in continuing operations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, in the period that includes the enactment date, the impact of the change in tax law. The adoption of these changes, in March 2010, did not have a material effect on LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurement —In January 2010, the FASB issued additional guidance on improving disclosures regarding fair value measurements. The ASU requires entities to disclose the amounts of significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and the reasons for these transfers, as well as the reasons for any transfers in or out of Level 3. Except for a requirement to disclose information about

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

3. Accounting and Reporting Changes—(Continued)

 

purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the reconciliation of recurring Level 3 measurements on a gross basis, all of the amendments are effective for LyondellBasell AF beginning in the first quarter of 2010. LyondellBasell AF’s application of these amendments as of March 31, 2010, did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. The requirement to separately disclose purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements of recurring Level 3 measurements does not become effective for LyondellBasell AF until 2011. LyondellBasell AF does not expect this additional requirement to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Variable Interest Entities —In June 2009, the FASB amended the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and increased the disclosure requirements concerning an enterprise’s continuing involvement with VIEs. LyondellBasell AF’s application of these changes in the first quarter of 2010 did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

Multiple-element Arrangements —In October 2009, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the EITF to require companies to allocate revenue in multiple-element arrangements based on an element’s estimated selling price if vendor-specific or other third-party evidence of value is not available. This amendment is effective beginning January 1, 2011. Earlier application of this amendment is permitted. LyondellBasell AF is currently evaluating both the timing and the impact of the adoption of this amendment on its consolidated financial statements.

Transfer and Servicing —In June 2009, the FASB revised the requirements for accounting for transfers of financial assets. These revisions eliminate the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” change the requirements for de-recognizing financial assets, and require additional disclosures regarding transfers of financial assets, securitization transactions, and exposures to risks related to transferred financial assets. LyondellBasell AF’s adoption of these changes in the first quarter of 2010 did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

4. Reorganization

Reorganization items recognized by the Debtors since the January 6, 2009 bankruptcy are classified as “Reorganization items” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

LyondellBasell AF’s charges (credits) for reorganization items, including charges (credits) recognized by the Debtors as described in Note 1, were as follows for the three months ended March 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2010     2009

Asset write-offs and rejected contracts

   $ 28      $ 662

Estimated claims

     (321     38

Accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs

            30

Professional fees

     81        62

Employee severance costs

     (8     139

Plant closures costs

     9        17

Other

     4       
              

Total

   $ (207   $ 948
              

Estimated claims in the above table comprise adjustments made to reflect the Debtors’ estimated claims to be allowed. Such claims are classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise.”

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

4. Reorganization—(Continued)

 

On March 13, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the long-term idling of Debtor Equistar Chemicals, LP’s (“Equistar”) Chocolate Bayou olefins plant near Alvin, Texas, the reduction of approximately 220 employees supporting olefins operations at the site and the rejection of certain executory contracts and unexpired leases related to the facility. In the same March 13, 2009 order, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court authorized Equistar to reject its ground lease at the Chocolate Bayou plant, pursuant to which Equistar leased the real property occupied by the olefins plant operations, and to permanently shut down the unit by August 4, 2009. The decision to permanently cease production at the Chocolate Bayou olefins plant reflected the Company’s reduced projections for olefins demand, the limited feedstock flexibility of the site, the high fixed costs associated with the plant’s scale and the adverse terms of the property lease and related site service agreements. In the first quarter of 2009, the Debtors wrote off the $612 million carrying value of the facility and other assets.

On April 26, 2010, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved a settlement related to abandoning the site. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Equistar has agreed to perform certain decommissioning and decontamination work regarding the real property, which is estimated to take approximately two years. The current owner has agreed to provide support services, utilities and access to Equistar in return for monthly payments from Equistar; and the former owner has agreed to make a cash payment to Equistar in settlement of this and other disputes between the former owners and Equistar. During the first quarter of 2010, net costs related to the settlement and for support services provided by the owner and for operating the facility totaled $10 million.

As of the commencement of these chapter 11 cases, certain of the Debtors were partners in a joint venture that produced ethylene glycol at a facility in Beaumont, Texas. The facility sustained damage during Hurricane Ike in September 2008, and was not returned to service. On February 26, 2009, the Debtors received Bankruptcy Court approval for the reduction of the workforce at this facility, following completion of initial phases of certain post-hurricane remediation at the site. On July 17, 2009, the Debtors filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking to withdraw as general partner from the joint venture; to reject the related operating agreement; and to transfer custody and control of the facility and its assets to its joint venture partner. On August 11, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court granted the Debtor’s motion. The Debtors’ earnings for the first quarter of 2009 reflect a $50 million pretax charge to write off the carrying value of this facility.

In addition to the charges noted above, the Debtors had reorganization income totaling $213 million and reorganization charges totaling $190 million during the first quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively, including adjustments related to rejection of certain executory contracts; the net write off of unamortized debt issuance costs, premiums and discounts; allowed claims for environmental liabilities; professional fees associated with the chapter 11 proceedings; and related employee severance and other costs.

The non-Debtors also recognized charges of $96 million during the first quarter of 2009, including charges for employee severance and the write off of unamortized debt issuance costs, as a result of the bankruptcy.

5. Insurance Claims

LyondellBasell AF received insurance proceeds in the first quarter 2009 and on April 24, 2009 of $16 million and $56 million, respectively, representing partial settlement of outstanding claims related to damages sustained in 2005 at the polymers plant in Münchsmünster, Germany. These proceeds are being used to finance the construction of the polyethylene plant in Münchsmünster, Germany (see Note 18). These gains on involuntary conversion totaled $72 million and are included in “Other income, net,” in the consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

6. Investment in PO Joint Ventures

LyondellBasell AF, together with Bayer AG and Bayer Corporation (collectively “Bayer”), share ownership in a U.S. propylene oxide (“PO”) manufacturing joint venture (the “U.S. PO Joint Venture”) and a separate joint venture for certain related PO technology. Bayer’s ownership interest represents ownership of annual in-kind PO production of the U.S. PO Joint Venture of 1.5 billion pounds in 2009. LyondellBasell AF takes in kind the remaining PO production and all co-products styrene monomer (“SM” or “styrene”), and tertiary butyl ether (“TBA”) production from the U.S. PO Joint Venture.

In addition, LyondellBasell AF and Bayer each have a 50% interest in a separate manufacturing joint venture (the “European PO Joint Venture”), which includes a world-scale PO/SM plant at Maasvlakte near Rotterdam, The Netherlands. LyondellBasell AF and Bayer each are entitled to 50% of the PO and SM production at the European PO Joint Venture.

Changes in LyondellBasell AF’s investment in the U.S. and European PO joint ventures for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are summarized as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   U.S. PO Joint
Venture
    European PO
Joint Venture
    Total PO Joint
Ventures
 

Investment in PO joint ventures—January 1, 2010

   $ 533      $ 389      $ 922   

Cash contributions (return of investment)

            (3     (3

Depreciation and amortization

     (10     (5     (15

Effect of exchange rate changes

            (24     (24
                        

Investment in PO joint ventures—March 31, 2010

   $ 523      $ 357      $ 880   
                        

Investment in PO joint ventures—January 1, 2009

   $ 562      $ 392      $ 954   

Cash contributions

     8        11        19   

Depreciation and amortization

     (9     (4     (13

Effect of exchange rate changes

            (18     (18
                        

Investment in PO joint ventures—March 31, 2009

   $ 561      $ 381      $ 942   
                        

LyondellBasell AF’s PO/SM plant at Maasvlakte near Rotterdam, the Netherlands was temporarily idled during the first quarter 2009 and resumed operations in mid-May 2009.

7. Equity Investments

The changes in equity investments are as follows for the three months ended March 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2010     2009  

Beginning balance

   $ 1,085      $ 1,215   

Income (loss) from equity investments

     55        (20

Dividends received

     (13     (2

Contributions to joint venture

     5          

Currency exchange effects

     (13     (34

Other

     6        (8
                

Ending balance

   $ 1,125      $ 1,151   
                

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

7. Equity Investments—(Continued)

 

Summarized balance sheet information and LyondellBasell AF’s share of equity investments was as follows:

 

     March 31, 2010    December 31, 2009

Millions of dollars

   100%    Company
Share
   100%    Company
Share

Current assets

   $ 3,109    $ 1,124    $ 2,760    $ 1,016

Noncurrent assets

     6,775      2,145      6,887      2,172
                           

Total assets

     9,884      3,269      9,647      3,188

Current liabilities

     2,365      855      1,881      695

Noncurrent liabilities

     3,812      1,061      4,207      1,180
                           

Net assets

   $ 3,707    $ 1,353    $ 3,559    $ 1,313
                           

Summarized income statement information and LyondellBasell AF’s share for the periods for which the respective equity investments were accounted for under the equity method is set forth below:

 

     For the three months ended March 31,  
     2010     2009  

Millions of dollars

   100%     Company
Share
    100%     Company
Share
 

Revenues

   $ 2,338      $ 744      $ 1,226      $ 423   

Cost of sales

     (2,035     (653     (1,110     (390
                                

Gross profit

     303        91        116        33   

Net operating expenses

     (63     (21     (74     (30
                                

Operating profit

     240        70        42        3   

Interest income

     7        3        2          

Interest expense

     (37     (12     (16     (7

Foreign currency translation

     22        10        (45     (21

Income from equity investments

     1               2          
                                

Income (loss) before income taxes

     233        71        (15     (25

(Provision for) benefit from income taxes

     (51     (16     9        5   
                                

Net income (loss)

   $ 182      $ 55      $ (6   $ (20
                                

In 2009, LyondellBasell AF recognized pretax impairment charges totaling $228 million for impairment of the carrying value of its investments in certain joint ventures. The carrying value of LyondellBasell AF’s equity investments at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 of $1,125 million and $1,085 million, respectively, reflect the 2009 impairment of $228 million, which is excluded from LyondellBasell AF’s share of its equity investments’ net assets of $1,353 million and $1,313 million, respectively.

A joint venture of LyondellBasell AF is in default under an agreement as a result of LyondellBasell AF’s voluntary filing for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on April 24, 2009. The parties are currently negotiating in good faith and at present there is no evidence that such negotiations will not be concluded successfully.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

8. Accounts Receivable

LyondellBasell AF’s allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, which is reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a reduction of accounts receivable, totaled $93 million and $109 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

In December 2007, in connection with the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, certain U.S. subsidiaries entered into a $1,150 million accounts receivable securitization facility to sell, through a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary, on an ongoing basis and without recourse, interests in a pool of U.S. accounts receivable to financial institutions participating in the facility.

On January 9, 2009, as a result of the filing for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the $1,150 million accounts receivable sales facility was terminated and repaid in full, using $503 million of the initial proceeds of the DIP Financing. For a discussion of LyondellBasell AF’s other accounts receivable securitization programs, see Note 11.

9. Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following components:

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Finished goods

   $ 2,192    $ 2,073

Work-in-process

     221      164

Raw materials and supplies

     1,177      1,040
             

Total inventories

   $ 3,590    $ 3,277
             

In the first quarter of 2009, LyondellBasell AF recorded a charge of $55 million to adjust the value of its inventory to market value, which was lower than the carrying cost at March 31, 2009.

10. Property, Plant and Equipment

The components of property, plant and equipment, at cost, and the related accumulated depreciation were as follows:

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
    December
2009
 

Land

   $ 287      $ 297   

Manufacturing facilities and equipment

     17,457        17,665   

Construction in progress

     1,055        1,029   
                

Total property, plant and equipment

     18,799        18,991   

Less accumulated depreciation

     (4,112     (3,839
                

Property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 14,687      $ 15,152   
                

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

10. Property, Plant and Equipment—(Continued)

 

Depreciation and amortization expense is summarized as follows:

 

     For the three months ended

Millions of dollars

       March 31,    
2010
       March 31,    
2009

Property, plant and equipment

   $ 378    $ 371

Investment in PO joint ventures

     11      13

Technology, patent and license costs

     19      8

Software costs

     9      4

Other

     7      20
             

Total depreciation and amortization

   $ 424    $ 416
             

On February 25, 2010, based on the continued impact of global economic conditions on polypropylene demand, LyondellBasell AF announced a project to cease production at, and permanently shut down, its polypropylene plant at Terni, Italy. LyondellBasell AF recognized charges of $23 million related to plant and other closure costs in the first quarter of 2010. In conjunction with the project, LyondellBasell AF has started consultation with representatives of the works council with respect to the consequences for approximately 120 affected employees at the site.

LyondellBasell AF believes that there are asset retirement obligations associated with some of its facilities, but that the present value of those obligations normally is not material in the context of an indefinite expected life of the facilities. LyondellBasell AF continually reviews the optimal future alternatives for its facilities. Any decision to retire one or more facilities may result in an increase in the present value of such obligations.

The liabilities that had been recognized for all asset retirement obligations were $122 million and $132 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

11. Short-Term Debt

On April 8, 2010, Lyondell Chemical completed the financing of a new $1,750 million U.S. asset-based facility (“U.S. ABL facility”), which may be used for advances or to issue up to $700 million of letters of credit. Advances under this new facility are available to Lyondell Chemical, Equistar, Houston Refining, or LyondellBasell Acetyls as of April 30, 2010.

Consistent with the terms of the Plan of Reorganization, on the Emergence Date, Lyondell Chemical issued Plan Roll-up Notes under an indenture of approximately $3,240 million replacing the DIP roll-up loans incurred under the Bankruptcy Cases as part of the DIP Term Loan Facility.

The outstanding balances of the debt identified as New Money Loans, ABL Facility, and Receivables securitization program in the table below were repaid in connection with LyondellBasell AF’s emergence from bankruptcy. See Note 1 for a complete discussion of the chapter 11 emergence from bankruptcy.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

11. Short-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

Existing loans, notes and other short-term debt due to banks and other unrelated parties consisted of the following:

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreements:

     

Term Loan facility due 2010:

     

New Money Loans

   $ 2,167    $ 2,167

Roll-up Loans—Senior Secured Credit Facility:

     

Term Loan A due 2013—U.S. tranche

     385      385

Term Loan A due 2013—Dutch tranche

     119      122

Term Loan B due 2014—U.S. tranche ($1 million of discount)

     2,015      2,012

Term Loan B due 2014—German tranche

     465      465

Revolving Credit Facility—U.S. tranche

     202      202

Revolving Credit Facility—Dutch tranche

     54      54

ABL Facility

     850      325

Receivables securitization program

     353      377

Accounts receivable factoring facility

     22      24

Financial payables to equity investees

     11      12

Other

     32      37
             

Total short-term debt

   $ 6,675    $ 6,182
             

On March 17, 2010, the Debtors exercised the option to extend the maturity date of the DIP Financing from April 6, 2010 to June 3, 2010. In addition, the Debtors requested and received consent from the DIP Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility lenders to permit the applicable Debtors to take necessary actions to effect exit transactions in a manner consistent with the plan of reorganization.

DIP Financing —On January 8, 2009, the Debtors received interim U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval, and on March 1, 2009, the final U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval, of the debtor-in-possession financings that provided for facilities in an aggregate amount up to $8,500 million, as follows, comprising: (i) a $6,500 million term loan facility (“DIP Term Loan Facility”) consisting of: (a) $3,250 million of new funding (the “New Money Loans”) and (b) $3,250 million of a dollar-for-dollar “roll up” of previously outstanding senior secured loans (the “Roll-Up Loans”); and (ii) an asset-based facility with a revolving credit line initially in an amount up to $1,540 million, (“DIP ABL Facility” and together with the DIP Term Loan Facility, the “DIP Financing”) subject to a borrowing base, with an option to increase this facility through the addition of new lenders by an amount up to $460 million so that the aggregate DIP ABL Facility equaled an amount up to $2,000 million. On March 12, 2009 and July 15, 2009, new lenders were added increasing the DIP Financing by $30 million and $50 million, respectively, to $8,120 million.

The initial proceeds of the DIP Financing were used: (i) to refinance, in full, (A) the Senior Secured Inventory-Based Facility, (B) the $1,150 million Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility (see Note 8), (C) the $200 million North American accounts receivable securitization program, and (D) the $100 million super emergency interim DIP Financing; (ii) to pay related transaction costs, fees and expenses; (iii) to provide working capital; and (iv) for other general corporate purposes of the Debtors as well as the non-U.S. subsidiaries of LyondellBasell AF. Pursuant to the DIP Financing, not more than €700 million of the proceeds under the DIP Financing may be used to fund LyondellBasell AF’s non-U.S. subsidiaries. From inception of the DIP Financing

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

11. Short-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

agreements to March 31, 2010, the maximum amount advanced to LyondellBasell AF’s non-U.S. subsidiaries, was $634 million (€481 million at historical rates). At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, advances of $335 million (€249 million at historical rates) and $115 million (€80 million at historical rates), respectively, were outstanding.

DIP Term Loan Facility —On January 9, 2009, the Debtors borrowed $2,167 million under the DIP Term Loan Facility and received proceeds, net of related fees, of $2,089 million. Of the $2,089 million in proceeds: (i) $672 million was used, together with borrowings under the DIP ABL Facility, to refinance, in full, the pre-existing asset-based facilities; (ii) $507 million was used to fund the operations of non-U.S. subsidiaries; and (iii) $100 million was used to repay a demand note related to emergency post-petition funding. In the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Debtors paid fees of $13 million and $39 million, respectively, primarily related to the DIP Facilities, including fees associated with amendments to the DIP Financing agreement. The DIP Term Loan facility was repaid in full on April 30, 2010.

Through April 30, 2010, loans under the DIP Term Loan Facility bore interest at either the Base Rate or the Eurodollar Rate (both as defined in the DIP Term Loan Facility), plus, in either case, an applicable margin. The Eurodollar Rate could not decrease below 3% for New Money Loans, and for 62% of the Roll-Up Loans, cannot decrease below 3.25%. In the case of New Money Loans, the applicable margin per annum was 9% for Base Rate Loans and 10% for Eurocurrency Loans. The applicable margin per annum for Roll-Up Loans was 2.69% for Base Rate Loans and 3.69% for Eurocurrency Loans, subject to adjustment. In the event of default, interest would have increased by 200 basis points. Interest on Eurocurrency Loans was payable on the last day of the applicable interest period and on the maturity date, and, for Base Rate Loans, on the last day of each calendar month and on the maturity date. Additional fees under the DIP Term Loan Facility included a 1.5% per annum fee on the daily unused portion of the New Money Loan commitments and a 3% exit fee due upon prepayment of New Money Loans. An exit fee was also applicable to any voluntary reduction of the New Money Loan commitments and Roll-Up Loans. To the extent a New Money Loan commitment was voluntarily reduced or an outstanding New Money Loan was prepaid, such amounts could not be borrowed or re-borrowed. As of December 31, 2009, LyondellBasell AF had recorded a $195 million liability related to the 3% exit fee and a corresponding deferred asset, which was fully amortized as of April 30, 2010 and is reflected in “Amortization of debt-related costs” in the Statement of Cash Flows. The exit fee was paid in full on April 30, 2010, as part of LyondellBasell AF’s emergence from bankruptcy.

DIP ABL Facility —Pursuant to the DIP ABL Facility and through April 30, 2010, the Debtors could, subject to a borrowing base, after giving effect to a $100 million unused availability requirement, borrow up to $1,620 million. The borrowing base was determined using formulae applied to accounts receivable and inventory balances, and was reduced to the extent of outstanding letters of credit under the facility, which were limited to $700 million. The DIP ABL was repaid in full on April 30, 2010.

On January 9, 2009, the Debtors borrowed $810 million under the DIP ABL Facility, paying $93 million of fees related to the new facility and, together with proceeds from the DIP Term Loan Facility, refinanced the pre-existing asset-based facilities. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, there were net borrowings of $850 million and $325 million, respectively, outstanding under the DIP ABL Facility and outstanding letters of credit totaled $613 million and $424 million, respectively.

Receivables securitization programs —LyondellBasell AF had an accounts receivable securitization program under which LyondellBasell AF could receive funding of up to €450 million against eligible receivables of certain European subsidiaries. Transfers of accounts receivable under this program did not qualify as sales;

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

11. Short-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

therefore, the transferred accounts receivable and the proceeds received through such transfers were included in trade receivables, net, and short-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, amounts of $353 million and $377 million, respectively, were funded under the European receivables securitization program. This facility was refinanced, in full, on May 4, 2010 and replaced with a new European securitization facility.

Accounts Receivable Factoring Facility —On October 8, 2009, a non-debtor subsidiary of LyondellBasell AF entered into an accounts receivable factoring facility for up to €100 million. The factoring facility is for an indefinite period, non-recourse, unsecured and terminable by either party subject to notice. The amount of outstanding receivables sold under this facility was $22 million and $24 million as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

12. Accounts Payable

Accounts payable at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 included liabilities in the amount of $10 million and $13  million, respectively, for checks issued in excess of associated bank balances, but not yet presented for collection.

13. Long-Term Debt

On April, 8, 2010, LBI Escrow issued $2,250 million of 8% senior secured notes due 2017 and €375 million of senior secured notes due 2017, (collectively, the “Senior Secured Notes”). Also on April 8, 2010, LBI Escrow entered into a six-year, $500 million senior term loan facility (the “Senior Term Loan Facility”) and borrowed $500 million thereunder. On April 30, 2010, Lyondell Chemical was merged with and replaced LBI Escrow as issuer of the Senior Secured Notes and borrower under the Senior Term Loan Facility.

Consistent with the Plan of Reorganization, the outstanding balances of the Dutch Tranche of Term loan A and the revolving credit facility, identified in the table below, were settled with Class A shares of LyondellBasell N.V. and rights to purchase LyondellBasell N.V. Class B shares in a rights offering, as part of LyondellBasell AF’s emergence from bankruptcy. See Note 1 for a complete discussion of the chapter 11 emergence from bankruptcy.

Existing loans, notes and other long-term debt due to banks and other unrelated parties consisted of the following:

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

Bank credit facilities:

    

Senior secured credit facility:

    

Term loan A due 2013—Dutch tranche

   $ 322      $ 331   

$1,000 million revolving credit facility

     163        164   

Guaranteed Notes, due 2027

     300        300   

Other

     6        7   
                

Total

     791        802   

Less current maturities

     (487     (497
                

Long-term debt

   $ 304      $ 305   
                

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

13. Long-Term Debt—(Continued)

 

As a result of the Bankruptcy Cases, LyondellBasell AF’s $8,000 million Interim Loan, $615 million Senior Notes due 2015, €500 million Senior Notes due 2015, Senior Debentures due 2026 and portions of the Senior Secured Credit Facility comprising the U.S. tranche of Term Loan A, the U.S. and German tranches of Term Loan B, the U.S. tranche of the Revolving Credit Facility, as well as the 10.25% Debentures due 2010, the 9.8% Debentures due 2020, the 7.55% and 7.625% Debentures due 2026, a $6 million note payable to KIC Ltd. and a $1 million note payable to the State of Maryland, all of which are estimated to be undersecured, are classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise” on the consolidated balance sheets (see Note 14). On April 30, 2010, all such debt was discharged pursuant to the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization.

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, long-term debt comprised the $300 million guaranteed notes due 2027 and other debt, all of which is held by non-debtors.

In the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, amortization of debt premiums, including adjustments to fair values included in accounting for the acquisition of Lyondell Chemical, and debt issuance costs resulted in amortization expense of $79 million and $98 million, respectively, that was included in interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In the first quarter of 2009, in conjunction with the reclassification of debt to “Liabilities Subject to Compromise,” LyondellBasell AF wrote off the associated unamortized debt issuance costs of $30 million, which are reflected in “Reorganization items” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

For discussion of the impact of the chapter 11 filing on LyondellBasell’s debt, as well as the senior secured superpriority DIP Financing approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, see Note 1.

14. Liabilities Subject to Compromise

As a result of the Bankruptcy Cases, the payment of prepetition indebtedness may be subject to compromise or other treatment under the Debtors’ plan of reorganization. Although actions to enforce or otherwise effect payment of prepetition claims are generally stayed, at hearings held in January 2009, the Bankruptcy Court granted final approval of the Debtors’ “first-day” motions, generally designed to stabilize the Debtors’ operations and covering, among other things, employee wages, health and benefit plans, qualified pension and savings plans, supplier relations, customer relations, business operations, utilities, tax matters, cash management and retention of professionals.

The Debtors have paid substantially all of their undisputed postpetition claims in the ordinary course of business. In addition, the Debtors may reject prepetition executory contracts and unexpired leases with respect to the Debtors’ operations with the approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Damages resulting from rejection of executory contracts and unexpired leases are treated as general unsecured prepetition claims and are classified as liabilities subject to compromise.

On May 14, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court entered an order establishing June 30, 2009 as the claims bar date. The claims bar date is the date by which most claims against the Debtors arising prior to the Debtors’ chapter 11 filings were required to be filed if the claimants wished to receive any distribution in the Bankruptcy Cases. On May 26, 2009, the Debtors commenced notification, including publication, to all known actual and potential creditors informing them of the bar date and the required procedures with respect to the filing of proofs of claim. As part of the Bankruptcy Cases, claims timely filed by the claims bar date will ultimately be reconciled against the amounts listed by, with certain exceptions, the Debtors in their Schedules of Assets and Liabilities. In most cases, to the extent the Debtors object to any filed claims, the Bankruptcy Court will make the

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

14. Liabilities Subject to Compromise—(Continued)

 

final determination as to the amount, nature and validity of such claims. Moreover, the treatment of allowed claims against the Debtors will be determined pursuant to the terms of the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization, which was filed and approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in March 2010.

Prepetition liabilities subject to compromise are reported at the expected allowed amount, even if they potentially will be settled for lesser amounts in accordance with the terms of the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization. Accordingly, the amounts currently classified as liabilities subject to compromise may be subject to future adjustments depending on U.S. Bankruptcy Court actions, further developments with respect to disputed claims, the values of any collateral securing such claims, or other events. The total amount to be paid by LyondellBasell AF to settle claims is fixed under the Plan of Reorganization. As a result, all of LyondellBasell AF’s liabilities subject to compromise at March 31, 2010 have been effectively resolved at the Emergence Date as disclosed in the unaudited pro forma adjustments in Note 23.

Liabilities subject to compromise consist of the following:

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Accounts payable

   $ 484    $ 602

Employee benefits

     994      997

Accrued interest

     288      277

Conversion fee—Interim Loan

     161      161

Estimated claims

     1,556      1,726

Interest rate swap obligations

     201      201

Related party payable

     1      82

Other accrued liabilities

     52      78

Long-term debt

     18,321      18,370
             

Total liabilities subject to compromise

   $ 22,058    $ 22,494
             

The Plan of Reorganization requires that, upon emergence, certain liabilities previously reported as liabilities subject to compromise be retained by LyondellBasell N.V. Accordingly, approximately $862 million of pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities were reclassified from liabilities subject to compromise to current or long-term liabilities, as appropriate, upon emergence from bankruptcy.

All of the debt classified in liabilities subject to compromise at March 31, 2010, except for KIC Ltd, was discharged pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization through distributions of a combination of LyondellBasell N.V. Class A shares, the rights to purchase Class B shares of LyondellBasell N.V. in a rights offering, LyondellBasell N.V. stock warrants and cash. The claim from KIC Ltd was transferred to the Millennium Custodial Trust under the Plan of Reorganization. See Note 1 for a complete discussion of the chapter 11 emergence from bankruptcy.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

14. Liabilities Subject to Compromise—(Continued)

 

The following debt outstanding immediately preceding the Chapter 11 filings, on January 6, 2009, has been reclassified from long-term debt and is currently reflected on the consolidated balance sheets as “Liabilities subject to compromise.”

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Bank credit facilities:

     

Interim Loan

   $ 8,000    $ 8,000

First lien secured debt:

     

Senior Secured Credit Facility:

     

Term Loan A due 2013—U.S. tranche

     1,044      1,044

Term Loan B due 2014:

     

U.S. tranche

     5,459      5,459

German tranche

     1,258      1,258

Revolving Credit Facility

     548      548

Debentures due 2010, 10.25%

     100      100

Debentures due 2020, 9.8%

     225      225

Debentures due 2026, 7.55%

     150      150

Senior Notes due 2015, $615 million

     615      615

Senior Notes due 2015, €500 million

     674      723

Senior Debentures due 2026, 7.625%

     241      241

State of Maryland

     1      1

KIC Ltd

     6      6
             

Total

   $ 18,321    $ 18,370
             

As part of its ongoing claims resolution process, LyondellBasell AF is investigating differences between claim amounts filed by creditors and LyondellBasell AF’s best estimates of the probable allowed amount of its liabilities subject to compromise. Adjustments to its liabilities subject to compromise are reasonably possible as additional information becomes available with respect to these claims. Any adjustment to the liabilities subject to compromise balance would affect only the amount of the payout received by a claimant in the affected class of claims. The total amount to be paid by LyondellBasell AF to settle claims is fixed under the Plan of Reorganization.

15. Financial Instruments and Derivatives

Prior to the Emergence Date, LyondellBasell AF continued to be exposed to market risks, such as changes in commodity pricing, currency exchange rates and interest rates. To manage the volatility related to these exposures, LyondellBasell AF selectively entered into derivative transactions pursuant to LyondellBasell AF’s policies. Designation of the derivatives as fair-value or cash-flow hedges was performed on a specific exposure basis. Hedge accounting may or may not have been elected with respect to certain short-term exposures. The changes in fair value of these hedging instruments would have been offset in part or in whole by corresponding changes in the fair value or cash flows of the underlying exposures being hedged.

As a result of the voluntary filings of petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and the associated perceived credit risk, LyondellBasell AF was limited in its ability to further engage in derivative transactions. LyondellBasell AF was not participating in interest rate transactions prior to its emergence from bankruptcy due to a lack of willing counterparties and its foreign currency transactions were restricted to a few currencies and primarily to spot or near spot transactions. LyondellBasell AF continued to enter into commodity derivative contracts in the ordinary course of business on a limited basis.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

15. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

Commodity Prices —LyondellBasell AF was exposed to commodity price volatility related to anticipated purchases of natural gas, crude oil and other raw materials and sales of its products prior to its emergence from bankruptcy. LyondellBasell AF selectively used commodity swap, option, and futures contracts with various terms to manage the volatility related to these risks. Such contracts were generally limited to durations of one year or less. Cash-flow hedge accounting was normally elected for these derivative transactions; however, in some cases, when the duration of a derivative was short, hedge accounting was not elected. When hedge accounting was not elected, the changes in fair value of these instruments were recorded in earnings. When hedge accounting was elected, gains and losses on these instruments were deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), to the extent that the hedge remained effective, until the underlying transaction was recognized in earnings.

LyondellBasell AF entered into futures contracts during the first three months of 2010 and 2009, with respect to sales of gasoline and heating oil. These futures transactions were not designated as hedges, and the changes in the fair value of the futures contracts were recognized in earnings. LyondellBasell AF settled futures positions for gasoline of 103 million gallons and 213 million gallons, respectively, in the first three months of 2010 and 2009, resulting in net gains of $1 million and $5 million, respectively. LyondellBasell AF settled futures positions for heating oil of 92 million gallons and 161 million gallons, respectively, in the first three months of 2010 and 2009, resulting in net gains of $1 million and $10 million, respectively. At March 31, 2010, futures contracts for 39 million gallons of gasoline and heating oil in the notional amount of $86 million, maturing in April 2010, were outstanding. At December 31, 2009, futures contracts for 19 million gallons of gasoline and heating oil in the notional amount of $38 million, maturing in February 2010, were outstanding. The fair values, based on quoted market prices, resulted in a net receivable of less than $1 million at March 31, 2010 and a net payable of $2 million at December 31, 2009.

In addition, LyondellBasell AF settled futures positions for crude oil of 1 million barrels during the first three months of 2010, resulting in net gains of $5 million. These futures transactions were not designated as hedges.

LyondellBasell AF also entered into futures contracts during the first three months of 2010 with respect to purchases of crude oil and sales of gasoline. These futures transactions were not designated as hedges. LyondellBasell AF settled futures positions for gasoline of 1 million barrels in the first three months of 2010, resulting in a net loss of $3 million. LyondellBasell AF settled futures positions for crude oil of 1 million barrels in the first three months of 2010, resulting in a net gain of $1 million. At March 31, 2010, futures contracts for 3 million barrels of gasoline and crude oil in the notional amount of $285 million, maturing in April and May 2010, were outstanding. The fair values, based on quoted market prices, resulted in a net payable of less than $1 million at March 31, 2010.

LyondellBasell AF’s earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2009, included a $48 million gain, previously deferred in AOCI in connection with the termination of swaps for 2.8 million barrels of distillates which were scheduled to mature from January 2009 to April 2009. These swaps were designated as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of these commodity swaps were deferred in AOCI until the underlying transaction occurred. There were no commodity swaps outstanding at either March 31, 2010, or December 31, 2009.

Foreign Currency Rates —Prior to its emergence from bankruptcy, LyondellBasell AF entered into transactions denominated in other than the functional currency and was, therefore, exposed to foreign currency risk on receivables and payables. LyondellBasell AF maintained risk management control systems intended to

 

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15. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

monitor foreign currency risk attributable to both the outstanding foreign currency balances and future commitments. The risk management control systems involved the centralization of foreign currency exposure management, the offsetting of exposures and the estimating of expected impacts of changes in foreign currency rates on LyondellBasell AF’s earnings.

For forward contracts that economically hedge recognized monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies, no hedge accounting was applied. Changes in the fair value of foreign currency forward contracts are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and offset the currency exchange results recognized on the assets and liabilities.

Certain LyondellBasell AF subsidiaries have entered into license agreements denominated in U.S. dollars whereas the functional currency of the subsidiaries entering into these transactions is the euro. Accordingly, these subsidiaries have recognized embedded derivatives, which are accounted for separately from the host license agreements. These embedded derivatives are treated as foreign exchange forward contracts and recognized at fair value. The changes in the fair values are recognized in the income statement as the contracts are not designated as hedges. LyondellBasell AF recognized gains of $5 million and $3 million in “Other income” related to these embedded derivatives for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Payables of $15 million and $20 million that were outstanding at March 31, 2010, and December 31, 2009, respectively.

LyondellBasell AF has designated the $300 million of outstanding 8.1% Guaranteed Notes due 2027, $250 million of the outstanding 8.375% Senior Notes due 2015 and the $500 million Dutch Tranche Term A loan due 2013 as net investment hedges of part of its investment in subsidiaries and equity investments denominated in U.S. dollar or U.S. dollar related functional currencies. The changes in the euro value of the debt, to the extent that they are designated as a hedge, are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income.” As a result of devaluation in the hedged investment, the $500 million Dutch Tranche Term A loan due 2013 net investment hedge was de-designated during the first quarter of 2009. Subsequently all related foreign exchange translation differences were recorded in earnings. LyondellBasell AF recognized a loss of $35 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010 and a loss of $19 million in the three months ended March 31, 2009 in accumulated other comprehensive income.

In January 2009, after certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, LyondellBasell AF received notice of termination of its $365 million cross-currency interest rate swap. This interest rate swap, which was designated as a hedge, was entered into in conjunction with the issuance of the $615 million Senior Notes due 2015. The swap involved the payment of fixed interest and, upon maturity, principal amounts in euro in exchange for corresponding receipts in U.S. dollars. LyondellBasell AF recognized a $15 million loss in Other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the three months ended March 31, 2009 related to the termination of the swap.

Foreign Currency Gain (Loss) —Other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations reflected a loss of $203 million and a gain of $15 million related to changes in currency exchange rates for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Interest Rates —In January 2009, after certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for protection under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, LyondellBasell AF received notice of termination of its interest rate swap agreements in the notional amount of $2,350 million. These interest rate swaps were designated as

 

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15. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

cash-flow hedges of the interest cash flows for the period between April 2009 and June 2013 and effectively converted a portion of LyondellBasell AF’s variable rate, long-term debt to fixed rate debt for the period of the hedge. The fair value of these interest rate swap agreements resulted in payables of $201 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, which were classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise.” Pursuant to the provisions of the Plan of Reorganization, these interest rate swaps were discharged on April 30, 2010.

Stock Option Plans —LyondellBasell AF had outstanding total return swaps on shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG, which economically hedged obligations stemming from the stock option and share appreciation rights plans. The initial agreement for the total return swaps matured in October 2008 and was renewed for an additional three-year period. LyondellBasell AF received amounts equal to the dividends paid on the underlying shares. At maturity of the swap, LyondellBasell AF would have paid or received the difference between the price of the underlying shares at the settlement date and the price at the inception of the swap, adjusted for the payment of financing costs. Under the total return swaps LyondellBasell AF retained an economic interest in the underlying shares without owning these shares. The total return swaps were valued at fair value with any gains or losses included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In January 2009, LyondellBasell AF received notice of termination of the total return swaps after certain of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (see Note 1). LyondellBasell AF recognized a $7 million loss in the three months ended March 31, 2009 related to the termination of the swap.

The following table summarizes financial instruments outstanding as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the bases used to determine their fair value in the consolidated balance sheets:

 

Millions of dollars

   Notional
Amount
   Total    Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

March 31, 2010

              

Assets at fair value:

              

Derivatives:

              

Gasoline and heating oil

   $ 86    $    $    $    $
                                  

Liabilities at fair value:

              

Derivatives:

              

Gasoline and crude oil

     285                    

Foreign currency

     213      15           15     
                                  
   $ 498    $ 15    $    $ 15    $
                                  

December 31, 2009

              

Liabilities at fair value:

              

Derivatives:

              

Gasoline, heating oil and crude oil

   $ 38    $ 2    $    $ 2    $

Foreign currency

     234      20           20     
                                  
   $ 272    $ 22    $    $ 22    $
                                  

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

15. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

The following table provides the fair value of derivative instruments and their balance sheet classifications at March 31, 2010:

 

Millions of Dollars

   Balance Sheet Classification     

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments Liability Derivatives

     

Not designated as hedges:

     

Foreign currency

   Accrued liabilities    $ 15

Commodities

   Accrued liabilities     
         

Total derivatives

      $ 15
         

The following table summarizes the pretax effect of derivative and non-derivative instruments, effective and terminated, included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), reclassified from AOCI to income and charged directly to income for the three months ended March 31, 2010:

 

     Effect of Financial Instruments for the three months ended
March 31, 2010

Millions of dollars

   Gain (Loss)
Recognized
in AOCI
    Gain (Loss)
Reclassified
from AOCI
to Income
    Additional
Gain (Loss)
Recognized
in Income
   Income Statement
Classification

Derivatives designated as cash-flow hedges:

         

Interest rate

   $      $ (13   $    Interest Expense
                         

Derivatives not designated as hedges:

         

Commodities

                   5    Cost of sales

Foreign currency

                   5    Other income
                         
                   10   
                         

Total derivatives

   $      $ (13   $ 10   
                         

Non-derivatives designated as hedges of foreign currency:

         

Net foreign investment—

         

8.1% Guaranteed Notes due 2027

   $ (19   $      $   

8.375% Senior Notes due 2015

     (16              
                         

Total non-derivatives

   $ (35   $      $   
                         

The amounts included in AOCI represent the effective portion of the hedge. The ineffective portion of hedges is recognized in income and is not material. Foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedges are offset by foreign exchange losses of $208 million resulting from the underlying exposures of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities. The net pre-tax amount to be reclassified from AOCI to income within the next 12 months is a $4 million loss for interest rate swaps.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

15. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

The carrying value and the estimated fair value of LyondellBasell’s non-derivative financial instruments are shown in the table below:

 

     March 31, 2010    December 31, 2009

Millions of dollars

   Carrying
Value
   Fair
Value
   Carrying
Value
   Fair
Value

Short and long-term debt, including current maturities and debt classified as liabilities subject to compromise

   $ 25,787    $ 15,199    $ 25,354    $ 13,986
                           

The following table summarizes the bases used to measure certain liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, which are recorded at historical cost or amortized cost, in the consolidated balance sheet:

 

          Fair Value Measurement

Millions of dollars

   Carrying
Value
March 31,
2010
   Fair Value
March 31,
2010
   Quoted prices
in active
markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
unobservable
inputs

(Level 3)

Short and long-term debt, including current maturities

   $ 25,787    $ 15,199    $    $ 13,925    $ 1,274

Accounts payable, including related parties

     484      299           299     

Other short-term accruals

     1,447      1,140           75      1,065
                                  

Total

   $ 27,718    $ 16,638    $    $ 14,299    $ 2,339
                                  

The fair value of all nonderivative financial instruments included in current assets, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximated carrying value due to the short maturity of those instruments.

The following table is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of Level 2 inputs:

 

     Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Other Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
 

Millions of dollars

   Total     Short and
long-term
debt, including
current
maturities
    Accounts
payable,
including
related parties
    Other short-
term accruals
 

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 13,550      $ 13,204      $ 277      $ 69   

Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net)

     (225     (12     (118     (95

Transfers in and/or out of Level 2

     974        733        140        101   
                                

Balance at March 31, 2010

   $ 14,299      $ 13,925      $ 299      $ 75   
                                

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

15. Financial Instruments and Derivatives—(Continued)

 

The following table is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of Level 3 inputs:

 

     Fair Value Measurement Using
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 

Millions of dollars

   Total     Short and
long-term
debt, including
current
maturities
    Other short-
term accruals
 

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 2,022      $ 782      $ 1,240   

Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net)

     346        521        (175

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

     (29     (29       
                        

Balance at March 31, 2010

   $ 2,339      $ 1,274      $ 1,065   
                        

For liabilities classified as Level 2, fair value is based on the price a market participant would pay for the security, adjusted for the terms specific to that asset and liability. Broker quotes were obtained from well established and recognized vendors of market data for debt valuations. Quotes were then adjusted downwards, if applicable, to represent the lower of received broker quotes or recommended settlement values as set forth in LyondellBasell AF’s third amended plan of reorganization. As such, the inputs for liabilities classified as Level 3 reflect LyondellBasell AF’s assessment of the assumptions that a market participant would use in determining the price of the asset or liability, including the liquidity risk of LyondellBasell AF at March 31, 2010.

16. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Net periodic pension benefits included the following cost components for the three months ended March 31:

 

     2010     2009  

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.     U.S.     Non-U.S.  

Service cost

   $ 11      $ 9      $ 11      $ 10   

Interest cost

     23        13        23        22   

Expected return on plan assets

     (24     (7     (25     (13

Curtailments and settlements

                            

Amortization

     3               3          
                                

Net periodic pension benefit cost

   $ 13      $ 15      $ 12      $ 19   
                                

Net periodic other postretirement benefits included the following cost components for the three months ended March 31:

 

     2010    2009

Millions of dollars

   U.S.     Non-U.S.    U.S.     Non-U.S.

Service cost

   $ 1      $    $ 2      $ 2

Interest cost

     4             5       

Amortization

     (2          (2    
                             

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 3      $    $ 5      $ 2
                             

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

16. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits—(Continued)

 

Pre-petition obligations related to pension and other postretirement benefits are unsecured and therefore included in liabilities subject to compromise. Under the Plan of Reorganization, except with respect to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”), all benefit plans and collective bargaining agreements will remain in force subsequent to our emergence from chapter 11 proceedings. Accordingly, approximately $863 million of pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities were reclassified from liabilities subject to compromise to current or long-term liabilities, as appropriate, upon emergence from bankruptcy. See Note 14 for further discussion.

17. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for the first quarter 2010 was 54.5% resulting in tax expense of $12 million on pretax income of $22 million. The 2010 effective income tax rate was higher than the statutory 35% rate primarily due to the effects of non-deductible costs relating to the voluntary filings of petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and to the recognition of valuation allowances established to reduce deferred tax assets not expected to be realized. The higher effective tax rate over statutory rate was partially offset by tax exempt income in jurisdictions other than the U.S. The effective income tax rate for the first quarter 2009 was 29.8% resulting in a tax benefit of $432 million on a pretax loss of $1,444 million. The 2009 effective income tax rate was lower than the statutory 35% rate primarily due to the effects of non-deductible costs relating to the voluntary filings of petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

18. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments —LyondellBasell AF has various purchase commitments for materials, supplies and services incident to the ordinary conduct of business, generally for quantities required for its businesses and at prevailing market prices. These commitments are designed to assure sources of supply and are not expected to be in excess of normal requirements. At March 31, 2010, LyondellBasell AF had commitments of approximately $29 million related to rebuilding an expanded world-scale high-density polyethylene plant at its Münchsmünster, Germany site. LyondellBasell AF’s other capital expenditure commitments at March 31, 2010 were in the normal course of business.

CEO Compensation —During the second quarter 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved an employment agreement between LyondellBasell AF and its chief executive officer (“CEO”) under which the CEO will receive certain equity awards, including restricted shares and options to purchase shares of LyondellBasell’s common stock, upon LyondellBasell AF’s emergence from bankruptcy. Accordingly, these equity awards have not been accrued as of March 31, 2010. As a result of the emergence from chapter 11 proceedings, the liability for the equity awards will be accrued over the vesting period, beginning on the Emergence Date.

The restricted stock, which is also contingent upon continued employment, is valued at $25 million and vests on May 14, 2014. The stock options, which would equal 1% of the number of common stock shares expected to be outstanding at the Debtor’s emergence from bankruptcy, vest and become exercisable in five equal, annual installments beginning on May 14, 2010. Vesting is contingent upon employment through each applicable vesting date. The stock options may be exercised for a period of seven years following the grant date at a price equal to the per share value of the common stock anticipated in the plan of reorganization even if employment ends on or after the fifth anniversary of LyondellBasell AF’s emergence from bankruptcy.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

18. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

Consultants’ Fees —In connection with the Bankruptcy Cases, LyondellBasell AF has retained the services of and entered into Bankruptcy Court-approved contractual agreements with various outside consultants to assist it in the bankruptcy process. The contractual agreements provide for various fee payments upon, or shortly after, emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases, the most significant of which are “success fees.” The success fees are contingent upon emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases. Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF has not currently accrued any liability with respect to these commitments, which are currently estimated at approximately $76 million.

Environmental Remediation —LyondellBasell AF’s accrued liability for future environmental remediation costs at current and former plant sites and other remediation sites, except those classified as “Liabilities subject to compromise,” totaled $84 million and $89 million as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. As of March 31, 2010, the liabilities for individual sites range from less than $1 million to $19 million. The remediation expenditures are expected to occur over a number of years, and not to be concentrated in any single year. In the opinion of management, there is no material, estimable reasonably possible loss in excess of the liabilities recorded for environmental remediation. However, it is possible that new information about the sites for which the accrual has been established, new technology or future developments such as involvement in investigations by regulatory agencies or resolution by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of LyondellBasell AF’s legal position regarding environmental liabilities, could require LyondellBasell AF to reassess its potential exposure related to environmental matters.

The following table summarizes the activity in LyondellBasell’s accrued environmental liability included in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other liabilities” for the three months ended March 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2010     2009  

Balance at January 1

   $ 89      $ 256   

Amounts paid

     (1     (1

Foreign exchange effects

     (4     (18
                

Balance at March 31

   $ 84      $ 237   
                

Remediation liabilities, which include LyondellBasell AF’s obligations with respect to soil contamination at the Ferrara and Brindisi sites in Italy, totaled $84 million at March 31, 2010. A former shareholder indemnified LyondellBasell AF for the full potential obligation that could arise with respect to costs arising from soil contamination at the Ferrara and Brindisi sites in Italy. Accordingly, LyondellBasell AF has recorded a corresponding receivable from the former shareholder.

As a result of the Bankruptcy cases, the Debtors have discontinued funding and/or ceased performing cleanups at various third-party sites (including sites where the Debtors were subject to a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or similar state order to fund or perform such cleanup, such as the river and the other portions of the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site that the Debtors do not own). Several government agencies originally contested the Debtors’ position and actions. As a result of the Debtors’ settlement with governmental agencies and its emergence from chapter 11 proceedings, the Debtors have resolved their liability through creation of the Environmental Custodial Trust and agreement on allowed claim values as set forth in the Debtors’ Third Amended Plan of Reorganization and Settlement Agreement Among the Debtors, the Environmental Custodial Trust Trustee, The United States, and Certain environmental Agencies filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on March 30, 2010 and approved by the court on April 23, 2010. Accordingly, in 2009, liabilities in the amount of $129 million related to the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site, as

 

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18. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

well as $40 million in liabilities related to certain other third-party sites, were reclassified from “Other liabilities” to “Liabilities subject to compromise.” Upon the Debtors’ emergence from bankruptcy, certain real properties owned by the Debtors, including the Schedule III Debtors (as defined in the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization), were transferred to the Environmental Custodial Trust, which now owns and will be responsible for these properties. Consistent with the Debtors’ settlement with the governmental agencies and its Third Amended Plan of Reorganization, approximately $170 million of cash was also used to fund the Environmental Custodial Trust and to make certain direct payments to the Environmental Protection Agency and certain state environmental agencies.

Litigation and Other Matters —On April 12, 2005, BASF Corporation (“BASF”) filed a lawsuit in New Jersey against Lyondell Chemical asserting various claims relating to alleged breaches of a product sales contract and seeking damages in excess of $100 million. Lyondell Chemical denies it breached the contract. Lyondell Chemical believes the maximum refund due to BASF is $22.5 million on such product sales and has paid such amount to BASF. On August 13, 2007, the jury returned a verdict in favor of BASF in the amount of approximately $170 million (which includes the above $22.5 million). On October 3, 2007, the judge determined that prejudgment interest on the verdict would be $36 million. Lyondell Chemical is appealing this verdict and has posted a bond, which is collateralized by a $200 million letter of credit. Accordingly, the judgment is deemed to be fully secured and not subject to compromise under bankruptcy law. On August 14, 2009, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order modifying the automatic stay to permit Lyondell Chemical to continue with the state court appeal.

On April 21, 2010, oral arguments in the appeal were held before the Appellate Division. Management does not expect the resolution of this matter to have a material adverse effect on LyondellBasell AF’s consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of operations, although it is possible that any such resolution could have a material adverse effect on results of operation for any period in which a resolution occurs.

Together with alleged past manufacturers of lead-based paint and lead pigments for use in paint, a Millennium subsidiary has been named as a defendant in various legal proceedings in the U.S. alleging personal injury, property damage, and remediation costs allegedly associated with the use of these products. The majority of these legal proceedings assert unspecified monetary damages in excess of the statutory minimum and, in certain cases, equitable relief such as abatement of lead-based paint in buildings. Legal proceedings relating to lead pigment or paint are in various trial stages and post-dismissal settings, some of which are on appeal. These cases were stayed pursuant to the automatic stay provided by the Bankruptcy Code.

On April 16, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court held a hearing on a motion by the Debtors (the “Stay Motion”) to enforce the automatic stay and for an injunction against further prosecution of a lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of California by certain California city and county government plaintiffs, captioned County of Santa Clara, et al. v. Atl. Richfield Co., et al ., Case No. CV 788657 (the “Santa Clara Lawsuit”), that asserted a public nuisance claim against the defendants in that action, including Millennium Holdings LLC (a Debtor), arising from the alleged effects of exposure to lead paint in houses and buildings, and seeking an order requiring the defendants to fund a remedial fund for lead paint removal. On April 23, 2009, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court entered an order on the Stay Motion: (i) requiring the California government plaintiffs to file a commitment by a stated deadline agreeing to refrain from proceeding against Millennium Holdings, LLC, in the Santa Clara Lawsuit or asserting claims against such Debtor based on the operative facts in that case without first moving for and obtaining leave to do so from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court; and (ii) if such plaintiffs fail to file such a commitment by the deadline, enjoining them from proceedings against such Debtor in the Santa Clara Lawsuit or

 

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18. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

otherwise asserting claims based on the operative facts in that case. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court also stated from the bench at the hearing on the Stay Motion that any such claim asserted against the Debtors would be a pre-petition claim that is barred by the automatic stay provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (and would not qualify under any “police power” exception to the automatic stay). In response to the Bankruptcy Court’s April 23, 2009 order, all of the California government plaintiffs filed the required commitment by the stated deadline.

Millennium’s defense costs to date for lead-based paint and lead pigment litigation largely have been covered by insurance. Millennium has insurance policies that potentially provide approximately $1 billion in indemnity coverage for lead-based paint and lead pigment litigation. Millennium’s ability to collect under the indemnity coverage would depend upon, among other things, the resolution of certain potential coverage defenses that the insurers are likely to assert and the solvency of the various insurance carriers that are part of the coverage block at the time of such a request.

Pursuant to the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization, on April 30, 2010, 49 entities including Millennium Holdings LLC (identified as Schedule III Debtors in the Plan of Reorganization) were transferred to a new owner, the Millennium Custodial Trust, a trust established for the benefit of certain creditors, and these entities are no longer part of LyondellBasell. Any associated liabilities of the entities transferred to and owned by the Millennium Custodial Trust will be the responsibility of those entities and claims regarding those entities will be resolved solely using their assets and the assets of the trust. Approximately $80 million of cash was used to fund the Millennium Custodial Trust.

As part of its technology licensing contracts, LyondellBasell AF gives indemnifications to its licensees for liability arising from possible patent infringement claims with respect to proprietary licensed technology. Such indemnifications have a stated maximum amount and generally cover a period of five to ten years.

Indemnification —LyondellBasell AF S.C.A. and its subsidiaries are parties to various indemnification arrangements, including arrangements entered into in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and the formation of joint ventures. For example, Lyondell Chemical entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with the transfer of assets and liabilities from Atlantic Richfield Company to Lyondell Chemical prior to Lyondell Chemical’s initial public offering and in connection with Lyondell Chemical’s acquisition of the outstanding shares of ARCO Chemical Company; Equistar and its owner companies (including Lyondell Chemical and Millennium) entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with the formation of Equistar; and Millennium entered into indemnification arrangements in connection with its demerger from Hanson plc. Pursuant to these arrangements, Lyondell Chemical and its subsidiaries provide indemnification to and/or receive indemnification from other parties in connection with liabilities that may arise in connection with the transactions and in connection with activities prior to completion of the transactions. These indemnification arrangements typically include provisions pertaining to third party claims relating to environmental and tax matters and various types of litigation. As of March 31, 2010, LyondellBasell AF has not accrued any significant amounts for such indemnification obligations and it is not aware of other circumstances that would likely lead to significant future indemnification obligations. LyondellBasell AF cannot determine with certainty the potential amount of future payments under the indemnification arrangements until events arise that would trigger a liability under the arrangements. In addition, LyondellBasell AF takes the position that many, if not all, potential liabilities arising from these indemnification arrangements are general unsecured prepetition claims that will be discharged through the Debtors’ Third Amended Plan of Reorganization, which was confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on April 23, 2010 and became effective on April 30, 2010.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

18. Commitments and Contingencies—(Continued)

 

Other —LyondellBasell AF has identified an agreement related to a project in Kazakhstan under which a payment was made that raises compliance concerns under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”). It has engaged outside counsel to investigate these activities, under the oversight of a special committee established by the Supervisory Board, and to evaluate internal controls and compliance policies and procedures. LyondellBasell AF made a voluntary disclosure of these matters to the U.S. Department of Justice and is cooperating fully with that agency. The ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be predicted at this time or whether other matters raising compliance issues will be discovered, including under other statutes. In this respect, LyondellBasell AF may not have conducted business in compliance with the FCPA and may not have had policies and procedures in place adequate to ensure compliance. LyondellBasell AF cannot reasonably estimate any potential penalty that may arise from these matters. LyondellBasell AF is in the process of adopting and implementing more stringent policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance. Violations of these laws could result in criminal and civil liabilities and other forms of relief that could be material to LyondellBasell AF and, subsequent to emergence, LyondellBasell N.V.

Certain of LyondellBasell AF’s non-U.S. subsidiaries conduct business in countries subject to U.S. economic sanctions, including Iran. U.S. laws and regulations prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in business activities, in whole or in part, with sanctioned countries, organizations and individuals. The U.S. Congress is considering legislation that, if adopted, might result in U.S. sanctions being imposed on non-U.S. entities doing business with Iran. LyondellBasell AF and LyondellBasell N.V. intend to comply with all applicable sanctions laws and regulations and are adopting certain more significant compliance policies and procedures. These business activities present a potential risk that could subject LyondellBasell AF to civil and criminal penalties. In connection with LyondellBasell AF’s continuing review of compliance risks in this area, certain activities have been identified that raise compliance issues under applicable sanctions laws and regulations. LyondellBasell AF has made voluntary disclosure of these matters to the U.S. Treasury Department and intends to cooperate fully with that agency. LyondellBasell AF’s investigations are ongoing, therefore the ultimate outcome of this matter cannot be predicted at this time. Violations of these laws could result in criminal and civil liabilities and other forms of relief that could be material to LyondellBasell AF and, subsequent to emergence, LyondellBasell N.V.

LyondellBasell AF and its joint ventures are, from time to time, defendants in lawsuits and other commercial disputes, some of which are not covered by insurance. Many of these suits make no specific claim for relief. Although final determination of any liability and resulting financial impact with respect to any such matters cannot be ascertained with any degree of certainty, management does not believe that any ultimate uninsured liability resulting from these matters will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of LyondellBasell AF.

General —In the opinion of management, the matters discussed in this note are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position or liquidity of LyondellBasell AF. However, the adverse resolution in any reporting period of one or more of these matters could have a material impact on LyondellBasell AF’s results of operations for that period, which may be mitigated by contribution or indemnification obligations of others, or by any insurance coverage that may be available.

19. Management Incentive Plans

In August 2009, the Bankruptcy Court authorized the implementation of the Debtors’ management incentive plan (the “MIP”). The MIP is designed to provide the Debtors’ workforce with appropriate market-level competitive compensation and to align the interests of the Debtors, their employees and their creditors. The MIP

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

19. Management Incentive Plans—(Continued)

 

covers the Debtors’ senior officers and managers, and provides for payouts upon LyondellBasell AF achieving certain EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and restructuring) targets. Under the MIP, approximately $25 million of payments will be made over a one year period following the Emergence Date. Payment was subject to emergence from the Bankruptcy Cases. As a result of the emergence from chapter 11 proceedings, the liability for the MIP will be accrued over the vesting period, beginning on the Emergence Date. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2010, LyondellBasell AF has not accrued any liability.

Upon emergence from chapter 11 proceedings, LyondellBasell N.V. replaced the MIP with the 2010 Medium Term Incentive Plan (the “MTI”) and also created the 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “LTI”). The MTI is designed to link the interests of shareholders with those of senior management by tying incentives to measurable corporate performance. The MTI covers LyondellBasell N.V.’s senior officers, and provides for payouts based on LyondellBasell N.V.’s return on assets and cost improvements over the calendar years 2010 through 2012. Benefits under the MTI will vest on the date, following December 31, 2012, on which the compensation committee certifies the performance results and will be paid in a single lump-sum payment on March 31 following the end of the performance cycle. The MTI provides for an accelerated pro rata payout in the event of a change in control of the company. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2010, no liability for the MTI has been accrued.

The LTI is a plan under which executives and senior management can become shareholders, thereby aligning their interests with shareholders. Certain of LyondellBasell N.V.’s senior managers and executives will be eligible to participate in the LTI. Under the LTI, LyondellBasell N.V.’s compensation committee will be authorized to grant restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, stock appreciation rights and other types of equity-based awards. The compensation committee determines the recipients of the equity awards, the type of award made, the required performance measurables, and the timing and duration of each grant. The maximum number of shares of LyondellBasell N.V. stock reserved for issuance under the LTI is 22,000,000. No awards under the LTI will become effective prior to LyondellBasell N.V.’s emergence from bankruptcy. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2010, no liability for the LTI has been accrued.

20. Stockholder’s Deficit and Non-Controlling Interests

Non-controlling Interest —The non-controlling interest represents an unrelated investor’s 21% interest in a partnership that owns the PO/SM II plant in Channelview, Texas. LyondellBasell AF owns the remaining 79% interest. Non-controlling interest was $111 million and $129 million at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The $18 million decrease was primarily due to distributions to non-controlling interest shareholders of $22 million, net of $4 million of net income. Comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2010, attributable to non-controlling interests of $2 million included the $4 million of net income less $6 million of fixed operating fees paid to Lyondell Chemical by the PO/SM II plant, in which a 30% interest is held by an unrelated investor. Non-controlling interest decreased $18 million from $135 million at December 31, 2008 to $117 million at March 31, 2009. This decrease was primarily due to distributions to non-controlling interest shareholders of $22 million, net of $4 million of net income. Comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009, attributable to non-controlling interests of $1 million included the $4 million of net income, net of $5 million of fixed operating fees paid to Lyondell Chemical by the PO/SM II plant.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss) —The components of comprehensive income (loss) were as follows for the three months ended March 31:

 

Millions of dollars

   2010     2009  

Net income (loss)

   $ 10      $ (1,016

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

    

Foreign currency translation

     42        (12

Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities

     (12     (14

Financial derivatives

     (38     (60

Changes in unrecognized employee benefits gains and losses

     (1     (30
                

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

     (9     (116
                

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 1      $ (1,132
                

21. Segment and Related Information

LyondellBasell AF operates in five segments:

 

   

Olefins and Polyolefins–Americas, primarily manufacturing and marketing of polyolefins, including polyethylene, comprising HDPE, LDPE and linear low density polyethylene (“LLDPE”), and polypropylene; and Catalloy process resins; and ethylene; its co-products, including propylene, butadiene, benzene and toluene; and the ethylene derivative, ethanol;

 

   

Olefins and Polyolefins–Europe, Asia, International (“O&P–EAI”), primarily manufacturing and marketing of olefins, including ethylene and its co-products, primarily propylene and butadiene; polyolefins, including polyethylene, comprising HDPE, LDPE and polypropylene; polypropylene-based compounds, materials and alloys (“PP Compounds”), Catalloy process resins and polybutene-1 polymers;

 

   

Intermediates and Derivatives, primarily manufacturing and marketing of ethylene derivatives, including ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide (“EO”), and other EO derivatives; acetyls, including vinyl acetate monomer, acetic acid and methanol; PO; PO co-products, including styrene and tertiary butyl alcohol (“TBA”), TBA derivative isobutylene; PO derivatives, including propylene glycol, propylene glycol ethers and butanediol; and fragrance and flavor chemicals; and

 

   

Refining and Oxyfuels, primarily manufacturing and marketing of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel, jet fuel, aromatics, lubricants (“lube oils”), naphtha, VGO, liquefied petroleum gas, bitumen, heating oil, and gasoline blending components, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (“MTBE”), ethyl tertiary butyl ether (“ETBE”) and alkylate;

 

   

Technology, primarily licensing of polyolefin process technologies and supply of polyolefin catalysts and advanced catalysts.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

21. Segment and Related Information—(Continued)

 

Summarized financial information concerning reportable segments is shown in the following table for the periods presented. Presentation of prior years’ amounts have been reclassified to conform to LyondellBasell AF current operating segments:

 

Millions of dollars

  Olefins and
Polyolefins
– Americas
    Olefins and
Polyolefins
– Europe,
Asia &
International
    Intermediates
& Derivatives
    Refining
and
Oxyfuels
    Technology   Other     Total  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

             

Sales and other operating revenues:

             

Customers

  $ 2,335      $ 2,959      $ 1,316      $ 3,061      $ 82   $ 2      $ 9,755   

Intersegment

    685        160               354        28     (1,227       
                                                     
    3,020        3,119        1,316        3,415        110     (1,225     9,755   

Segment operating income (loss)

    145        71        123        (128     31     (59     183   

Current cost adjustment

                184   
                   

Operating income

                367   

Income (loss) from equity investments

    4        52        (1                       55   

Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

             

Sales and other operating revenues:

             

Customers

  $ 1,224      $ 1,724      $ 769      $ 2,083      $ 100   $      $ 5,900   

Intersegment

    289        751               142        22     (1,204       
                                                     
    1,513        2,475        769        2,225        122     (1,204     5,900   

Segment operating income (loss)

    (101     (74     78        (44     50     (9     (100

Current cost adjustment

                (41
                   

Operating loss

                (141

Loss from equity investments

    (2     (11     (7                       (20

Sales and other operating revenues and operating income (loss) in the “Other” column above include elimination of intersegment transactions.

22. Subsequent Events

LyondellBasell AF has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

23. Reorganization and Fresh Start Accounting Pro Forma Information

As a result of the emergence from chapter 11 proceedings, LyondellBasell N.V. will apply “fresh start” accounting to the opening May 2010 consolidated financial statements as required under ASC 852, “Reorganizations.”

An analysis of the estimated reorganization enterprise value of LyondellBasell AF, including its U.S. and non-U.S. businesses was performed by an independent expert engaged by LyondellBasell AF as its financial advisor (the “Financial Advisor”) during bankruptcy.

The Financial Advisor estimated the total reorganization enterprise value on a cash-free and debt-free basis (the “TEV”) for consolidated LyondellBasell AF to be approximately $14.2 billion to $16.2 billion, with a midpoint of $15.2 billion. This estimate incorporated adjustments to include the estimated reorganization value of LyondellBasell AF’s interests in unconsolidated joint ventures, and deducts the estimated book value of third party non-controlling interests in consolidated joint ventures.

For the purposes of the pro forma financial statements presented below, the re-organization value is assumed to be $15.2 billion, debt free and net of cash. This is the value negotiated with creditor stakeholders for use in calculating claim settlements, and therefore, represents the most appropriate estimate of the anticipated bankruptcy court approved enterprise value.

The analysis assumes that the Effective Date occurs on April 30, 2010 and the date of the valuations is as of April 30, 2010.

The table below summarizes the TEV ranges for the entities values, as well as the respective midpoints:

 

     Total Reorganization Enterprise value
($in millions)

Valued Entities

   Low    Midpoint    High

LyondellBasell AF

   $14,200    $ 15,200    $ 16,200

U.S. Businesses

   8,600      9,200      9,800

Non-U.S. Businesses

   5,600      6,000      6,400

In applying fresh-start accounting at May 1, 2010, which generally follows the provisions of ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), LyondellBasell N.V. will record the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed from LyondellBasell AF at fair value except for deferred income taxes and certain liabilities associated with employee benefits. The significant assumptions related to the valuations of LyondellBasell N.V.’s assets and liabilities recorded in connection with fresh-start accounting are discussed hereunder. All valuation inputs, with the exception of the calculation of the crude related raw material inventories, are considered to be Level III inputs due to the measures employed being based on significant inputs that are not observable in the market. Crude related raw material inventories were valued using a combination of Level I and II inputs depending on the availability of publicly available quoted market prices.

Accounts Receivable —LyondellBasell N.V. recorded accounts receivable at their fair value. To assess the fair value of our receivables, an evaluation was performed in line with normal accounting procedures to determine an appropriate provision for balances that were considered doubtful. The net position of the provision and the receivable was considered fair value.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

Inventory —LyondellBasell N.V. recorded inventory at its fair value, which was determined as follows:

 

   

Finished goods were valued based on the estimated selling price of finished goods on hand less costs to sell, including disposal and holding period costs, and a reasonable profit margin on the selling and disposal effort for each specific category of finished goods being evaluated;

 

   

Work in process was valued based on the estimated selling price once completed less total costs to complete the manufacturing process, costs to sell, including disposal and holding period costs, and a reasonable profit margin on the remaining manufacturing, selling, and disposal effort; and

 

   

Raw materials were valued based on current replacement cost.

Investments and Long-term Receivables —LyondellBasell N.V.’s investments and long-term receivables comprise equity and other investments and long-term receivables. The equity in the net assets of nonconsolidated affiliates was recorded at fair value determined using discounted cash flow analyses, and included the following assumptions and estimates:

 

   

forecasted cash flows, which incorporate projections of sales volumes, revenues, variable costs, fixed costs, other income and costs, and capital expenditures, after considering potential changes in client portfolio and local market conditions;

 

   

a terminal value calculated for investments and long-term receivables, with forecasted cash flows not limited by contractual terms or the estimated life of the main investment asset, by assuming a maintainable level of after-tax debt-free cash flow multiplied by a capitalization factor reflecting the investor’s weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”) adjusted for the estimated long-term perpetual growth rate; and

 

   

a discount rate ranging from 11% to 15% that considered various factors including market and country risk premiums and tax rates to determine the investor’s WACC given the assumed capital structure of comparable companies.

Property Plant and Equipment and Equity investments in PO Joint Ventures —LyondellBasell N.V. recorded property, plant and equipment, which includes land, buildings and equipments, furniture and fixtures and construction in progress, at its fair value. Fair value was based on the highest and best use of specific properties. LyondellBasell N.V. considered and applied two approaches to determine fair value:

 

   

The market, sales comparison or trended cost approach utilized for certain assets related to land, buildings and land improvements. This approach relies upon recent sales, offerings of similar assets or a specific inflationary adjustment to original purchase price to arrive at a probable selling price. Certain adjustments were made to reconcile differences in attributes between the comparable sales and the appraised assets.

 

   

The cost approach was primarily utilized for certain assets related to land, buildings and land improvements, leasehold interests, and the majority of LyondellBasell N.V.’s machinery and equipment. This approach considers the amount required to construct or purchase a new asset of equal utility at current prices, with adjustments in value for physical deterioration, functional obsolescence, and economic obsolescence. Our machinery and equipment amounts determined under the cost approach were adjusted for functional obsolescence, which represents a loss in value

 

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due to unfavorable external conditions such as the facilities locality, comparative inherent technology and comparative energy efficiency. Physical deterioration was an adjustment made in the cost approach to reflect the real operating age of any individual asset. LyondellBasell N.V.’s estimated economic obsolescence is the difference between the discounted cash flows expected to be realized from utilization of the assets as a group, compared to the initial estimate of value from the cost approach method.

Goodwill —LyondellBasell N.V. recorded goodwill upon application of fresh-start accounting. When applying fresh-start accounting, certain accounts, primarily related to income tax, were recorded at amounts determined using specific guidance under U.S. GAAP rather than fair value, which gives rise to goodwill. For the purposes of the pro forma presentation, there was no goodwill on an economic basis based on the fair value of LyondellBasell N.V.’s equity, liabilities and identifiable assets. Deferred income taxes were recorded in accordance with ASC 740.

Intangible Assets—LyondellBasell N.V. recorded intangible assets at their fair values. The following is a summary of the approaches used to determine the fair value of significant intangible assets:

 

   

The fair value of various favorable technology and utility contracts was recorded using discounted cash flow and excess earnings methodologies. Significant assumptions used in the calculation included:

 

   

forecasted costs, revenues and volumes of technology sales and energy utilities;

 

   

future market prices of energy and comparable competing technologies;

 

   

deductions for assumed returns on tangible and intangible assets; and

 

   

discount rates ranging from 14% to 17% based on LyondellBasell N.V.’s WACC adjusted for perceived business risks related to the developed technologies and specific market sectors.

 

   

LyondellBasell N.V. recorded the fair value of in-process research and development at the cost of investment adjusted for the probability for future marketability.

 

   

LyondellBasell N.V. recorded the fair value of emission allowances. Observed market activity for emission allowance trades is primarily generated only by legislation changes. As participants react to legislation, market trades occur as companies pursue their individual lowest cost compliance strategies. Trading, in the absence of an additional significant market participant, generally ceases once compliance is attained. As such, an avoided cost of replacement methodology was used to determine estimated fair value. The significant assumptions used in valuing emission allowances include:

 

   

business demand for utilization of the allowances held;

 

   

engineering and construction costs required to reduce each marginal emission denomination; and

 

   

development of new technologies to aid in the cost and effectiveness of compliance.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

Deferred Income Taxes, Current and Non-current —The application of fresh-start accounting resulted in the recognition of goodwill. When applying fresh-start accounting, income taxes were recorded at amounts determined in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes . Further, we recorded valuation allowances against certain of our deferred tax assets, which under ASC 852 also resulted in goodwill.

The pro forma consolidated balance sheet of LyondellBasell AF is presented as of March 31, 2010 and applies LyondellBasell AF’s accounting policies. We prepared the following unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet by applying adjustments to the historical unaudited consolidated balance sheet of LyondellBasell AF. The unaudited pro forma balance sheet gives effect to the Plan of Reorganization and fresh-start accounting as if the Emergence Date had occurred on March 31, 2010.

The following unaudited pro forma balance sheet adjusts historical information for the effects of:

 

   

The Plan of Reorganization, which includes the effectiveness of the Plan of Reorganization and the debt restructuring transactions contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization including the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Term Loan Facility, the European Securitization and the Rights Offering (collectively referred to as “Reorganization Adjustments” in the pro forma consolidated balance sheet), and;

 

   

The estimated adjustments required under fresh-start accounting for entities emerging from the Bankruptcy Cases (classified as “Fresh-Start Adjustments” in the pro forma consolidated balance sheet).

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

23. Reorganization and Fresh Start Accounting Pro Forma Information—(Continued)

 

The tables below summarize the impact of the Plan and the adoption of Fresh Start Accounting on March 31, 2010.

PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED

BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
   Reorganization
Adjustments
    Fresh Start
Adjustments
    Pro Forma
Reorganized
March 31,
2010

ASSETS

             

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 537    $ 1,710      (a   $        $ 2,247

Accounts receivable

     3,642                        3,642

Inventories

     3,590               907      (i     4,497

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     948      (4   (i     5          949
                                 

Total current assets

     8,717      1,706          912      (i     11,335

Property, plant and equipment, net

     14,687               (7,169   (i     7,518

Investments and long-term receivables

     2,095               (478   (i     1,617

Goodwill

                   1,306      (i     1,306

Intangible assets, net

     1,748      174      (b     (206   (i     1,716

Other assets

     338      (110   (i     110      (i     338
                                 

Total assets

   $ 27,585    $ 1,770        $ (5,525     $ 23,830
                                 

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

23. Reorganization and Fresh Start Accounting Pro Forma Information—(Continued)

 

PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED

BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)—(Continued)

 

Millions of dollars

   March 31,
2010
    Reorganization
Adjustments
    Fresh Start
Adjustments
    Pro Forma
Reorganized
March 31,
2010

Liabilities not subject to compromise:

            

Current liabilities:

            

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 487      $ (480   (c   $        $ 7

Short-term debt

     6,675        (6,295   (d              380

Accounts payable

     2,213                          2,213

Accrued liabilities

     1,220        (176   (i              1,044

Deferred income taxes

     163        (163   (i     450      (i     450
                                  

Total current liabilities

     10,758        (7,114       450          4,094

Long-term debt

     304        6,491      (d )(e)               6,795

Other liabilities

     1,317        964      (f     (189   (i     2,092

Deferred income taxes

     2,012        (2,012   (i     971      (i     971

Commitments and contingencies

            

Liabilities subject to compromise

     22,058        (22,058   (g             

Stockholder’s equity:

            

LyondellBasell AF:

            

Common stock

     60                 (60   (j    

Additional paid-in capital

     563                 (563   (j    

Retained (deficit) earnings

     (9,303     15,638      (g     (6,335   (j    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (295              295      (j    
                                  

LyondellBasell AF’s share of stockholder’s equity (deficit)

     (8,975     15,638          (6,663      
                                  

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.:

            

Class A ordinary shares

            17      (h              17

Class B ordinary shares

            14      (h              14

Retained earnings

                             

Additional paid-in capital

            9,830      (h              9,830
                                  

New LyondellBasell Industries N.V.’s share of stockholder’s equity

            9,861                   9,861

Non-controlling interests

     111                 (94   (j     17
                                  

Total equity (deficit)

     (8,864     25,499          (6,757       9,878
                                  

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 27,585      $ 1,770        $ (5,525     $ 23,830
                                  

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

23. Reorganization and Fresh Start Accounting Pro Forma Information—(Continued)

 

Reorganization and Fresh-Start Adjustments

The estimated total reorganization enterprise value on a cash-free and debt-free basis is approximately $ 15.2 billion. This value has been adjusted in the below pro forma balance sheet as of March 31, 2010 to reflect higher pro forma cash on hand. This accompanied with fees associated with the issuance of equity results in a pro forma reorganization value of approximately $14.8 billion. The pro forma consolidated financial information gives effect to reorganization adjustments and fresh-start adjustments contemplated by the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization which was confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on April 23, 2010 which include the following:

 

  (a) Net cash inflows after giving effect to transactions pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization; including the proceeds from issuance of new notes, borrowing under the new Senior Term Loan Facility, receipts of Rights Offering proceeds, payments relating to the discharge of debts and other liabilities subject to compromise and the funding of custodial and litigation trusts.

 

  (b) The capitalization of estimated new debt issuance costs.

 

  (c) Settlement of the $322 million prepetition Term loan A due 2013, Dutch tranche and $163 million of outstanding borrowing under the $1,000 million revolving credit facility.

 

  (d) Repayment in cash of outstanding liabilities under the DIP New Money loan of $2,167 million, the DIP ABL Facility of $850 million and the European receivable securitization program of $353 million, exchange of $3,240 million of existing DIP roll-up loans for third lien Plan Roll-up Notes and borrowing under the European receivable securitization program of $315 million.

 

  (e) Issuance of $3,256 million of first priority debt, including $2,250 million 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 and €375 million 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017, in a private placement, and borrowings of $500 million under a senior term loan facility, bearing interest of $5.5% as part of exit financing.

 

  (f) Adjustments to other liabilities to primarily reflect the assumption of certain liabilities previously estimated to be subject to compromise of $863 million and the fair value of issued warrants of $101 million.

 

  (g) Adjustments to reflect the discharge of liabilities subject to compromise through a series of transactions involving equity and cash and to recognize a gain of $15,638 million on the settlement of pre-petition liabilities.

 

  (h) Issuance of approximately 300 million shares of Class A ordinary shares as part of the settlement and release of senior secured claims against the Debtors and approximately 263.9 million Class B shares in connection with a rights offering with net proceeds of $2,730 million resulting in a blended implied per share value of $17.61.

 

  (i) Adjustments to inventory, equity investments, investments in the Company’s Propylene Oxide Joint Ventures, property plant and equipment and corresponding non-controlling interests, deferred revenue and related deferred tax, and payment of DIP facilities exit fee.

 

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LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES AF S.C.A.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—(Continued)

 

23. Reorganization and Fresh Start Accounting Pro Forma Information—(Continued)

 

  (j) Adjustments to eliminate LyondellBasell AF common stock of $60 million, additional paid in capital of $563 million, accumulated other comprehensive loss of $295 million and retained deficit of $6,335 million.

The pro forma consolidated balance sheet is presented for informational purposes only. The pro forma consolidated balance sheet is not necessarily indicative of what LyondellBasell N.V.’s financial position will be. Following emergence from bankruptcy, the historical financial statements of LyondellBasell AF will not be comparable to the financial statements of LyondellBasell N.V. due to the effects of the consummation of the Plan of Reorganization as well as adjustments for fresh-start accounting. In addition, the amount of new stockholders’ equity in the pro forma consolidated balance sheet is not an estimate of the market value of the common stock of LyondellBasell N.V. as of the Emergence Date or at any other time. We make no representations as to the market value, if any, of the ordinary shares of LyondellBasell N.V.

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  2.1†    Third Amended and Restated Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization for the LyondellBasell Debtors, dated as of March 12, 2010.
  3.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Association of LyondellBasell Industries N.V., dated as of April 29, 2010.
  3.2    Rules for the Supervisory Board of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
  3.3    Rules for the Management Board of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
  4.1    Specimen certificate for class A ordinary shares, par value €0.04 per share, of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
  4.2    Specimen certificate for class B ordinary shares, par value €0.04 per share, of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
  4.3    Nomination Agreement between Leveragesource (Delaware), LLC and LyondellBasell Industries N.V., dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.4    Nomination Agreement between Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P. and LyondellBasell Industries N.V., dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.5    Nomination Agreement between AI International Chemicals S.à.r.l. and LyondellBasell Industries N.V., dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.6†    Registration Rights Agreement by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Banc of America Securities LLC and UBS Securities LLC, dated as of April 8, 2010.
  4.7    Registration Rights Agreement by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and the Holders (as defined therein), dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.8    Amended and Restated Indenture relating to 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 between Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Wilmington Trust GSB, dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.9    Security Agreement relating to 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 dated as of April 30, 2010 among Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.
  4.10    Indenture relating to 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Lyondell Chemical Company and Wells Fargo, N.A., dated as of April 30, 2010.
  4.11    Security Agreement relating to 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 dated as of April 30, 2010 among Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
  4.12    Warrant Agreement by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., dated as of April 30, 2010.
10.1†    Employment agreement by and among James L. Gallogly, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell AFGP, dated as of May 14, 2009.
10.2†    Compensation terms of C. Kent Potter.
10.3†    Employment agreement by and among Craig B. Glidden, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell AFGP, dated as of August 5, 2009.
10.4†    Employment agreement by and among Kevin Brown, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell AFGP, dated as of March 19, 2010.


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

10.5†    Employment agreement by and among Bhavesh V. Patel, Lyondell Chemical Company and LyondellBasell AFGP, dated as of August 5, 2009.
10.6†    Employment agreement with Anton de Vries with English Language Summary.
10.7†    Employment agreement between Alan S. Bigman and Basell USA Inc., dated as of August 1, 2009.
10.8†    Employment agreement between Volker Trautz and Basell Holdings B.V., dated as of August 1, 2007.
10.9†    Settlement Agreement and Release between Volker Trautz and LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., dated as of May 29, 2009.
10.10†    LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. Management Incentive Plan, effective as of January 1, 2009.
10.11    LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Short-Term Incentive Plan.
10.12†    LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Medium Term Incentive Plan.
10.13†    LyondellBasell Industries N.V. 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10.14    Form of Officer and Director Indemnification Agreement.
10.15†    Summary of Legacy Compensatory Arrangements for Named Executive Officers.
10.16    Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement.
10.17    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
10.18    Form of Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement.
10.19    Senior Secured Term Loan Credit Agreement by and between Lyondell Chemical Company, LBI Escrow Corporation, LyondellBasell Industries, N.V. and UBS AG, Stamford Branch, dated as of April 8, 2010.
10.20    U.S. Security Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 among Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and UBS AG, Stamford Branch.
10.21    Senior Secured Asset-Based Credit Agreement by and between Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Citibank, N.A., dated as of April 8, 2010.
10.22    Security Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 between Lyondell Chemical Company, certain of its subsidiaries, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Citibank N.A.
10.23    Master Receivables Purchase Agreement dated May 4, 2010 among Basell Sales and Marketing Company B.V., Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., Basell Polyolefins Collections Limited, Citicorp Trustee Company Limited and Citibank, N.A., London Branch.
21.1    List of subsidiaries of the registrant.
24.1†    Power of Attorney.

 

Previously filed.

EXHIBIT 3.1

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Informal translation in the English language of the substance of the original notarial deed of incorporation of LyondellBasell

Industries N.V. in the Dutch language. In this translation an attempt has been made to be as literal as possible, without jeopardising

the overall continuity. Inevitably, differences may occur in the translation, and if so, the Dutch text will govern.

AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

On the twenty-ninth day of April two thousand ten appeared before me, dr. Thomas Pieter van Duuren, civil law notary ( notaris ) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands:

Mr Gijsbertus Cornelis Kikkert, in this matter with residence at the offices of Clifford Chance LLP, Droogbak 1a, 1013 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands, born on Texel, The Netherlands, on the eleventh day of July nineteen hundred seventy-six.

The person appearing has declared that the general meeting of shareholders of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. , a public company ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under Dutch law, having its seat ( statutaire zetel ) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and its registered office at Weena 737, 3013 AM Rotterdam, The Netherlands and registered with the Dutch Commercial Register ( Handelsregister ) under number 24473890 (the “ Company ”), has resolved on the twenty-ninth day of April two thousand ten to amend and to completely renew the articles of association of the Company as stated hereinafter as well as to authorise the person appearing to execute this deed of amendment to the articles of association of which resolutions appear from a photocopy of the shareholder’s resolution attached to this deed ( Schedule 1 ).

The proposal of the Company’s management board and the approval of the Company’s supervisory board within in the meaning of article 23.1 of the Company’s articles of association are evidenced by a written management board resolution and a written resolution of the supervisory board, a photocopy of which resolutions shall be attached to this deed ( Schedules 2 and 3 ).

The person appearing has also declared that the articles of association of the above mentioned Company were previously amended by deed of amendment of the articles of association on the twenty-sixth day of April two thousand ten executed before a deputy of me, civil law notary, for which the ministerial declaration of no objections was granted on the nineteenth day of April two thousand ten under number N.V. 1567749, and have not been amended since then.

 

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In order to execute said resolution to amend the articles of association, the person appearing has declared to amend and to completely renew the articles of association as follows:

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

CHAPTER I DEFINITIONS

 

1. DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 In these articles of association the following expressions shall have the following meanings:

 

  1.1.1 an “ Accountant ”: a register-accountant or other expert referred to in section 2:393 Dutch Civil Code (“ DCC ”), or an organisation within which such accountants cooperate.

 

  1.1.2 the “ Annual Accounts ”: the balance sheet and the profit and loss account including the explanatory notes;

 

  1.1.3 the “ CEO ” the Chief Executive Officer of the Company;

 

  1.1.4 the “ Class B Liquidation Preference ” ten dollars and sixty-one cents (USD 10.61) per class B ordinary share, subject to adjustments for any stock splits or stock combinations;

 

  1.1.5 Closing Price ” means, as of any date, the last reported per share sales price of a share of class B ordinary shares on such date (or, if no last reported sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices on such date) as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the class B ordinary shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported by the principal national or regional securities exchange or quotation system on which the class B ordinary shares are then listed or quoted, or if the class B ordinary shares are not so listed or reported, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board or, if not so listed or reported, as reported in the “pink sheets” published by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided , however , that in the absence of such quotations, the Closing Price for the class B ordinary shares shall be the Closing Price (similarly determined in the manner set forth in this definition) of the class A ordinary shares, and in the absence of such quotations, the Closing Price for the class B ordinary shares will be determined by the supervisory board in good faith.

 

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  1.1.6 the “ Company ”: the company governed by these articles of association;

 

  1.1.7 a “ Deemed Liquidation ”: the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of subsidiaries of the Company whose assets constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

  1.1.8 the “ Distributable Part of the Shareholders’ Equity ”: the part of the shareholders’ equity exceeding the issued share capital plus the reserves which must be maintained by law;

 

  1.1.9 an “ e-mail ”: a legible and reproducible message sent by electronic means of communication;

 

  1.1.10 a “ Liquidation ”: the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up (“ ontbinding ”) of the Company;

 

  1.1.11 the “ Liquidation Preference Expiration Date ”: the first date upon which the Closing Price exceeds two hundred percent (200%) of the Class B Liquidation Preference, for at least forty-five (45) trading days within a period of sixty (60) consecutive trading days; provided however, that the Closing Price must exceed such threshold on both the first and last day of the sixty (60) day period.

 

1.2 In addition, unless the content requires otherwise, the expression “ written ” or “ in writing ” shall include messages sent by e-mail.

CHAPTER II NAME, SEAT, OBJECTS

 

2. NAME, SEAT

 

2.1 The name of the Company is: LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

2.2 The seat ( statutaire zetel ) of the Company is in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

 

3. OBJECTS

The objects of the Company are:

 

(a) to incorporate, to participate in any manner whatsoever, to manage, to supervise, to cooperate with, to acquire, to maintain, to dispose of, to transfer or to administer in any other manner whatsoever all sorts of participations and interests in businesses and companies;

 

(b) to borrow, to lend and to raise funds, including the issue of bonds, promissory notes or other securities in the widest sense of the word;

 

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(c) to grant guarantees and to grant securities over the assets of the Company for the benefit of companies and enterprises with which the Company forms a group and for the benefit of third parties;

 

(d) to acquire, to administer, to operate, to encumber, to dispose of and to transfer moveable assets and real property and any right to or interest therein;

 

(e) to advise and to render services to enterprises of any nature;

 

(f) to carry out all sorts of industrial, financial and commercial activities, including manufacturing, the import, export, purchase, sale, distribution and marketing of products and raw materials;

and all matters associated with the foregoing, related or conducive thereto, with the objects to be given their most expansive interpretation.

CHAPTER III CAPITAL AND SHARES

 

4. AUTHORISED CAPITAL

 

4.1 The authorised capital amounts to fifty-one million euro (EUR 51,000,000.00) and is divided into one billion (1,000,000,000) class A ordinary shares of four eurocent (EUR 0.04) each and two hundred seventy-five million (275,000,000) class B ordinary shares of four eurocent (EUR 0.04) each. The composition of the authorised capital may change pursuant to the conversion of shares as set out in article 5.7, so that the number of class A ordinary shares in the authorised capital is increased by the number of class B ordinary shares being converted into class A ordinary shares, while the number of class B ordinary shares in the authorised capital is decreased by that same number of shares, taking into account that as soon as all issued class B ordinary shares have been converted into class A ordinary shares, any remaining class B ordinary shares in the authorized share capital of the Company will be converted into class A ordinary shares so that there shall no longer be any class B ordinary shares in the authorized share capital of the Company.

 

4.2 The class A ordinary shares shall be numbered consecutively from A-1 onwards, the class B ordinary shares shall be numbered consecutively from B-1 onwards.

 

4.3 References in these articles of association to “shares” and “shareholders” shall include both classes of ordinary shares and the holders of those ordinary shares, except where the context requires otherwise.

 

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4.4 Any amounts paid up on shares of any class in excess of the nominal value of such shares shall be added to the general share premium reserve attached to all issued ordinary shares.

 

4.5 As long as class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or similar transaction, can only be resolved by the general meeting of shareholders if such stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or similar transaction is performed equally and simultaneously both for class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares.

CHAPTER IV ISSUE OF SHARES, COMPANY SHARES, CAPITAL REDUCTION

 

5. ISSUE OF SHARES, BODY OF THE COMPANY AUTHORISED TO ISSUE SHARES, CONVERSION OF SHARES

 

5.1 Shares will be issued pursuant to a resolution of the supervisory board, which resolution will set forth the number of shares to be issued, the person to whom such shares will be issued, the price for each share and the other pertinent terms of issuance. The issue of a registered share, not being a share as referred to in section 2:86c DCC, will require an instrument intended for such purpose executed before a civil law notary in the Netherlands.

 

5.2 The designation of the supervisory board as being the body competent to issue shares shall be valid for a period of five years starting on the thirtieth day of April two thousand ten and ending on the thirtieth day of April two thousand fifteen (unless this period is extended in accordance with article 5.3) and shall include the authority to issue twenty percent of the authorised capital from time to time, provided that the conversion of shares in accordance with article 5.7 or article 10.6 shall be excluded from this limitation.

 

5.3 The designation of the supervisory board as being the body competent to issue shares may, subject to article 5.4, by these articles of association or, on the proposal of the management board, by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders, be extended or renewed again, each time for a period not exceeding five years. If the designation is extended or renewed, the authority, or absence of such authority, to restrict or exclude pre-emptive rights as well as the number of shares which may be issued shall be determined at the same time, with a maximum of twenty percent of the authorised capital from time to time, provided that the conversion of shares in accordance with article 5.7 or article 10.6 shall be excluded from this limitation. Unless laid down otherwise in the designation, it may not be withdrawn.

 

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5.4 If the designation of the supervisory board as being the body competent to issue shares ends, the general meeting of shareholders shall be competent to issue shares unless another body is designated for this purpose by the general meeting of shareholders. The resolution of the general meeting of shareholders to designate another body, including the assignment of the authority, or the absence of such authority, to exclude or limit the pre-emptive rights, other than the supervisory board, or to issue shares will only be taken on the proposal of the management board which proposal will have been approved by the supervisory board and will have a duration of no more than five years and relate to no more than twenty percent of the authorised capital from time to time, provided that the conversion of shares in accordance with article 5.7 or article 10.6 shall be excluded from this limitation.

 

5.5 Other than in connection with any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or similar transaction, as long as class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, no additional class B ordinary shares can be issued without the unanimous approval of the meeting of holders of class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares, resolved in a meeting in which all holders of class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares are present or represented.

 

5.6 The provisions in paragraphs 1 up to and including 5 of this article will be correspondingly applicable to the granting of rights to subscribe for shares but will not apply to the issue of shares to a party exercising a previously acquired right to subscribe for shares.

 

5.7

At the earlier of (i) receipt by the management board of a written request of the relevant holder of class B ordinary shares with respect to the number of class B ordinary shares specified by such holder, (ii) acquisition by the Company of one or more class B ordinary shares or (iii) upon the Liquidation Preference Expiration Date with respect to each outstanding class B ordinary share, each such class B ordinary share will be converted into one (1) class A ordinary share. The conversion of class B ordinary shares shall take place immediately upon the occurrence of any of the events specified above in this paragraph. In case of the conversion of a registered class B ordinary share into a registered class A ordinary share, such conversion shall take place without any further action being required. In case of the conversion of a registered class B ordinary share into a class A ordinary bearer share, such conversion shall take place by means of a delivery of a class A ordinary bearer share certificate to such shareholder or adding such class A

 

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ordinary bearer share to the global certificate A. In case of the conversion of a class B ordinary bearer share into a class A ordinary bearer share, such conversion shall take place after lodging the class B ordinary bearer share certificate with the Company or removing such class B ordinary bearer share from the global certificate B against a delivery of a class A ordinary bearer share certificate to such shareholder or adding such class A ordinary bearer share to the global certificate A. In case of the conversion of a class B ordinary bearer share into a registered class A ordinary share, such conversion shall take place after lodging the class B ordinary bearer share certificate with the Company or removing such class B ordinary bearer share from the global certificate B. Within one (1) day after the conversion of class B ordinary shares into class A ordinary shares, a special declaration regarding the conversion shall be deposited by the management board at the offices of the Trade Register of the district in which the Company is registered. This declaration shall include the changes which were made to the composition of the issued and authorised capital of the Company as a result of the conversion of shares.

 

5.8 In the event that an issue of shares would have an adverse effect on the rights of holders of shares of a certain class, the resolution of the general meeting of shareholders to issue shares or the designation of another corporate body as being the body competent to issue shares, requires the prior approval of the meeting of holders of shares of that certain class.

 

6. CONDITIONS OF ISSUE OF SHARES, PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS

 

6.1 In the resolution to issue shares the price and further conditions of the issue will be determined. Apart from the provisions laid down in section 2:80 paragraph 2 DCC the issue price may not be below par.

 

6.2 In case of shares being issued, every holder of shares will hold a pre-emptive right in the proportion that the aggregate amount of his shares bears to the total amount of shares outstanding.

However, a holder of shares will not have a pre-emptive right to shares which are being issued against contribution other than in cash, to shares which will be issued to employees of the Company or of a group company and to shares which will be issued as a result of a legal merger or legal split-off.

 

6.3 The pre-emptive right may be restricted or excluded by a resolution of the supervisory board and provided that the supervisory board may only exercise this authority if it will then also be competent to pass a resolution for the issue of shares with the restriction or exclusion of pre-emptive rights.

 

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The provisions of paragraphs 1 up to and including 4 of article 5 will be correspondingly applicable to the extent possible. In case the general meeting of shareholders wishes to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive right, the pre-emptive right accruing to shareholders may only be restricted or excluded, on the proposal of the supervisory board. If another body than the general meeting of shareholders or the supervisory board is competent to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights, the pre-emptive right accruing to shareholders may only be restricted or excluded, with the approval of the supervisory board. The resolution of the general meeting of shareholders subject to the required proposal of the supervisory board to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights, or the resolution of the general meeting of shareholders to designate another body competent not being the supervisory board to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights on the proposal of the management board and subject to the required approval of the supervisory board as described in article 5.4, or the resolution of the general meeting of shareholders to designate the supervisory board as the corporate body competent to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights on the proposal of the management board as described in article 5.3, will require a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes cast in case less than one half (1/2) of the issued capital is represented at the general meeting of shareholders.

 

6.4 In case of rights to subscribe for shares being granted, paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article will be correspondingly applicable. Shareholders will not hold a pre-emptive right to shares which are being issued to a party who exercises an already previously acquired right to subscribe for shares.

 

6.5 Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not issue any class of non-voting equity securities unless and solely to the extent permitted by section 1123(a)(6) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) as in effect on the date of execution of the amendment of articles of association by which this article 6.5 became legally effective; provided, however, that this Section 6.5 (a) will have no further force and effect beyond that required under section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code; (b) will have such force and effect, if any, only for so long as section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code is in effect and applicable to the Company; and (c) in all events may be amended or eliminated in accordance with applicable law from time to time in effect.

 

7. PAYMENTS ON SHARES

 

7.1 Upon subscription for a share the full nominal amount must be paid thereon, as well as in case the share is subscribed at a higher amount, the difference between said amounts, everything without prejudice to the provisions in section 2:80 paragraph 2 DCC.

 

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7.2 Payment in foreign currency may only be made with permission of the Company.

 

7.3 The management board will be competent to enter into legal acts stated in section 2:94 DCC, without prior approval of the general meeting of shareholders.

 

8. COMPANY SHARES

 

8.1 Acquisition by the Company of shares in its capital not paid up will be null and void. The Company may, without prejudice to the statutory provisions and those laid down in these articles of association, only acquire said company shares for a consideration in case:

 

  a. its equity capital reduced by the price of acquisition, will not be lower than the paid and claimed part of its capital increased by the reserves which must be maintained by law, and

 

  b. the nominal amount of the shares in its capital acquired, held or held in pledge by the Company or those held by a subsidiary, will not exceed one–half of its issued capital.

Decisive for the validity of the acquisition will be the amount of the equity capital according to the last adopted balance sheet, reduced by the acquisition price for the shares in the capital of the Company, the amount of the loans referred to in section 2:98c paragraph 2 DCC and distributions to the charge of the profit or reserves to other parties which the Company and its subsidiaries owed after the date of the balance sheet. In case a financial year will have expired for longer than six (6) months without the annual accounts having been adopted, an acquisition in accordance with the present paragraph will not be permitted. If depository receipts for shares in the capital of the Company have been issued, such depository receipts shall be put on par with shares for the purpose of the foregoing.

 

8.2 Other than gratuitously, the Company may only acquire shares in case the general meeting of shareholders will have authorized the management board for that purpose and only if it acquires class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares pro rata on the same terms, including price per share; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, subject to the authorization by the general meeting of shareholders:

 

  (a)

purchase class A ordinary shares or class B ordinary shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions (in each case, other than in connection with an offer to all holders of either class A ordinary shares or

 

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class B ordinary shares) which transaction has been approved, subject to article 17.8, by the supervisory board in accordance with articles 8.4 and 17.4;

 

  (b) purchase shares from members of the supervisory board, members of the management board, officers or employees of the Company or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries upon their death or termination of employment or service in accordance with the Company’s benefit plans;

 

  (c) purchase shares in connection with the “cashless exercise” or “net share settlement” upon the exercise or conversion of any option, warrant or other security that is exercisable or convertible into ordinary shares in accordance with its terms;

 

  (d) purchase fractional shares and deliver cash in lieu of issuing fractional shares.

Said authorisation will only be valid for a period not exceeding eighteen (18) months. In the authorisation the general meeting of shareholders shall determine how many shares thereof may be acquired, the manner in which they may be acquired and between what limits the price shall be. If depository receipts for shares in the capital of the Company have been issued, such depository receipts shall be put on par with shares for the purpose of the foregoing.

 

8.3 The authorisation will not be required for the acquisition of company class A ordinary shares by the Company or depository receipts thereof in order to transfer these to employees in the employ of the Company or of a legal entity with which it is associated in a group by virtue of an arrangement applicable to said employees. These shares or the depository receipts shall be included in the price list of a stock exchange.

 

8.4 A resolution of the management board with respect to the acquisition or alienation of company shares or depository receipts thereof will be subject to the approval of the supervisory board.

 

8.5 In the general meeting of shareholders no votes may be cast in respect of a company share held by the Company or a subsidiary company; no votes may be cast in respect of a share for which the depository receipt is held by the Company or a subsidiary company. Usufructuaries or pledgees of a company share held by the Company or a subsidiary company will not be excluded from voting rights, if the right of usufruct or pledge was created before the Company or such subsidiary company held such share. The Company or a subsidiary company may not cast votes for shares on which it holds a right of usufruct or a right of pledge.

 

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8.6 In the determination of the number of votes exercised in a general meeting of shareholders, to what extent shareholders are present or represented or to what extent the share capital has been provided or is represented, the shares for which no votes may be cast in compliance with the above will not be taken into account.

 

9. CAPITAL REDUCTION

 

9.1 The general meeting of shareholders may pass a resolution for the reduction of the issued capital, however, exclusively on proposal of the management board which proposal will have been approved by the supervisory board and, in the event that a reduction of the issued capital would have an adverse effect on the rights of holders of shares of a certain class, with the prior approval of the meeting of holders of shares of that certain class:

 

  a. by the withdrawal of shares; or

 

  b. by reducing the amount of the shares in an amendment of the articles of association, provided that as a result thereof the issued capital or the paid part thereof will not fall below the amount prescribed in section 2:67 DCC.

In said resolution, the shares to which the resolution relates shall be designated and the implementation of the resolution shall be arranged.

 

9.2 A resolution for withdrawal may only relate to shares held by the Company itself or of which it holds the depositary receipts.

 

9.3 Reduction of the amount of the shares without repayment and without exemption from the liability for payment shall be made proportionately on all shares of the same class. The requirement of proportion may be deviated from with the consent of all shareholders concerned.

 

9.4 Partial repayment on shares or exemption from the liability for payment will only be possible by way of implementation of a resolution for reduction of the amount of the shares. Such a repayment or exemption shall be made proportionately on all shares. The requirement of proportion may be deviated from with the consent of all shareholders concerned.

 

9.5 A resolution for capital reduction will require a majority of at least two thirds (2/3 of the votes cast in case less than one half (1/2) of the issued capital is represented at the general meeting of shareholders.

 

9.6

The convening notice for a meeting in which a resolution as stated in the present article will be passed will state the object of the capital reduction and the manner of implementation. In case the capital reduction will involve an amendment of the

 

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articles of association, those parties who have sent such a convening notice shall simultaneously deposit a copy of said proposal, containing the verbatim text of the proposed amendment, at the office of the Company as well as at an address to be mentioned in the convening notice, for perusal by every shareholder and holder of depository receipts of shares issued with the cooperation of the Company (hereinafter: “ holder(s) of depository receipts ”), until the end of the meeting.

 

9.7 The Company will deposit the resolutions referred to in the present article at the office of the Trade Register and will announce the depositing in a nationally distributed daily newspaper.

 

9.8 On the proposal of the management board, which proposal will have been approved by the supervisory board, the general meeting of shareholders may decide that a repayment on shares will either fully or partly be made not in cash but in participations in a company in which the Company participates either directly or indirectly.

 

10. BEARER SHARES AND REGISTERED SHARES, SHARE CERTIFICATES, MISSING AND DAMAGED SHARE CERTIFICATES

 

10.1 The shares will, at the option of the management board which will have been approved by the supervisory board, either be in bearer form or in registered form.

 

10.2 Bearer share certificates will either be available in the denominations one (1) share, five (5) shares, ten (10) shares and one hundred (100) shares and further denominations of such higher numbers of shares as the management board may determine or in the form of one (1) or more global certificates A for class A ordinary bearer shares and/or one (1) global certificate B for class B ordinary bearer shares, as the management board may determine. All share certificates shall be identified by numbers and/or letters.

 

10.3 At the discretion of the management board and with the approval of the supervisory board, the holder of bearer shares may, after lodging his bearer share certificate(s) with the Company, have issued to him registered shares of the same nominal amount and the same class. At the discretion of the management board and with the approval of the supervisory board, the holder of registered shares may have issued to him bearer share certificate(s) of the same nominal amount and the same class.

 

10.4

Upon written request by or on behalf of a shareholder, missing or damaged share certificates may be replaced by new share certificates bearing the same number and/or letters, provided that the shareholder who has made such request, or the

 

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person making such request on his behalf, provides satisfactory evidence of his title and in so far as applicable, the loss of his share certificates to the management board, and further subject to such conditions as the management board may deem appropriate.

 

10.5 The issue of a new share certificate shall render the share certificate which its replaces invalid.

 

10.6 The option of the Company’s management board for either shares in bearer form or in registered form as mentioned in article 10.1 of these articles of association can include an automatic conversion of the bearer shares to be issued into registered shares of the same class, which conversion occurs under the condition precedent that the relevant bearer share is delivered to Cede & Co in its capacity of nominee of the Depository Trust Company. Such conversion is evidenced by written evidence of such delivery and will subsequently be registered in the Company’s register of shareholders in accordance with the proprietary regime applicable to such shares.

 

11. SHAREHOLDERS’ REGISTER

 

11.1 A register will be kept at the office of the Company in which all holders of registered shares will be registered, with additional statement of their addresses, the class of shares held and the amount paid on each share.

The register will also include the name and addresses of those parties holding a right of usufruct or a right of pledge on said shares, with additional statement which rights attached to the shares will accrue to them in accordance with article 12.

 

11.2 At request, the management board will gratuitously provide a shareholder, a usufructuary and a pledgee with an extract from the register with respect to his right to a registered share.

In case the share will be subject to a right of usufruct or a right of pledge, the extract will state to whom the rights referred to in article 12 will accrue.

 

11.3 The management board will deposit the register at the office of the Company for perusal by the shareholders as well as the usufructuaries and pledgees to whom the rights of a holder of depository receipts referred to in the next article accrue.

The preceding sentence will not apply to the part of the register kept outside the Netherlands in order to comply with the legalisation applicable there or by virtue of any stock exchange regulations.

 

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11.4 The register will be kept up-to-date regularly.

Every annotation in a register will be signed on behalf of or by the management board.

Otherwise the manner in which the register will be arranged will be determined by the management board, with approval of the supervisory board.

CHAPTER V TRANSFER OF SHARES, RIGHTS IN REM

 

12. TRANSFER OF SHARES, USUFRUCT AND PLEDGE, SHARES IN AN UNDIVIDED COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY

 

12.1 The transfer of a registered share, not being a share referred to in section 2:86c DCC, will require an instrument intended for such purpose executed before a civil law notary in the Netherlands. The transfer of a registered share, being a share referred to in section 2:86c DCC, will require a deed of transfer and serving of said deed upon the Company or written acknowledgement of the delivery by the Company, unless pursuant to section 13.2 and section 10.2 or section 16.2 of the Dutch act of conflict law with respect to property law ( Wet conflictenrecht goederenrecht ) other legal requirements for the transfer of registered shares are applicable. To the extent section 13.2 of the Dutch act of conflict law ( Wet conflictenrecht goederenrecht ) is applicable, the Company hereby chooses to apply the laws of the State of New York with respect to the property law applicable to the registered shares.

 

12.2 The provisions in paragraph 1 of this article will be correspondingly applicable to the creation and delivery of the right of usufruct and to the creation of a right of pledge on a registered share.

 

12.3 The provisions in paragraph 1 of this article will be correspondingly applicable to the apportionment of registered shares in case of a division of any community of property.

 

12.4 The shareholder will hold the voting right on the shares on which a right of usufruct or a right of pledge will have been created. However, the voting right will accrue to the usufructuary or the pledgee in case this is determined at the creation of the right of usufruct or the right of lien. The shareholder not holding the voting right, and the usufructuary and the pledgee holding the voting right, will hold the rights granted by law to the holders of depository receipts.

The rights referred to in the preceding sentence will not accrue to the usufructuary and the pledgee not holding the voting right.

 

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12.5 The rights for the acquisition of shares ensuing from the share will accrue to the usufructuary holding the voting right, subject to the proviso that he shall compensate the value of said rights to the shareholder insofar he has no claim to them by virtue of his right of usufruct.

 

12.6 In case shares or a right of usufruct or a right of pledge thereon will form part of an undivided community of property, the parties entitled may only exercise their rights ensuing from said shares or the restricted right by a person to be designated by them in writing.

CHAPTER VI MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISION ON MANAGEMENT.

 

13. THE MANAGEMENT BOARD AND SUPERVISORY BOARD.

 

13.1 The Company will be managed by a management board consisting of at least one (1) member under the supervision of a supervisory board. In case the management board consists of one (1) member, such member will hold the title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

With due observance of the provisions in the previous sentence, the number of members of the management board and the supervisory board will be determined by the supervisory board, provided that the supervisory board shall at all time consist of at least and nine (9) members.

 

13.2 The general meeting of shareholders will appoint both the member(s) of the management board and, subject to article 13.4, the members of the supervisory board, upon the nomination of the supervisory board.

Subject to article 13.4, the appointment of a member of the supervisory board shall take place by way of a binding nomination naming at least two persons for each vacancy to be filled and prepared by the supervisory board, or, at the discretion of the supervisory board, by way of a non-binding nomination prepared by the supervisory board. In case of a binding nomination, the general meeting of shareholders may render such nomination non-binding by means of a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the valid votes cast, such two-third (2/3) majority representing more than half of the issued capital. In case of such a vote, the general meeting of shareholders will be free in its selection and appointment of a supervisory board member to fill the vacancy by means of a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the valid votes cast, such two-third (2/3) majority representing more than half (1/2) of the issued capital. If the proportion of the share capital of at least one-half (1/2) as referred to in the preceding sentence is not represented at the meeting, then no new meeting referred to in section 2:120 paragraph 3 DCC may be convened.

 

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Following implementation of Bill number 31 763, “Amendment of book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code in connection with rules for management and supervision in limited liability companies and private companies with limited liability” (Wetsvoorstel 31 763, “Wijziging van boek 2 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de aanpassing van regels over bestuur en toezicht in naamloze en besloten vennootschappen”), the binding nomination referred to above shall name at least one person for each vacancy to be filled. If then a nomination names only one person, a resolution by the general meeting of shareholders on the proposal results in such person being appointed, unless the general meeting of shareholders renders the nomination non-binding by means of a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the valid votes cast, such two-third (2/3) majority representing more than half (1/2) of the issued capital. In case of such a vote, the general meeting of shareholders will be free in its selection and appointment of a supervisory board member to fill the vacancy by means of a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the valid votes cast, such two-third (2/3) majority representing more than half of the issued capital.

The initial term of the CEO in office immediately following the date per which this article 13.2 became legally effective shall be five (5) years. Subsequent member(s) of the management board can be appointed for a maximum term of four (4) years and may be reappointed. There is no limit to the number of times a member of the management board can be reappointed.

The general meeting of shareholders may with due observance of articles 13.5 and 13.6 at any time suspend and dismiss one or more members of the management board and/or the supervisory board.

The supervisory board may at any time suspend one or more members of the management board.

 

13.3 Unless the general meeting of shareholders, on the proposal of the supervisory board, determines that a member of the supervisory board shall be appointed for a longer period, a member of the supervisory board will be appointed for a maximum period of three (3) years, provided however that unless such member of the supervisory board has resigned at an earlier date, his term of office shall lapse at the end of the first annual general meeting of shareholders, to be held after lapse of his term of appointment. A member may be re-appointed with due observance of the preceding sentence. There is no limit to the number of times a member of the supervisory board can be reappointed. The supervisory board may draw up a retirement schedule for the members of the supervisory board.

 

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Periodical resignation will take place per the date of the annual general meeting of shareholders.

In case the number of members of the supervisory board will be less than nine (9), the supervisory board will remain competent, although a vacancy should be filled as soon as possible.

 

13.4 The supervisory board itself shall be entitled to appoint up to one-third (1/3) of the members of the supervisory board in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:143 DCC. Such appointments shall terminate on the date of the next following general meeting of shareholders.

 

13.5 The general meeting of shareholders may only adopt a resolution to suspend or dismiss a member of the supervisory board or management board by means of a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the valid votes cast, such two-third (2/3) majority representing more than half of the issued capital. If the proportion of the share capital of more than one half (1/2) as referred to in the preceding sentence is not represented at the meeting, then no new meeting referred to in section 2:120 paragraph 3 DCC may be convened.

 

13.6 If either the general meeting of shareholders or the supervisory board has suspended a member of the management board or if the general meeting of shareholders has suspended a member of the supervisory board, the general meeting of shareholders shall within three (3) months after the suspension has taken effect resolve either to dismiss such member of the management board or such member of the supervisory board, or to terminate or continue the suspension, failing which the suspension shall lapse.

A resolution to continue the suspension may be adopted in compliance with paragraph 4 of this article but only once and in such event the suspension may be continued for a maximum period of three (3) months commencing on the day the general meeting of shareholders has adopted the resolution to continue suspension. If within the period of continued suspension the general meeting of shareholders has not resolved either to dismiss such member of the management board or such member of the supervisory board or to terminate the suspension, the suspension shall lapse.

 

13.7 A member of the management board or a member of the supervisory board shall in the event of a dismissal or suspension be given the opportunity to account for his actions at the general meeting of shareholders and to be assisted by an adviser.

 

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13.8 On the basis of a remuneration policy determined by the general meeting of shareholders, the supervisory board shall determine the remuneration and other terms of employment for the management board. With regard to arrangements concerning remuneration in the form of shares or share options, the supervisory board shall submit a proposal to the general meeting of shareholders for its approval. This proposal must, at a minimum, state the number of shares or share options that may be granted to the management board and the criteria that apply to the granting of such shares or share options or the alteration of such arrangements.

 

13.9 Each member of the supervisory board shall be paid a fee at such rate as may from time to time be determined by the supervisory board provided that the aggregate of all fees so paid per annum to the members of the supervisory board shall not exceed the amount per annum decided by the general meeting of shareholders.

CHAPTER VII THE MANAGEMENT BOARD

 

14. DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, DECISION MAKING PROCESS

 

14.1 The management board will be charged with the management of the day to day affairs of the Company, subject to the supervision of the supervisory board.

 

14.2 The management board may have itself assisted by one (1) or more persons to whom the title managing director or any other title of which the word managing director forms part, may be granted. The management board may grant a power of attorney or another continuous representative power to one (1) or more persons, whether or not employed by the Company.

 

14.3 The management board may draw up regulations in which its internal matters will be arranged. The regulations will require the approval of the supervisory board.

 

14.4 Without prejudice to any other applicable provisions of these articles of association, the management board shall furthermore require the approval of the supervisory board and the general meeting of shareholders for resolutions of the management board regarding a significant change in the identity or nature of the Company or its associated enterprise, including in any event:

 

  a. the transfer of the entire enterprise or practically the entire enterprise of the Company to a third party, whether by acquisition, business merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

  b.

to conclude or cancel any long-lasting co-operation by the Company or a

 

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subsidiary with any other legal person or company or as a fully liable general partner of a limited partnership or a general partnership, provided that such co-operation or the cancellation thereof is of essential importance to the Company;

 

  c. to acquire or dispose of a participating interest in the capital of a company with a value of at least one third of the sum of the assets according to the consolidated balance sheet with explanatory notes thereto according to the last adopted Annual Accounts of the Company, by the Company or a subsidiary.

In addition, in the event that any such transaction occurs in connection with an acquisition, business merger, sale of all or substantially all assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, consolidation or a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company (or its subsidiaries, the assets of which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole), in a single transaction or series of transactions, in each case, pursuant to which the class B ordinary shares are redeemed, purchased, converted, retired or otherwise exchanged for value at the price less than the Class B Liquidation Preference, the management board shall require, in addition to the approval of the general meeting of shareholders, the approval of (i) the meeting of holders of class B ordinary shares in accordance with the provisions of article 21.1 and (ii) the supervisory board.

 

14.5 The approval of the supervisory board is required per resolution of the management board with regard to:

 

  a. adopting or changing substantially the strategy of the Company and its associated enterprises from that set forth in the existing strategic plan, budget and business plan;

 

  b. to adopt or change any material new strategic plan, budget or business plan for the Company and its associated enterprises or any material amendments to any such existing strategic plan, budget or business plan adopted by the Company and its associated enterprises or aggregate expenditures exceeding the overall budget by greater than ten percent (10%).

 

14.6 Without prejudice to the other relevant provisions of these articles of association the supervisory board may adopt resolutions pursuant to which other clearly specified resolutions of the management board will also require its approval.

 

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The supervisory board shall inform the management board without delay of any such resolution.

 

14.7 The lacking of the approval of the supervisory board as mentioned in paragraph 4, 5 and 6 of this article may not be invoked by or against third parties.

 

15. REPRESENTATION

 

15.1 The Company shall be represented by the management board or any member of the management board acting individually.

 

15.2 In case of any conflicting interest between the Company and a member of the management board, including entering into transactions between the Company and the management board, the Company will be represented by two (2) members of the supervisory board. The general meeting of shareholders shall always be authorised to designate one (1) or more other persons to represent the Company in such case.

 

15.3 In case all members of the management board are absent or unable to attend, the supervisory board shall be temporarily entrusted with the management of the Company. The supervisory board will in said case be competent to temporarily entrust the management of the Company to one (1) or several persons from its number or otherwise. Any such person or persons shall be bound by the rules of the management board when acting in such capacity.

 

15.4 The management board may appoint representatives with full or limited authority to represent the Company, acting either individually or jointly with one or more other persons. Each of those representatives shall represent the Company with due observance of those limits. The management board will determine their title.

 

16. SUPERVISORY BOARD

 

16.1 It will be the task of the supervisory board to supervise the policy of the management board and the general course of affairs of the Company and its associated enterprise. The supervisory board will assist the management board by the rendering of advice. In the performance of their duties, the supervisory board will be guided by the interest of the Company and its associated enterprise. The members of the supervisory board shall be natural persons.

 

16.2 The management board will timely provide the supervisory board with the data necessary for the performance of its duties.

 

16.3 The supervisory board may appoint committees from among its members.

 

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17. MEETINGS OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD, DECISION MAKING PROCESS

 

17.1 The supervisory board shall appoint a chairman and, if necessary, a deputy chairman from its number. The supervisory board will designate a secretary and, if necessary, a deputy secretary whether or not from its number.

 

17.2 The supervisory board will hold a meeting whenever deemed desirable by the chairman or the other members of the supervisory board. A member of the supervisory board may have himself represented at a meeting by one other member of the supervisory board authorised in writing.

 

17.3 The supervisory board shall include the division of duties within and the procedure of the supervisory board and its committees in a set of rules. The supervisory board and its members shall be bound to fully observe the provisions of such rules in all their actions and decision making. Such rules can only be amended by the supervisory board.

 

17.4 The supervisory board will pass its resolutions by an absolute majority of the votes validly cast.

Abstentions will be regarded as votes not cast.

In case of a voting tie on matters, the proposal will have been rejected.

In case of a voting tie on matters relating to persons (including nominations and appointments), the resolution will be postponed until the next following meeting. In case there will again be an equality of votes, no resolution will be passed.

 

17.5 The passing of resolutions will require a majority of the members of the supervisory board holding office being present or represented at that meeting.

 

17.6 Minutes of the proceedings at the meetings will be kept by the secretary of the supervisory board. The minutes will be confirmed and signed by the persons who will have acted as chairman and secretary at the meeting.

 

17.7 The supervisory board may also pass resolutions without a meeting being held, provided (i) the proposal concerned has been despatched to the home address or to a previously stated other address of all members of the supervisory board by letter, facsimile or e-mail, (ii) none of them has opposed said manner of passing resolutions and (iii) the majority of the supervisory board holding office has declared to favour the proposals concerned by letter, facsimile or e-mail.

The secretary will draw up a report of a resolution thus passed whilst adding the incoming replies, which report will be added to the minutes after having been co-signed by the chairman.

 

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17.8 A member of the supervisory board shall disclose to the other members of the Supervisory Board, and shall not take part in a decision-making on, a subject or transaction in relation to which he has a conflict of interest with the Company.

CHAPTER VII GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF A CERTAIN CLASS OF SHARES

 

18. ANNUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

18.1 Annually a general meeting of shareholders will be held, at which inter alia the following items will be considered;

 

  a. the adoption of the Annual Accounts and – with due observance of the provisions of article 23 – the allocation of profits;

 

  b. the proposal regarding the discharge from liability to members of the management board for the management in the last financial year;

 

  c. the proposal regarding the discharge from liability to the members of the supervisory board for their supervision in the last financial year;

 

  d. if applicable, the proposal to pay dividends;

 

  e. other proposals raised for consideration by the supervisory board or the management board, such as in respect of the authorisation to the management board to have the Company acquire and take in pledge company shares or depository receipts thereof.

 

18.2 The annual general meeting of shareholders will at the latest be held in the month of June.

 

18.3 Other general meetings of shareholders will be held whenever the management board and/or the supervisory board will pass a resolution to convene such a meeting.

 

18.4 The shareholders as well as the holders of depository receipts will be called to attend a general meeting of shareholders by or on behalf of the management board or the supervisory board.

 

18.5 The convening notice for a general meeting of shareholders will be published not later than on the fifteenth day prior to the date of the meeting.

 

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18.6 The convening notice will state the subjects to be considered in an agenda or the information that the shareholders and the holders of depository receipts may take cognizance thereof at the office of the Company, without prejudice to the provisions in article 24, paragraph 3 in respect of a proposal for the amendment of the articles of association.

 

18.7 One or more shareholders or holders of depository receipts representing solely or jointly at least one/hundredth (1/100) part of the issued share capital or, as long as the shares of the Company are admitted to trading on a market in financial instruments as referred to in article 1:1 of the Financial Supervision Act ( Wet financieel toezicht ), whose shares represent a value of fifty million euro (EUR 50,000,000.00) or more can request the supervisory board to place a matter on the agenda, provided that the Company has received such request at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the general meeting of shareholders concerned.

 

18.8 One or more shareholders or holders of depository receipts representing solely or jointly at least one-tenth (1/10) part of the issued share capital can request the supervisory board to convene a general meeting of shareholders. The supervisory board shall publish a convening notice for such a general meeting of shareholders within four (4) weeks of receipt from such shareholders of a specified agenda for such general meeting of shareholders and, in the sole discretion of the supervisory board, compelling evidence of the number of shares held by such shareholder or shareholders respectively the number of depository receipts held by such holder of depository receipts or holders of depository receipts.

 

18.9 No valid resolutions can be adopted at a general meeting of shareholders in respect of items which are not included in the agenda.

 

18.10 The agenda may be obtained free of charge by the shareholders and the holders of depositary receipts referred to in paragraph 6 of this article at the office of the Company.

 

18.11 The management board and the supervisory board shall provide the general meeting of shareholders with all requested information, unless this would be contrary to an overriding interest of the Company. If the management board and the supervisory board invoke an overriding interest, they must give reasons therefore.

The management board and the supervisory board shall inform the general meeting of shareholders by means of explanatory notes to the agenda of all facts and circumstances relevant to the proposals on the agenda. These explanatory notes to the agenda shall be put on the Company’s website.

 

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18.12 Every pledgee and usufructuary holding voting rights on the relevant shares, will hold the rights accrued by law to holders of depository receipts.

 

19. PLACE OF MEETING, CONVENING NOTICE

 

19.1 The general meeting of shareholders will be held in Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Haarlemmermeer (Schiphol Airport).

 

19.2 All convening notices for said meetings will be announced in an advertisement in a nationally distributed daily newspaper. In the case that shareholders own registered shares, such shareholders shall be notified of said meetings by mail.

The advertisement may moreover be placed in other papers.

Each convening notice will state the place and time of the meeting.

 

20. CHAIRMANSHIP, MINUTES, RIGHTS TO ATTEND MEETINGS, DECISION-TAKING PROCESS

 

20.1 The chairman of the supervisory board will act as chairman of the general meeting of shareholders or, in case of his absence, one of the other members of the supervisory board to be designated by the supervisory board. In case no member of the supervisory board will be present, the general meeting of shareholders itself will designate its presidium.

 

20.2 Minutes of the meetings will be kept at each meeting by the secretary of the supervisory board or, in case of his absence, by the deputy secretary of said board -in case he will have been designated-, which minutes will be confirmed and signed by the chairman and the minutes secretary unless, at the request of the parties having convened the meetings, an official record will be drawn up by a civil law notary to be designated by them, in which case said official record need only be signed by the civil law notary and by the witnesses, if any.

The draft minutes of the general meeting of shareholders shall be made available, on request, to shareholders no later than three (3) months after the end of the meeting, after which the shareholders and the holders of depository receipts shall have the opportunity to react to the draft minutes in the following three months. The minutes shall then be adopted in the manner as described in the first sentence of this article 20.2.

If the notarial official record has been drawn up, the notarial official record shall be made available, on request, no later than three (3) months after the end of the general meeting of shareholders.

 

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20.3 Every shareholder, pledgee and usufructuary (both provided they hold voting right on the relevant shares) will be competent, either personally or through an attorney authorised in writing, to attend the general meeting of shareholders, to address said meetings and to exercise the voting right. Every holder of a depositary receipt will be competent, either personally or through an attorney authorised in writing, to attend the general meeting of shareholders and to address the meeting.

 

20.4 The supervisory board may determine that attending and addressing the general meeting as well as participating in the deliberations and exercising the voting right may also take place by way of electronic means of communication. For that purpose it is required that the shareholders, pledgees, usufructuaries and holders of depository receipts or their attorneys authorised in writing can be identified and that they can simultaneously take note of the discussions at the meeting. The supervisory board may set conditions for the use of electronic means of communication; these conditions shall be announced in the convening notice.

 

20.5 The management board may determine that the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4 of this article will be applicable to those applicants who (i) are a shareholder, usufructuary and pledgee (provided they hold the voting rights on the relevant shares) or a holder of a depository receipt as per a certain date, determined by the management board, such date hereinafter referred to as: the “ record date ”, and (ii) who are as such registered in a register (or one or more parts thereof) designated thereto by the management board, hereinafter referred to as: the “ register ”, in as far as (iii) at the request of the relative applicant, the holder of the register has notified the Company in writing prior to the general meeting of shareholders that the relative applicant has the intention to attend the general meeting of shareholders, regardless who will be applicant as referred to hereinbefore at the time of the general meeting of shareholders. The notification will state the name and the number of shares or depository receipts, for which the applicant is entitled to attend the general meeting of shareholders. The provision above under (iii) on the notification to the Company will also apply to the attorney authorised in writing of an applicant.

 

20.6 The record date mentioned in paragraph 5 of this article and the date mentioned in said paragraph on which the notification of the intention to attend the general meeting of shareholders shall have been given at the latest, can not be fixed earlier than at a time on the thirtieth day, prior to the date of the general meeting of shareholders. The convocation of the general meeting of shareholders will include said times, the place of meeting and the proceedings for registration and/or notification.

 

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20.7 In case the management board does not exercise the power referred to in paragraph 5 of this article, the holders of bearer shares, in order to attend the general meeting of shareholders and to take part in the voting, shall deposit their bearer share certificate or a written statement from the relevant depositary institution at the office of the Company or at the place designated for this purpose in the convocation for the meeting. Said statement shall be to the effect that the number of bearer shares listed in such statement is the entitlement of such shareholder and will be so until after the meeting. The announcement shall state the day on which the depositing of the bearer share certificates or the said statement shall be made at the latest; this day may not be set earlier than on the seventh day prior to the day of the meeting.

 

20.8 In case the management board does not exercise its power referred to in paragraph 5 of this article, the holders of the depository as well as usufructuaries and pledgees holding voting rights, in order to be able to exercise their rights to attend meetings, shall deposit documentary evidence of their rights at the office of the Company or at a place designated for this purpose in the convocation for the meeting not later than on the seventh day prior to the meeting.

 

20.9 Moreover, the person who wishes to exercise the right to vote and to attend the meeting, shall sign the attendance list prior to the meeting, stating his name, the name(s) of the person(s) for whom he acts as attorney, the number of shares he is representing and, as far as applicable, the number of votes he is able to cast.

 

20.10 Those who have been authorised in writing shall present their warrant of attorney at the general meeting of shareholders. The supervisory board may resolve that the warrants of attorney of holders of voting rights will be attached to the attendance list.

 

20.11 Every share will carry the right to cast one (1) vote.

 

20.12 All votes will be cast orally, unless the chairman will deem a written ballot desirable or one of the parties entitled to vote will make the relative request prior to the ballot. Written votes will be cast by unsigned, closed ballot-papers. In case none of the parties entitled to vote present will oppose this, proposals may be adopted by acclamation.

 

20.13 All resolutions for which the law or the articles of association do not prescribe a larger majority, will be passed by an absolute majority of the votes cast.

 

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20.14 Abstentions will be regarded as votes not cast.

 

20.15 The opinion of the chairman expressed at the meeting that a resolution has been passed by the general meeting of shareholders will be decisive. The same will apply to the text of a resolution passed insofar as votes will have been cast on a proposal not laid down in writing. However, in case immediately after said opinion having been expressed, its correctness will be challenged, a new ballot will be held in case the majority of the parties entitled to vote and present at the meeting, or in case the original votes will not have been cast by poll or in writing, a party entitled to vote and present at the meeting will make the relative request. As a result of said new ballot, the legal consequences of the original vote will be cancelled.

 

20.16 A certificate signed by the chairman and the secretary of the general meeting of shareholders confirming that the general meeting of shareholders has adopted a particular resolution, shall constitute evidence of such resolution vis-à-vis third parties.

 

21. MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF A CERTAIN CLASS OF SHARES

 

21.1 Separate meetings of holders of class A ordinary shares and/or class B ordinary shares will be held in case the approval of the meeting of holders of class A ordinary shares and/or class B ordinary shares is required.

 

21.2 Unless otherwise specified in these articles of association, all resolutions of the meeting of holders of class B ordinary shares will be passed by eighty-five percent (85%) of the total number of class B shares outstanding.

 

21.3 Subject to the provisions in the previous paragraph, the provisions of articles 18, 19 and 20 will correspondingly be applicable to the extent relevant.

CHAPTER IX ANNUAL ACCOUNTS, PROFIT

 

22. FINANCIAL YEAR AND ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

 

22.1 The financial year of the Company will coincide with the calendar year.

 

22.2 Annually, within four (4) months after the end of the financial year of the Company, the management board will compile an annual account and annual report.

 

22.3 The Company will grant an Accountant the assignment to audit the Annual Accounts. The general meeting of shareholders will be competent to grant the assignment. In case it will not proceed to do so, the supervisory board will be competent or, in case the members of the supervisory board will be lacking or the supervisory board will fail to do so, the management board will be competent.

 

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The designation of an Accountant will not be restricted by any nomination whatsoever; the assignment may be withdrawn at any time by the general meeting of shareholders or by the party by which it will have been granted; the assignment granted by the management board may moreover be withdrawn by the supervisory board. The Accountant will report to the supervisory board and the management board with respect to his findings.

 

22.4 The general meeting of shareholders adopts the Annual Accounts. The Accountant may be questioned by the general meeting of shareholders in relation to its statement on the fairness of the Annual Accounts. The Accountant shall therefore be invited to attend this meeting and be entitled to address this meeting.

 

22.5 The Annual Accounts will be signed by the management board and all members of the supervisory board. In case any signature(s) should be lacking, the reason thereof will be stated.

 

22.6 The Annual Accounts, the annual report and the data to be added by virtue of section 2:392 paragraph 1 DCC, will be deposited at the office of the Company, for perusal by the shareholders as well as the holders of depositary receipts as of the date of the convening notice for the annual meeting.

Said shareholders and holders of depositary receipts may peruse the documents there and gratuitously obtain a copy thereof.

Furthermore, anyone else may inspect the documents referred to in the first sentence of the present paragraph, insofar as said documents shall be made public after adoption, and obtain a copy thereof at a price not exceeding cost.

 

22.7 The Annual Accounts shall be published within eight (8) days after having been adopted. It will be made public by depositing a full copy thereof in the Dutch language, or in case this will not have been drawn up, a copy in English at the office of the Trade Register. The date of adoption shall be stated on the copy.

 

23. APPROPRIATION OF PROFIT

 

23.1 To the charge of the profit, any such amounts will be allocated to reserves as will be fixed by the management board with approval of the supervisory board.

 

23.2 After the allocation to the reserves in accordance with the preceding paragraph the general meeting of shareholders shall determine the allocation of the remaining profits. For the computation of the amount of profit to be distributed on each share, only the amount of the obligatory payments on the nominal amount of the shares shall be taken into account.

 

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23.3 Distributions can only be made up to the amount of the Distributable Part of the Shareholders Equity.

 

23.4 Distributions will be made after adoption of the Annual Accounts evidencing these to be permissible.

 

23.5 With approval of the supervisory board, the management board may pass a resolution for the distribution of an interim dividend or other interim distribution provided the requirement of paragraph 3 of this article will have been fulfilled as will be evident from an interim specification of equity; provided however, that upon consummation of a Deemed Liquidation, no approval for the distribution of an interim dividend or other interim distribution of the supervisory board will be required. Said specification will relate to the position of the equity at the earliest on the first day of the third month prior to the month in which the resolution for the distribution of an interim dividend will be announced. Said specification will be drawn up with due observance of the valuation methods deemed acceptable in society. The amounts to be reserved by virtue of the law will figure in the specification of equity. It will be signed by or on behalf of the management board if the signature should be lacking, the reason thereof will be stated. The specification of equity will be deposited at the offices of the Trade Register of the district in which the Company is registered within eight (8) days after the date on which the resolution for distribution will be announced.

 

23.6 The supervisory board will decide at what places and as of what dates dividends and other distribution on shares will be made payable. The management board will announce this by means of an advertisement in a nationally distributed daily newspaper.

 

23.7 The Company shall only pay dividends and other distributions (irrespective of their form) on shares to those in whose name the shares are registered on the date that such dividends or other distribution was declared. Such payment discharges the Company.

 

23.8 Dividends, not collected within five (5) years after the first day on which they became payable, will revert to the Company.

 

23.9 In case the profit and loss account in any year will show any loss that cannot be covered by the reserves or extinguished in any other manner, no profit will be distributed in a following year or in subsequent years until said loss has been covered by reserves or extinguished in any other manner.

 

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23.10 On a proposal of the management board, approved by the supervisory board, the general meeting of shareholders may pass a resolution for distributions of profit – or also to the charge of a reserve susceptible to distribution in shares, in depository receipts thereof or in participations in a company in which the Company participates directly or indirectly.

CHAPTER X AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, LIQUIDATION

 

24. AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION. DISSOLUTION.

 

24.1 A resolution for the amendment of the articles of association or for dissolution of the Company may only be passed by the general meeting of shareholders on the proposal of the management board with approval of the supervisory board; provided however, that, (i) as long as any class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, an amendment of articles 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.1.7, 1.1.10, 1.1.11, 5.7, 14.4 (last paragraph), 20.11, 21, 24 or 25 requires the unanimous approval of the meeting of holders of class B ordinary shares, resolved in a meeting in which all holders of class B ordinary shares are present or represented; and (ii) as long as any class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, an amendment of articles 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.1.7, 1.1.10, 1.1.11, 4.5, 5.5, 5.7 (first sentence), 8.2, 9.3, 9.4, 20.11, 23.2 or 24.1 (this clause (ii) only), in each case, in a manner which would adversely affect one class of ordinary shares in a disproportionate manner requires the approval of two third (2/3) of the outstanding shares of such adversely affected class.

 

24.2 A resolution for the legal merger ( juridische fusie ) or legal demerger ( juridische splitsing ) of the Company may only be passed by the general meeting of shareholders with the approval of the meeting of holders of class B ordinary shares in the event that in any such transaction one or more class B ordinary shares would be purchased, converted or exchanged at a value less than the Class B Liquidation Preference and on the proposal of the management board with the approval of the supervisory board. A resolution of the general meeting of shareholders leading to or in connection with any of the events mentioned in the last paragraph of article 14.4 shall require the approval of the meeting of holders of class B ordinary shares in accordance with the provisions of article 21.1.

 

24.3

In case a proposal for amendment of the articles of association or dissolution of the Company will be made to the general meeting of shareholders, this shall invariably be stated in the actual convening notice for said meeting and – in case it will

 

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concern an amendment of the articles of association – a copy of the proposal, containing the verbatim text of the proposed amendment, shall simultaneously be deposited at the office of the Company for perusal by every shareholder and every holder of a depository receipt of share issued with the cooperation of the Company, until the end of the meeting.

 

25. LIQUIDATION.

 

25.1 In case of a Liquidation of the Company the management board will be charged with the liquidation of the affairs of the Company and the supervisory board will be charged with the supervision thereof, without prejudice to the provisions in section 2:23 paragraph 2 DCC.

 

25.2 During the Liquidation, the provisions of the articles of association will as much as possible continue to be effective.

In the event of a Liquidation prior to the Liquidation Preference Expiration Date, from the balance, if any, remaining after payment of all creditors of the Company, to the extent possible, an amount equal to the Class B Liquidation Preference, minus any amount distributed to the class B ordinary shares following a Deemed Liquidation, if any, will be distributed to each holder of class B ordinary shares with respect to each class B ordinary shares held. The balance remaining after application of the preceding sentence will be distributed to the holders of class A ordinary shares in proportion to each of their shareholding.

CHAPTER XI INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY

 

26. INDEMNIFICATION

The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “ Proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that he or she (or a person or entity for whom he or she) is or was a member of the management board or a member of the supervisory board of the Company or a member of a similar body of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company or is or was serving as an agent (as defined below) of the Company, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such person, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the

 

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court in which such action suit or proceeding was brought or any other court having appropriate jurisdiction shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification against such expenses which the court in which such action or proceeding was brought or such other court having appropriate jurisdiction shall deem proper.

The Company shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only, if the Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorised by the management board with approval of the supervisory board of the Company. For purposes of this article, an “agent” of the Company includes any person who is or was a supervisory board member, management board member, director, officer, employee or other agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a supervisory board member, management board member, director, officer, employee or other agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; or was a director, officer, employee or other agent of a company which was a predecessor company of the Company or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor company.

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending a Proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon a resolution of the management board which will have been approved by supervisory board with respect to the specific case; provided that the Company shall have received an undertaking by or on behalf of the person seeking to have his expenses paid to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the Company in accordance with this article.

 

27. TRANSITIONAL PROVISION 1

The first financial year of the Company shall end on the thirty-first day of December two thousand ten. This provision, including its heading, will lapse after the first financial year.

 

28. TRANSITIONAL PROVISION 2

This transitional provision 2, including its heading, shall only be effective during the period between the effective date of the execution of the deed of amendment of the articles of association of the Company by which this transitional provision is included in the articles of association of the Company for the first time, until the first day of listing for trade of all or part of the shares of the Company on the New York Stock Exchange, this period hereinafter referred to as the “ Transitional Period ”.

 

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For the duration of the Transitional Period, the Chief Legal Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as appointed as such from time to time, are by means of this transitional provision installed as sole members of the “ Transitional Appointment Committee ”, for the duration of their appointment as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, respectively, and to the extent that the Chief Legal Officer respectively the Chief Financial Officer is not a member of the management board of the Company during the Transitional Period.

During the Transitional Period article 13.4 will, contrary to its current wording, read as follows:

13.4 The Transitional Appointment Committee shall be entitled to appoint up to one-third of the members of the supervisory board in accordance with Article 2:143 DCC. Such appointments shall terminate on the date of the next general meeting of shareholders following these appointments. The members of the Transitional Appointment Committee can only resolve with unanimous votes to appoint a member of the supervisory board.

A resolution of the general meeting of shareholders for the amendment of article 13.4, this transitional provision 2 or any amendment materially affecting the content of the provisions of article 13.4 or this transitional provision 2 in any other way, shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Transitional Appointment Committee. The members of the Transitional Appointment Committee can only resolve to approve such amendment of the articles of association of the Company with unanimous votes.

FINAL STATEMENTS

Finally, the person appearing made the following statements:

 

(i) up to today the issued share capital amounts to forty-five thousand euro (EUR 45,000.00), divided into one million one hundred twenty-five thousand (1,125,000) registered class A ordinary shares of four eurocent (EUR 0.04) each;

 

(ii) this amendment of the articles of association enters into force under the condition precedent of the additional issue of three hundred million (300,000,000) class A ordinary bearer shares of four eurocent (EUR 0.04) each. Upon such additional issue of shares the issued capital amounts to twelve million forty-five thousand euro (EUR 12,045,000.00) divided into three hundred one million one hundred twenty-five thousand (301,125,000) class A ordinary shares of four eurocent (EUR 0.04) each, of which one million one hundred twenty-five thousand (1,125,000) class A ordinary shares are registered shares and three hundred million (300,000,000) class A ordinary shares are bearer shares, the latter after conversion as described in article 10.6 being registered class A ordinary shares:

 

(iii) the ministerial declaration of no objection was granted on the twenty-sixth day of April two thousand ten, under number N.V. 1567749, as stated in the written declaration of the Ministry of Justice which has been attached to this instrument as Schedule 4 .

 

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THIS DEED, was executed in Amsterdam on the date first above written.

The person appearing is known to me, civil law notary.

The essential contents of this deed were communicated and explained to the person appearing.

The person appearing then declared to have noted and approved the contents and did not want a full reading thereof. Thereupon, after limited reading, this deed was signed by the person appearing and by me, civil law notary.

 

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Exhibit 3.2

Final Form

 

 

RULES

FOR THE

SUPERVISORY BOARD

OF

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

 

These rules for the supervisory board are adopted on April 29, 2010, in accordance with article 17.3 of the articles of association of LyondellBasell Industries N.V.


CONTENTS

 

CLAUSE

   PAGE

1. INTRODUCTION

   3

2. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

   5

2.1 Responsibilities

   5

2.2 Composition and term

   5

2.3 Appointment and dismissal of Members

   7

2.4 Remuneration

   9

2.5 Majority and quorum

   9

2.6 Meetings

   9

3. CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

   10

4. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS

   11

4.1 General

   11

4.2 Tasks and responsibilities

   11

5. COMMITTEES

   11

6. GOVERNING LAW

   12

 

2


RULES FOR THE

SUPERVISORY BOARD

OF

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Article 17, paragraph 3 of the Articles provides that the Supervisory Board may adopt rules governing its internal affairs.

 

1.2 No amendment shall be made to the Rules which adversely affects the rights of any Investor without the prior written approval of such Investor.

 

1.3 The Supervisory Board and each of its Members shall observe and comply with these Rules and action shall be taken by the Supervisory Board and its Members to ensure that each of the Members shall observe and comply with the principles set out in these Rules.

 

1.4 These Rules are complementary to (i) the provisions regarding the Supervisory Board and its Members contained in applicable law and regulations, including, when applicable, the NYSE listing standards, (ii) the Articles and (iii) the rules pertaining to the relationship between the Supervisory Board and the Management Board, contained in the rules governing the Management Board’s internal affairs.

 

1.5 In these Rules, the following expressions shall have the following respective meanings:

Access means AI International Chemicals S.À R.L., a société à responsabilité limitée or limited liability company organized under the laws of Luxembourg,, as long as the Nomination Agreement it has entered into remains in full force and effect

Affiliate means, with respect to any person, any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “control,” “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” as used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to each Investor, “Affiliate” shall include all investment funds managed or controlled by the Investor or the Investor’s Affiliates.

 

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Apollo means LeverageSource (Delaware), LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the state of Delaware, located in the United States of America, as long as the Nomination Agreement it has entered into remains in full force and effect

Ares means Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the laws of the state of Delaware, located in the United States of America, as long as the Nomination Agreement it has entered into remains in full force and effect

Articles means the articles of association of the Company

Chairman means the chairman of the Supervisory Board, referred to in Article 17 paragraph 1 of the Articles and Clauses 2.2.4 and 4

Clause means a clause of these Rules

Committee means any committee which the Supervisory Board may establish from time to time in accordance with Clause 5

Company means LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

Deputy Secretary means the deputy secretary of the Supervisory Board, referred to in Article 17 paragraph 1 of the Articles and Clause 2.2.5

General Meeting means the Company’s general meeting of shareholders

Investor means each of Access, Apollo and Ares, respectively

Management Board means the management board of the Company

Members means the members of the Supervisory Board and Member means anyone of them

Meeting means a meeting of the Supervisory Board

Nomination Agreement means the respective agreements in relation to the nomination of members of the Supervisory Board entered into between the Company and each of the respective Investors

 

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NYSE means the New York Stock Exchange

Rules means these rules governing the Supervisory Board’s internal affairs, including its annexes

Secretary means the secretary of the Supervisory Board, referred to in Article 17 paragraph 1 of the Articles and Clause 2.2.5

Supervisory Board means the supervisory board of the Company

Three Director Investor means an Investor, if entitled to nominate three members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to their Nomination agreement at such time

Vice Chairman means the deputy chairman of the Supervisory Board, referred to in Article 17 paragraph 1 of the Articles and Clause 2.2.4.

 

2. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

 

2.1 Responsibilities

 

2.1.1 In addition to the responsibilities that follow from the law and the Articles, the Members shall be collectively responsible for the supervision of the policy of the management board and of the general course of affairs of the Company and its associated enterprise. In the performance of its duties, the Supervisory Board and each of its Members shall be guided by the interests of the Company and its associated enterprise. On an annual basis, the Supervisory Board shall review and adopt a five year strategic plan, an annual budget and business plan which shall be proposed by the Management Board.

 

2.2 Composition and term

 

2.2.1 The Supervisory Board shall, in its sole discretion, determine the size of the Supervisory Board in accordance with and in order to comply with (i) the Articles, (ii) the terms of any Nomination Agreement, and (iii) applicable law or regulation, including the NYSE listing standards (when applicable), provided that the Supervisory Board shall not have more than eleven (11) Members unless required to effectuate one of the items set forth in (i)-(iii) hereof.

 

2.2.2

The Supervisory Board initially shall consist of nine members. After the Company’s capital stock has been listed on the NYSE, the size of the Supervisory

 

5


 

Board will be increased and additional independent directors will be appointed as necessary to ensure that the majority of directors will be independent within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards.

 

2.2.3 The Supervisory Board shall be divided in three classes initially consisting of three members each, Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Class 1 members shall serve for a one year initial term and stand for election at the first annual meeting, Class 2 members shall serve for a two year initial term and stand for election at the second annual meeting and Class 3 members shall serve for a three year initial term and stand for election at the third annual meeting. Following their initial appointment, nominees for each class will stand for election for three year terms at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company, so long as the Company maintains a staggered Supervisory Board.

 

2.2.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, in case the Supervisory Board at the date of these Rules consists of less than nine members, a Transitional Appointment Committee consisting of the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer has the right, during the period until the listing of LBI’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange to appoint such number of members to the Supervisory Board so that the Supervisory Board will consist of nine members in total, it being understood that the Transitional Appointment Committee cannot appoint more than one-third of the members of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Article 2:143 DCC, as provided pursuant to the Transitional Provision 2 of the Articles. In the event that the Transitional Appointment Committee is unable to appoint a director because doing so would cause the Supervisory Board to exceed the 1/3 limit set forth in Article 2:143 and in Article 13.4 as modified by Transitional Provision 2 of the Articles, the Supervisory Board shall call a general meeting of shareholders at the shortest practicable time once such director nominee has been identified in accordance with Transitional Provision 2 of the Articles.

 

2.2.5 The Members shall be natural persons.

 

2.2.6 The Supervisory Board shall appoint a Chairman and, if necessary, a Vice Chairman from its number.

 

2.2.7 The Supervisory Board shall appoint a Secretary and, if necessary, a Deputy Secretary whether or not from its number.

 

2.2.8

The Supervisory Board shall adopt a profile of its size and composition, taking account of the nature of the business, its activities and the desired expertise and background of the Members; provided that the composition of the Supervisory Board

 

6


 

shall comply with applicable listing standards (including, when applicable, the NYSE listing standards) and at least one member of the Supervisory Board who is deemed to be independent under NYSE Rule 303A.02 shall also be a “financial expert” pursuant to Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

2.3 Appointment and dismissal of Members

 

2.3.1 Except as provided in Clause 2.3.7 and Article 13.4 of the Articles, the Members are appointed by the General Meeting. The appointment of a Member nominated by an Investor pursuant to a Nomination Agreement shall take place by way of a binding nomination naming at least two persons for each vacancy to be filled and shall be prepared by the Supervisory Board, within three months after the vacancy has arisen or as soon as practicable when an Investor has become entitled to nominate a Member pursuant to any of the Nomination Agreements, in which event the Supervisory Board shall submit to the General Meeting the nominations received by it in accordance with the terms of the Nomination Agreements. To the extent the nomination for any vacancy is not submitted to the Supervisory Board by an Investor pursuant to its Nomination Agreement, the Supervisory Board shall provide notice to such Investor, and, no earlier than 20 days after providing such notice and the continued failure by the Investor to identify the nominee, shall select the appropriate nominees based on candidates’ qualifications and profile, taking into due consideration the desired profile laid out in advance by the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clause 2.2.6, in which event the Supervisory Board shall submit a non-binding nomination to the General Meeting.

Following implementation of Bill number 31 763, “Amendment of book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code in connection with rules for management and supervision in limited liability companies and private companies with limited liability” ( Wetsvoorstel 31 763, “Wijziging van boek 2 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de aanpassing van regels over bestuur en toezicht in naamloze en besloten vennootschappen” ), the binding nomination referred to above shall name at least one person for each vacancy to be filled. If then a nomination names only one person, a resolution by the General Meeting on the proposal shall result in such person being appointed, unless the General Meeting renders the nomination non-binding by means of a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds of the valid votes cast and the valid votes cast represent more than half of the Company’s issued capital.

Notwithstanding anything in this Clause 2.3.1 to the contrary, the provisions relating to the appointment of Members contained in each Nomination Agreement shall supplement the provisions of the Articles relating to the appointment of Members.

 

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2.3.2 The binding nominations referred to in Clause 2.3.1 shall be made in accordance with article 2:142(3) of the Netherlands Civil Code and with due observance of Clause 2.5 and the terms and conditions agreed upon in any Nomination Agreement entered into between the Company and any Investor.

 

2.3.3 Except with respect to Members appointed in accordance with Clause 2.3.7, and unless the General Meeting, on the proposal of the Supervisory Board, determines that a Member shall be appointed for a longer period, a Member will be appointed for a maximum period of three (3) years, provided however that unless such Member has resigned at an earlier date, his term of office shall lapse at the end of the first annual General Meeting of shareholders, to be held after lapse of his term of appointment. A Member may be re-appointed with due observance of the preceding sentence. There is no limit to the number of times a Member can be reappointed.

 

2.3.4 The Supervisory Board may draw up a retirement schedule for the Members. Periodical resignation will take place per the date of the annual General Meeting of shareholders.

 

2.3.5 The Members are suspended and dismissed by the General Meeting in the manner as described in Article 13 paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of the Articles. If a Member is suspended and the General Meeting does not resolve to dismiss him or to terminate or continue the suspension within three months from the date of suspension, the suspension shall lapse. A suspended Member shall be given an opportunity to account for his actions at the General Meeting and to be assisted by an adviser in doing so.

A resolution to continue the suspension as referred to above may be adopted only once. In such event the suspension may be continued for a maximum period of three (3) months commencing on the day the General Meeting has adopted the resolution to continue the suspension. If within the period of continued suspension the General Meeting has not resolved either to dismiss such Member or to terminate the suspension, the suspension shall lapse.

 

2.3.6 In case the number of Members will be less than three (3), the Supervisory Board will remain competent.

 

2.3.7

In the event an Investor is entitled to submit the nomination of a Member pursuant to the terms of its Nomination Agreement, the Supervisory Board shall,

 

8


 

subject to applicable law and regulation, as soon as practicable effect the appointment of such nominee in accordance with Article 13.4 of the Articles and Article 2:143 of the Civil Code, which appointment shall terminate on the date of the next General Meeting.

 

2.4 Remuneration

Each Member shall be paid a fee at such rate as may from time to time be determined by the Supervisory Board upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee provided that the aggregate of all fees so paid per annum to the Members shall not exceed the amount per annum decided by the General Meeting.

 

2.5 Majority and quorum

 

2.5.1 Each Member shall have the right to cast one vote in a Meeting.

 

2.5.2 The Supervisory Board shall pass resolutions by an absolute majority of the votes cast. Abstentions will be regarded as votes not cast. In the event of a tie vote, the proposal will have been rejected.

In the event of a tie vote on persons, the resolution will be postponed until the next following Meeting provided that if there is a tie vote again, no resolution will be passed.

 

2.5.3 The determination of the Chairman with regard to the results of a vote, and, where there has been a vote about a proposal which has not been put in writing, his determination as to the contents of the resolution passed, shall be decisive. However, where the accuracy of the determination referred to in the previous sentence is contested promptly after it has been made, a new vote shall take place if so required by a majority of the votes or, where the first vote did not take place by response to a roll call or in writing, if one person present with the right to vote so requires. The legal consequences of the original vote shall become void as a result of the new vote. The Chairman does not hold a casting vote.

 

2.5.4 In order to hold a valid Supervisory Board Meeting a quorum constituting a majority of the number of Members holding office is required.

 

2.6 Meetings

 

2.6.1 The Supervisory Board will hold a Meeting whenever deemed desirable by the Chairman or the other Members. The Supervisory Board shall conduct six regularly scheduled Meetings per year.

 

9


2.6.2 The Chairman shall chair the meetings of the Supervisory Board. If the Chairman is absent, the Vice Chairman, if appointed, shall chair the Meeting. If no chairman has been appointed, the Member present at the Meeting who has held that office longest shall chair the Meeting. If two or more Members have equal seniority, the eldest of them shall chair the Meeting.

 

2.6.3 A Member may be represented at a Meeting by a fellow Member, authorized in writing, only.

 

2.6.4 The notice of the Meeting shall be given by the Chairman, or in his absence the Vice Chairman, or in the event no Vice Chairman has been appointed, the Member referred to in 2.6.2, and shall set out an agenda identifying in reasonable detail the matters to be discussed at the meeting and shall be accompanied by copies of any relevant papers to be discussed at the meeting. Any matter which is to be submitted to the Supervisory Board for a decision which is not identified in reasonable detail as aforesaid may, notwithstanding the foregoing, be decided upon at the applicable Meeting, unless any Member, acting reasonably, requests reasonable detail in which case the meeting shall be adjourned, for fourteen days maximum in which time the Member or Members having submitted the matter to the Supervisory Board shall supply reasonable detail to the others.

 

2.6.5 Meetings of the Supervisory Board shall be held in the Netherlands. There shall be at least seven days between the date on which notice is given to each of the Members and the date on which such Meeting is held, unless the person giving notice of the Meeting determines, for urgent reasons, a shorter notice period is necessary.

 

2.6.6 Minutes of the proceedings at the meetings will be kept by the Secretary. The minutes will be confirmed and signed by the Chairman and Secretary, or in their absence, by the persons who will have acted as chairman and secretary, respectively, at the meeting.

 

3. CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

 

3.1

A Member shall not participate in the discussions and/or decision-making process on a subject or transaction in relation to which he has a direct or indirect personal interest, which is in conflict with the interests of the Company and its associated enterprise. In the event that - as a result of such conflict of

 

10


 

interest - no resolution of the Supervisory Board can be adopted in respect of a certain subject or transaction, the General Meeting shall decide on the matter concerned.

 

3.2 Without prejudice to Clause 3.1, Members shall not have any duty to refrain, directly or indirectly, from (a) pursuing a corporate opportunity in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Company or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (b) otherwise competing with the Company or any of its Affiliates. The Members do not have any duty to offer to the Company an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

3.3 In the event that a Member acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for the Company or any of its Affiliates, such Member shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

4. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS

 

4.1 General

 

4.1.1 The Chairman and the Members are equally responsible for the supervision of the policy of the management board and of the general course of affairs of the Company and its associated enterprise.

 

4.2 Tasks and Responsibilities

 

4.2.1 The Chairman shall act as chairman of the General Meeting.

 

4.2.2 If the Chairman is permanently incapacitated or prevented from acting, the Vice Chairman, or in the event no Vice Chairman has been appointed, the Member referred to in Clause 2.6.2 shall be temporarily charged with his tasks.

 

5. COMMITTEES

 

5.1 The Supervisory Board shall have the following standing committees: an audit committee, a corporate governance and nominating committee, an organisation and compensation committee and a health safety and environmental committee. The responsibilities for these Committees is set out in Annex A Subject to Clause 5.4, each of these Committees shall be made up of at least three Members, provided that the composition and responsibilities for each such Committee shall comply with the NYSE listing standards (when applicable).

 

11


Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the Dutch Code, (1) prior to such time as the Company has securities listed on the NYSE, the Committee may consist of less than three members who are independent directors and such members shall have such qualifications, in each case, as determined by the Supervisory Board, (2) the Committee may consist of less than three members who are independent directors to the extent permitted by any transition rules of the NYSE and (3) the Company shall comply with its obligations under the Nomination Agreements with various investors in respect of the Committee.

 

5.2 The Supervisory Board may establish one or more other additional committees from among its Members as it deems fit, subject to Clause 5.3 and provided that the composition and responsibilities for any such committee shall comply with applicable listing standards (including, when applicable, the NYSE listing standards). The Supervisory Board may also delegate certain of its tasks to a Committee. The delegation of certain tasks to a Committee does not negate the joint responsibility of all Members. The Supervisory Board may reverse a delegation at any time

 

5.2 Each Committee may adopt internal rules as it deems fit provided that the adoption of internal rules by a Committee, as well as any amendment to the internal rules of a Committee, are subject to approval as referred to in Clause 1.2. The internal rules of each Committee will form an integral part of these Rules.

 

5.4 At least one Member of the Supervisory Board nominated by Apollo or any other Three Director Investor shall be entitled to serve on each Committee, except as may be prohibited by law or regulation (including, when applicable, the NYSE listing standards). Each member of the Supervisory Board nominated to serve on any Committee shall disclose any conflict of interest to the other members of such Committee and with respect to any matter in which such member has or reasonably could be expected to have a conflict of interest (as determined by the other members of such Committee or the other members of the Supervisory Board in their sole discretion) the member shall be recused and not receive information or participate in discussions, deliberations, or decision-making processes related to such matter.

 

6. GOVERNING LAW

 

6.1 These Rules shall be governed by, and be construed in accordance with, the laws of The Netherlands.

 

12


6.2 All disputes arising in connection with these Rules shall be finally settled in accordance with the arbitration rules of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI). The arbitral tribunal shall be composed of 3 (three) arbitrators: two selected by the Supervisory Board and the third agreed upon by the first two selected arbitrators. The place of arbitration shall be Amsterdam. The arbitral procedures shall be conducted in the English language. Consolidation of the arbitral proceedings with other arbitral proceedings pending in The Netherlands, as provided in article 1046 of the Netherlands Code of Civil Procedure, is excluded.

These Rules are adopted on April 29, 2010 in accordance with Article 17.3 of the Articles.

 

13


ANNEX A

Audit Committee . In accordance with its charter, the audit committee will be responsible for:

 

   

Recommending independent auditors for shareholder approval, overseeing and reviewing reports of independent auditors and serving as an intermediary between independent auditors and management.

 

   

Overseeing the proper functioning and appropriateness of the Company’s financial reporting processes and accounting policies.

 

   

Overseeing and reviewing the internal audit functions and reporting.

 

   

Monitoring and discussing risk assessment and risk management services with the management and the internal auditor.

 

   

Evaluating and maintaining proper ethical compliance functions.

Organisation and Compensation Committee . In accordance with its charter, the organisation and compensation committee will be responsible for:

 

   

Making a proposal for adoption by the Supervisory Board of the compensation philosophy, structure, policies and guidelines for the managing directors, executive officers and senior management.

 

   

Establishing and reviewing annual incentive and long-term incentive compensation plans, including equity-based incentive compensation plans, for employees.

 

   

Establishing and reviewing benefit or other plans or programs for employees.

 

   

Establishing and reviewing corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, including the long-term incentive component, evaluate the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of those goals and objectives and determine the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation level based on this evaluation.

 

   

Preparing a report on executive compensation, as required by the SEC rules, to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement to shareholders and the Supervisory Board report on compensation to be included in the Dutch Annual Report.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee . In accordance with its charter, the corporate governance and nominating committee will be responsible for:

 

   

Periodically evaluating the performance and functioning of the Supervisory Board and the Management Board.

 

14


   

Developing, reviewing and recommending to the Supervisory Board a set of corporate governance guidelines.

 

   

Developing and recommending criteria for Supervisory Board membership and size and structure of the Supervisory Board.

 

   

Identifying and recommending qualified candidates for membership on the Supervisory Board.

 

   

Recommending the structure and composition of, and nominees for, the standing committees of the Supervisory Board.

 

   

Health, Safety and Environmental Committee .

 

15

Exhibit 3.3

Final Form

 

 

RULES

FOR THE

MANAGEMENT BOARD

OF

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

 


CONTENTS

 

CLAUSE

   PAGE

1. INTRODUCTION

   3

2. THE MANAGEMENT BOARD

   4

2.1 Responsibilities

   4

2.2 Composition and term

   4

2.3 Appointment and dismissal of Members

   5

2.4 Remuneration

   5

2.5 Majority and quorum

   5

2.6 Meetings

   6

3. CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

   7

4. MEMBERS

   7

4.1 General

   7

4.2 Tasks and responsibilities

   7

5. GOVERNING LAW

   8


RULES FOR THE

MANAGEMENT BOARD

OF

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Article 14, paragraph 3 of the Articles provides that the Management Board may adopt rules governing its internal affairs, which rules require the approval of the Supervisory Board.

 

1.2 The Rules may only be amended by the Management Board with the approval of the Supervisory Board.

 

1.3 The Management Board and its Members shall observe and comply with these Rules and action shall be taken by the Management Board and its Members to ensure that the Members shall observe and comply with the principles set out in these Rules.

 

1.4 These Rules are complementary to (i) the provisions regarding the Management Board and its Members contained in applicable law and regulations, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or any other applicable exchange, (ii) the Articles and (iii) the rules pertaining to the relationship between the Supervisory Board and the Management Board, contained in the rules governing the Supervisory Board’s internal affairs.

 

1.5 In these Rules, the following expressions shall have the following respective meanings:

Articles means the articles of association of the Company

CEO means the Chief Executive Officer referred to in Article 13 paragraph 1 of the Articles and Clause 2.2.2

Clause means a clause of these Rules

Company means LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

General Meeting means the Company’s general meeting of shareholders

Management Board means the management board of the Company


Member means a member of the Management Board

Meeting means a meeting of the Management Board

Meeting of B Shareholders means a meeting of holders of class B ordinary shares in the Company’s share capital

Rules means these rules governing the Management Board’s internal affairs, including its annexes

Supervisory Board means the supervisory board of the Company

 

2. THE MANAGEMENT BOARD

 

2.1 Responsibilities

 

2.1.1 In addition to the responsibilities that follow from the law and the Articles, the Management Board shall be responsible for the day to day affairs of the Company. In the performance of its duties, the Management Board and its Member(s) shall be guided by the interests of the Company and its associated enterprise.

 

2.2 Composition and term

 

2.2.1 The initial Management Board shall consist of one (1) Member. The term of the initial Management Board will be five (5) years. Thereafter, the Supervisory Board may determine the number of Members on subsequent Management Boards.

 

2.2.2 The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LBI Group shall be the sole Member of the initial Management Board. Thereafter, in the event that the Supervisory Board determines that a subsequent Management Board will consist of more than one (1) Member, the CEO shall be a Member of such subsequent Management Board.

 

2.2.3 The term of the Member of the initial Management Board will be five (5) years. Thereafter, a Member can be appointed for a maximum term of four (4) years and may be reappointed. There is no limit to the number of times a Member can be reappointed.

 

2.2.2 If a Member is permanently incapacitated or prevented from acting, Article 15 paragraph 3 of the Articles shall apply.


2.3 Appointment and dismissal of Members

 

2.3.1 The Member(s) shall be appointed by the General Meeting in the manner as described in Article 13.2 of the Articles.

 

2.3.2 A Member is suspended and dismissed in the manner as described in Article 13 paragraphs 2, 5, 6 and 7 of the Articles. If a Member is suspended by the General Meeting or the Supervisory Board and the General Meeting does not resolve to dismiss him or to terminate or continue the suspension within three months from the date of suspension, the suspension shall lapse. A suspended Member shall be given an opportunity to account for his actions at the General Meeting and to be assisted by an adviser in doing so.

A resolution to continue the suspension as referred to above may be adopted only once. In such event the suspension may be continued for a maximum period of three (3) months commencing on the day the General Meeting has adopted the resolution to continue the suspension. If within the period of continued suspension the General Meeting has not resolved either to dismiss such Member or to terminate the suspension, the suspension shall lapse.

 

2.4 Remuneration

The Supervisory Board shall determine the remuneration and other terms of employment for the Member(s) (in their capacity as such) on the basis of a remuneration policy determined by the General Meeting, with due observance of Article 13.8 of the Articles.

 

2.5 Majority and quorum

 

2.5.1 Each Member shall have the right to cast one vote in a Meeting.

 

2.5.2 After the term of the initial Management Board has expired, in the event that a subsequent Management Board consists of more than one (1) Member, resolutions shall be passed by an absolute majority of the votes cast. Abstentions will be regarded as votes not cast. In the event of a tie vote or that no votes are cast, the matter shall be decided by the Supervisory Board.

 

2.5.3

The determination of the CEO with regard to the results of a vote, and, where there has been a vote about a proposal which has not been put in writing, his determination as to the contents of the resolution passed, shall be decisive.


 

However, where the accuracy of the determination referred to in the previous sentence is contested promptly after it has been made, a new vote shall take place if so required by a majority of the votes or, where the first vote did not take place by response to a roll call or in writing, if one person present with the right to vote so requires. The legal consequences of the original vote shall become void as a result of the new vote.

 

2.5.4 After the term of the initial Management Board has expired, in the event that a subsequent Management Board consists of two (2) Members, a quorum of one (1) Member holding office is required in order to validly hold a Meeting, and in the event that a subsequent Management Board consists of three (3) or more Members, a quorum of the majority of the number of Members holding office is required to validly hold a Meeting.

 

2.6 Meetings

 

2.6.1 The Management Board shall conduct six regularly scheduled Meetings a year and such meetings shall coincide with the meetings of the Supervisory Board. Meetings of the Management Board shall be held in The Netherlands.

 

2.6.2 The CEO shall chair the meetings of the Management Board.

 

2.6.3 [Omitted]

 

2.6.4 Notice of the Meeting shall be given by the CEO and shall set out an agenda identifying in reasonable detail the matters to be discussed at the meeting and shall be accompanied by copies of any relevant papers to be discussed at the meeting. Any matter which is to be submitted to the Management Board for a decision which is not identified in reasonable detail as aforesaid may, notwithstanding the foregoing, be decided upon at the applicable Meeting.

 

2.6.5 There shall be at least two days between the date on which notice is given to the Member(s) of any Meeting and the date on which it is held, unless the person giving notice of the Meeting determines, for urgent reasons, a shorter notice period is necessary.

 

2.6.6 [Omitted]

 

2.6.7 [Omitted]

 

2.6.8 The minutes of a Meeting shall be adopted in the same or in the next meeting. Minutes of the matters dealt with at a Meeting shall be sufficient evidence thereof and of the observance of all necessary formalities, provided such minutes are certified by the CEO.


2.6.9 The Management Board shall require the approval of:

 

  a. the General Meeting and the Supervisory Board, for the resolutions listed in Annex A ;

 

  b. the Supervisory Board, for the resolutions listed in Annex B , except as contemplated by the then approved business plan and budget; and

 

  c. the General Meeting, the Supervisory Board and the Meeting of B Shareholders in accordance with article 21.1 of the Articles, for the resolutions listed in Annex C .

 

2.6.10 The Management Board shall further require the approval of the Supervisory Board for such resolutions of the Management Board as the Supervisory Board, after reasonable consultation with the Management Board, has specified in a resolution to that effect and notified to the Management Board.

 

3. CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

A Member shall not participate in taking a decision on a subject or transaction in relation to which he has a direct or indirect personal interest, which is in conflict with the interests of the Company and its associated enterprise. In the event that—as a result of such conflict of interest—no resolution of the Management Board can be adopted in respect of a certain subject or transaction, the Supervisory Board shall decide on the matter concerned.

 

4. MEMBERS

 

4.1 General

 

4.1.1 The CEO is entitled to represent the Company.

 

4.2 Tasks and Responsibilities

 

4.2.1 The CEO shall see to it that:

 

  a. the Member(s) receive in good time all information which is necessary for the proper performance of their duties;

 

  b. there is sufficient time for consultation and decision-making by the Management Board;

 

  c. the Management Board shall be constituted and function properly.

 

4.2.2 The Management Board shall, at least once every year, inform the Supervisory Board in writing of the main features of the strategic plan and annual budget of the Company.


4.2.3 If the CEO is permanently incapacitated or prevented from acting, a replacement Member may be temporarily charged with his tasks.

 

5. GOVERNING LAW

 

5.1 These Rules shall be governed by, and be construed in accordance with, the laws of The Netherlands.

 

5.2 All disputes arising in connection with these Rules shall be finally settled in accordance with the arbitration rules of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI). The arbitral tribunal shall be composed of 3 (three) arbitrators: one selected by the Management Board, one selected by the Supervisory Board and the third agreed upon by the first two selected arbitrators. The place of arbitration shall be Amsterdam. The arbitral procedures shall be conducted in the English language. Consolidation of the arbitral proceedings with other arbitral proceedings pending in The Netherlands, as provided in article 1046 of the Netherlands Code of Civil Procedure, is excluded.


ANNEX A

Resolutions:

 

I. regarding a significant change in the identity or nature of the Company or its associated enterprise, including in any event:

 

  (i) the transfer of the entire enterprise or practically the entire enterprise of the Company to a third party, whether by acquisition, business merger, consolidation, or sale of all or substantially all assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

  (ii) to conclude or cancel any long-lasting co-operation by the Company or a subsidiary with any other legal person or company or as a fully liable general partner of a limited partnership or a general partnership, provided that such co-operation or the cancellation thereof is of essential importance to the Company; and

 

  (iii) to acquire or dispose of a participating interest in the capital of a company with a value of at least one third of the sum of the assets according to the consolidated balance sheet with explanatory notes thereto according to the last adopted annual accounts of the Company, by the Company or a subsidiary.


ANNEX B

Resolutions to (to the extent applicable, in one or a series of related transactions):

 

1. acquire, repurchase, redeem, cancel, sell, or otherwise dispose of any equity interest of the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries, or any equity interest convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any shares of, capital stock of the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries;

 

2. declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution in respect of the Company’s Securities, or purchase or redeem, directly or indirectly, such Securities;

 

3. amend, modify or waive any material term of any outstanding (i) Security of the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries or (ii) indebtedness (as defined in GAAP) in excess of $125,000,000 of the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries;

 

4. consummate an initial public offering or a public offering of the Securities of any subsidiary.

 

5. make any acquisition or divestiture of any material business or material assets, or enter into, withdraw from or make any material change to any joint venture, agreements or commitments relating thereto;

 

6. With respect to any action or transaction that would require approval of the Supervisory Board hereunder if such action were to be taken by the Company, cast any votes with respect to non-wholly owned investments or subsidiaries, or grant any proxy with respect to the voting of any shares directly or indirectly;

 

7. to adopt, materially amend or materially change the annual budget or strategic plan for the Company and its associated enterprises or make aggregate expenditures exceeding the overall budget by greater than 10%;

 

8. make expenditures for capital projects (i) contemplated by the then approved annual budget, in excess of $125,000,000 or (ii) not contemplated by the then approved annual budget, in excess of $50,000,000;

 

9. adopt or amend rules governing the Management Board’s internal affairs;

 

10. enter into any material new line of business;


11. agree to enter into or consummate any mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations or other business combinations with unrelated third parties;

 

12. commence the termination, liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or enter into any agreement or arrangement relating thereto;

 

13. propose or institute proceedings to adjudicate the Company or any of its subsidiaries as bankrupt, or consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or consent to the filing of any such petition against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or consent to the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or admit in writing the Company’s or any of its subsidiary’s inability to pay its debts generally as they become due;

 

14. subject to applicable insolvency law, propose that the Company or any of its subsidiaries be wound up or that any liquidation proceedings be commenced;

 

15. make any payments to a Manager other than (A) regular salary payments, (B) expense reimbursement in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) pursuant to any contract previously approved by the Supervisory Board, (D) payments arising under the Company’s employee benefit and compensation plans which are generally applicable to all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and (E) director and observer expenses generally payable to the directors and observers of the Company and its subsidiaries, in accordance with policies approved by the Supervisory Board;

 

16. other than as permitted under the Transaction Documents and the Financing Agreements, enter into any transaction (i) with any officer, director or any relative thereof, except as permitted under Item 15, (ii) other than in the ordinary course of business, with any Rights Offering Sponsor or 5% shareholder or any of its Affiliates;

 

17. enter into, extend or terminate any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, obligation or similar understanding (i) in the ordinary course of business, involving more than $300,000,000 for purchase contracts and more than $150,000,000 for sales contracts or (ii) outside of the ordinary course of business, involving more than $50,000,000;


18. hire or fire any Senior Officer or create any new Senior Officer position;

 

19. (i) adopt, approve or materially amend compensation and benefit plans and programs of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including cash bonus plans, option and equity-based or profit sharing plans, (ii) approve any grant under any option or equity-based or profit sharing plan, (iii) change the compensation of Senior Officers or (iv) enter into or adopt any welfare, pension or benefit plan or arrangement involving any labor organization (including without limitation any multi-employer trust providing retirement benefits);

 

20. adopt or approve any Company-wide severance agreements or arrangements or any severance agreements or arrangements with any Senior Officer;

 

21. enter into any agreement providing for the indemnification of any officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

22. purchase or obtain “director and officer” insurance for the benefit of any officer, director, employee, agent or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

23. pay any fees to any of the Rights Offering Sponsors or any of their respective Affiliates, other than as contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

 

24. make any public filing with, or public report to, any regulatory agency relating to or referring to the Rights Offering Sponsors and their financial circumstances or capital structure, except as it relates to their equity ownership, governance rights or as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or any other applicable exchange;

 

25. accept or approve the external auditors or auditors’ reports;

 

26. approve the payment of any investment banking fees in excess of $10,000,000;

 

27. settle any litigation in excess of $50,000,000;

 

28. issue any press releases or other public announcements, or give any media interview relating to or referring to the Rights Offering Sponsors and their financial circumstances or capital structure, except as it relates to their equity ownership, governance rights or as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or any other applicable exchange;


29. make any political contribution or make any charitable contribution in excess of $500,000;

 

30. amend or waive any material term of any agreement or transaction that required, or would have required had such agreement or transaction been entered into after the adoption hereof, approval of the Supervisory Board hereunder;

 

31. change the corporate seat of the Company; or

 

32. make, permit or approve any of the following transactions:

 

   

other than under the Financing Agreements or in the ordinary course of business consistent with the then approved business plan and budget, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to any Encumbrance any material assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

   

other than under the Financing Agreements or in the ordinary course of business consistent with the then approved business plan and budget, lend any money or assets of the Company to any other Person in excess of 50,000,000; provided however, that any loans made to directors, officers or employees of either the Company or of any of its subsidiaries other than normal advances for travel and entertainment expenses and the like, shall require approval irrespective of the amount; or

 

   

other than under the Financing Agreements (including from time to time drawing down proceeds under any Financing Agreements), incurrence of (a) indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries for money borrowed from others and purchase money indebtedness, in each case in excess of $100,000,000; (b) guarantees by the Company or its subsidiaries of third party indebtedness of the type and amounts described in clause (a) above, but excluding endorsements of checks and other instruments in the ordinary course; and (c) obligations of the Company or its subsidiaries to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement covering the right to use) real or personal property in excess of $50,000,000, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of the Company, as of such date computed in accordance with GAAP.

In this Annex B, the following expressions shall have the following respective meanings:

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or


indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “control,” “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” as used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any Rights Offering Sponsor, “Affiliate” shall include all investment funds managed or controlled by such Rights Offering Sponsor or such Rights Offering Sponsor’s Affiliates.

Encumbrances ” means any encumbrances, lien, pledge, security interest, claim, charges, option, right of first refusal or offer, mortgage, deed of trust, easement, including restrictions on the right to vote equity interests.

Equity Commitment Agreement ” means that certain Equity Commitment Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2009 by and among the Company, the Rights Offering Sponsors and the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates who are party thereto, as it may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

Financing Agreements ” means all indentures, credit agreements and other documents with respect to financing in effect as of the date on which the Plan becomes effective in accordance with its terms.

GAAP ” means the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Manager ” means any Member of the Management Board, any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and any employee at an M4 compensation level or higher or similar level in the future and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

Person ” shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual, a partnership, stichting, commanditaire vennootschap, besloten vennootschap, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

Plan ” means the joint chapter 11 plan of reorganization of LyondellChemical Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates who are debtors and debtors-in-possession, including all exhibits and schedules annexed thereto or associated therewith.

Rights Offering Sponsors ” means LeverageSource (Delaware) LLC, AI LBI Investment LLC and Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P.


Securities ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s capital stock or other equity interests or any options, warrants or other securities that are directly or indirectly convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such Person’s capital stock or other equity or equity-linked interests, including phantom stock and stock appreciation rights.

Senior Officer ” means Persons who serve in the following positions within the LBI Group: President and Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Senior Vice President, Intermediate & Derivatives, Senior Vice President, Olefins and Polyolefins, Americas, Senior Vice President, Olefins and Polyolefins, EAI, Senior Vice President, Refining, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Americas, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, EAI, Senior Vice President, Technology, Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment and Vice President, Human Resources or such other Person who may serve as a direct report to the CEO.

Transaction Documents ” means the Equity Commitment Agreement, the Plan, and the Financing Agreements.


ANNEX C

Resolutions:

 

I. An acquisition, business merger, sale of all or substantially all assets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole, consolidation or a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company (or its subsidiaries, the assets of which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole), in a single transaction or series of transactions, in each case, pursuant to which the class B ordinary shares in the Company’ share capital are redeemed, purchased, converted, retired or otherwise exchanged for value at the price less than USD 10.61 per class B ordinary share in the Company’ share capital, subject to anti-dilution adjustments as set forth in the Articles (the “ Class B Liquidation Preference ”).

Exhibit 4.1

 

LOGO

 

Exhibit 4.1

016570| 003590|127C|RESTRICTED||4|057-423

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

Euro 0.04 Par Value

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

Certificate Number

ZQ 000000

THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN CANTON, MA AND NEW YORK, NY

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE NETHERLANDS

Shares

**600620******

***600620*****

****600620****

*****600620***

******600620**

THIS CERTIFIES THAT

MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE &

MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE

CUSIP N53745 10 0

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

is the owner of

* * * SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY * * *

FULLY-PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (hereinafter called the “Company”), transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby, are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Articles of Association, as amended, of the Company (copies of which are on file with the Company and with the Transfer Agent), to all of which each holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

Attorney-in-Fact

DATED <<Month Day, Year>>

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR,

Assistant Secretary

By

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE


LOGO

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE COMPANY AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND

LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE COMPANY A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM—as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—Custodian

(Cust) (Minor)

TEN ENT—as tenants by the entireties under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

(State)

JT TEN—as joint tenants with right of survivorship UNIF TRF MIN ACT—Custodian (until age )

(Cust)

under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act

(Minor) (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

For value received,             hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

Shares

of the Class A Common Stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

Attorney

to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:             20            Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks,

Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.

Signature:

Signature:

Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever.

SECURITY I NSTRUCTIONS

THIS IS WATERMARKED PAPER DO NOT ACCEPT WITHOUT NOTING

WATERMARK HOLD TO LIGHT TO VERIFY WATERMARK

1234567

Exhibit 4.2

 

LOGO

 

Exhibit 4.2

016570| 003590|127C|RESTRICTED||4|057-423

CLASS B COMMON STOCK

€0.04 par value

Certificate Number

ZQ 000000

CLASS B COMMON STOCK

THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN CANTON, MA AND NEW YORK, NY

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE NETHERLANDS

Shares

**600620******

***600620*****

****600620****

*****600620***

******600620**

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

PO BOX 43004, Providence, RI 02940-3004

MR A SAMPLE

DESIGNATION (IF ANY)

ADD 1

ADD 2

ADD 3

ADD 4

THIS CERTIFIES THAT

MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE &

MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE

CUSIP N53745 11 8

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

is the owner of * * * SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY * * *

FULLY-PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE CLASS B COMMON STOCK OF

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (hereinafter called the “Company”), transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby, are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Articles of Association, as amended, of the Company (copies of which are on file with the Company and with the Transfer Agent), to all of which each holder, by acceptance hereof, assents. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

Attorney-in-Fact

DATED <<Month Day, Year>>

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR,

Assistant Secretary

By

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

THE NETHERLANDS

CORPORATE

SEAL

October 15, 2009

SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS ON REVERSE

CUSIP XXXXXX XX X

Holder ID XXXXXXXXXX

Insurance Value 1,000,000.00

Number of Shares 123456

DTC 12345678 123456789012345

Certificate Numbers Num/No. Demon. Total

1234567890/1234567890 1 1 1

1234567890/1234567890 2 2 2

1234567890/1234567890 3 3 3

1234567890/1234567890 4 4 4

1234567890/1234567890 5 5 5

1234567890/1234567890 6 6 6

Total Transaction 7

A123456


LOGO

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS, A SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OF THE COMPANY AND THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS, AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES, WHICH ARE FIXED BY THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE COMPANY, AS AMENDED, AND THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD OF THE COMPANY, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES. SUCH REQUEST MAY BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY OR TO THE TRANSFER AGENT. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OF A LOST OR DESTROYED STOCK CERTIFICATE, OR HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO GIVE THE COMPANY A BOND TO INDEMNIFY IT AND ITS TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS AGAINST ANY CLAIM THAT MAY BE MADE AGAINST THEM ON ACCOUNT OF THE ALLEGED LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ANY SUCH CERTIFICATE.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM - as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - Custodian

(Cust) (Minor)

under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

(State)

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship

UNIF TRF MIN ACT - Custodian (until age )

(Cust)

under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act

(Minor) (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

For value received,              hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

Shares of the Class B Common Stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.

Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.

Dated:              20             

Signature:

Signature:

Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever.

SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS

THIS IS WATERMARKED PAPER DO NOT ACCEPT WITHOUT NOTING

WATERMARK HOLD TO LIGHT TO VERIFY WATERMARK

1234567

Exhibit 4.3

NOMINATION AGREEMENT

between

LEVERAGESOURCE (DELAWARE), LLC

and

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

 

In relation to the nomination of the

members of the Supervisory Board

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.   DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION    2
  1.1   

Definitions

   2
  1.2   

Interpretation

   3
  1.3   

Appendices

   3
2.   ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION    4
3.   SUPERVISORY BOARD REGULATIONS    4
4.   SUPERVISORY BOARD NOMINATIONS    4
5.   SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES; LBI SUBSIDIARY BOARDS    6
6.   DURATION    6
7.   MISCELLANEOUS    7
  7.1   

Invalid Provisions

   7
  7.2   

Amendment

   7
  7.3   

Entire Agreement

   7
  7.4   

No Implied Waiver; No Forfeit of Rights

   7
  7.5   

No Rescission

   7
  7.6   

No Assignment

   7
  7.7   

Resignation of Members for Cause

   8
  7.8   

Resignation of Director Nominees

   8
  7.9   

Nomination of Additional Director Nominees

   8
  7.10   

Appointment Pending General Meeting of Shareholders

   9
  7.11   

Calling General Meeting

   9
  7.12   

Choice of Law

   10
  7.13   

Disputes

   10

APPENDICES

1. Articles of association.

2. The internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board.

 

i


NOMINATION AGREEMENT

THE UNDERSIGNED:

 

1. LEVERAGESOURCE ( DELAWARE), LLC, a [    ] company formed under the laws of [    ] principal place of business at [    ], hereinafter referred to as “ Investor ”;

 

2. LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V. , a public limited liability company ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with its corporate seat at Rotterdam (registered office: Weena 737, 3013AM Rotterdam, the Netherlands), registered with the Chamber of Commerce with number 24473890, hereinafter referred to as the “ LBI ” and together with Investor as “ Parties .

RECITALS

 

A. The Investor and LBI are a party to that certain equity commitment agreement dated December 11, 2009 by and among AI International Chemicals S.à r.l. (as successor in interest to AI LBI Investments LLC) ( “Access” ), Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P. ( “Ares” ), LeverageSource (Delaware), LLC ( “Apollo”) , LBI and the other parties signatory thereto (as amended from time to time, the “ Equity Commitment Agreement ”).

 

B. Upon issuance of shares in the capital of LBI pursuant to the Plan, the Investor, together with its Affiliates, will directly or indirectly hold shares of LBI to be issued to it upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Equity Commitment Agreement.

 

C. Pursuant to the Plan and the Equity Commitment Agreement, the Investor has nominated three (3) members of the initial Supervisory Board.

 

D. Pursuant to this Agreement, the Investor shall as from issuance of the shares be entitled to nominate one, two or three (as the case may be) individuals to be appointed as members of the Supervisory Board.

 

E. Pursuant to this Agreement, at least one person nominated by the Investor as a member of the Supervisory Board shall be entitled to serve on the [    ] Committee(s).

 

1


HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1 Definitions

 

Affiliate    with respect to any person, any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “control,” “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” as used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Investor, “Affiliate” shall include all investment funds managed or controlled by the Investor or the Investor’s Affiliates.
Agreement    this Nomination Agreement
Appendix    an appendix to this Agreement
Articles    the draft articles of association of LBI attached as Appendix 1 to this Agreement.
Business Day    any day other than (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday, (c) any day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or The Netherlands are required or authorized to close by law or executive order and (d) the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Clause    a clause in this Agreement
Committees    the committees of the Supervisory Board
Disclosure Statement    means the disclosure statement to accompany the Plan as amended, modified or supplemented
Equity Commitment Agreement    has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement
Investor    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
LBI    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
One Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate one member of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.1 of this Agreement

 

2


Parties    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
Plan    means the joint chapter 11 plan of reorganization of Lyondell Chemical Company and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates who are debtors and debtors-in-possession, including all exhibits and schedules annexed thereto or associated therewith, as altered, amended or modified from time to time
Supervisory Board    the supervisory board of LBI
Termination Date    has the meaning attributed in Clause 6.2
Three Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate three members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.3 of this Agreement
Two Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate two members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.2 of this Agreement

 

1.2 Interpretation

In this Agreement, unless the context dictates otherwise:

 

  1.2.1 the masculine gender shall include the feminine and the neuter and vice versa;

 

  1.2.2 references to a person shall include a reference to any individual, company, association, partnership or joint venture;

 

  1.2.3 references to “include” and “including” shall be treated as references to “include without limitation “or “including without limitation”;

 

  1.2.4 references to documents in “agreed form” shall be to documents agreed between the Parties, annexed to this Agreement;

 

  1.2.5 the headings are for identification only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement;

 

  1.2.6 references to “Clauses,” “paragraphs” and “Appendices” are to clauses, paragraphs of, and appendices to, this Agreement.

 

1.3 Appendices

Any Appendix referred to in this Agreement forms an integral part of this Agreement.

 

3


2. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Prior to issuance of shares in the capital of LBI on the terms and conditions agreed upon in the Equity Commitment Agreement, the articles of association of LBI shall be amended in accordance with the agreed form attached to this Agreement as Appendix 1. No further amendment which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor shall be made to the Articles (including, without limitation, any amendments to paragraphs 13.2, 16.4, 17.3 and 24.1 of the Articles which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor) without prior written approval of the Investor.

 

3. SUPERVISORY BOARD REGULATIONS

 

3.1 The internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board are set out in Appendix 2 to this Agreement. LBI shall not take any action to cause the Supervisory Board to make any amendment to the internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor without prior written approval of the Investor.

 

3.2 LBI hereby confirms that each of the members of the Supervisory Board as of the date hereof has agreed to be bound by the attached internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board and has signed a copy thereof as his acceptance of such internal rules of procedure.

 

3.3 It shall be a condition for nomination of any person as a member of the Supervisory Board, whether or not an Investor nominee, that such person shall undertake to be bound by the attached internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board and that such person shall sign a copy thereof as his acceptance of such internal rules of procedure.

 

4. SUPERVISORY BOARD NOMINATIONS

 

4.1 Pursuant to the Equity Commitment Agreement and the Plan, the initial Supervisory Board shall have nine members. Apollo shall have the right to nominate three members to the initial Supervisory Board, Access shall have the right to nominate one member to the initial Supervisory Board and Ares shall have the right to nominate one member to the initial Supervisory Board. In accordance therewith, and following completion of the selection procedure for the remaining members of the Supervisory Board, the Supervisory Board, as of the date hereof, shall be composed as follows:

 

  1. Joshua Harris (Class 3) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  2. Scott Kleinman (Class 3) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  3. Marvin Schlanger (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  4. Phillip Kassin (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Access)

 

  5. Jeffrey Serota (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Ares)

The remaining four (4) initial directors will be appointed (one to Class 3 and three to Class 1) in accordance with Clause 4.2.

 

4


4.2 In case the Supervisory Board at the date of this Agreement consists of less than nine members, a Transitional Appointment Committee consisting of the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer has the right, during the period until the listing of LBI’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange to appoint such number of members to the Supervisory Board so that the Supervisory Board will consist of nine members in total, it being understood (i) that the Transitional Appointment Committee cannot appoint more than one-third of the members of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Article 2:143 DCC, as provided pursuant to the Transitional Provision 2 of the agreed form draft articles of association attached to this Agreement as Appendix 1, (ii) such appointees shall be independent in accordance with applicable listing standards and (iii) such appointees shall be subject to the approval of the Investor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. In the event that the Transitional Appointment Committee is unable to appoint a director because doing so would cause the Supervisory Board to exceed the 1/3 limit set forth in Article 2:143 and in Article 13.4 as modified by Section 28 of the Articles, the Supervisory Board shall call a general meeting of shareholders at the shortest practicable time once such director nominee has been identified in accordance with Section 28 of the Articles.

 

4.3 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 5% or more, but less than 12%, of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least one of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be a person nominated by the Investor.

 

4.4 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 12% or more, but less than 18%, of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least two of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be persons nominated by the Investor.

 

4.5 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 18% or more of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least three of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be persons nominated by the Investor.

 

5


4.6 LBI hereby represents to the Investor that each of Ares and Access have equivalent nomination rights to the nomination rights of the Investor set forth in Clauses 4.1 through 4.5 above, Clause 6.2 below and Clauses 7.7 through 7.10 below. LBI hereby agrees with the Investor that it shall not grant any additional nomination rights to Ares or Access without offering the same rights to the Investor, without further consideration.

 

5. SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES; LBI SUBSIDIARY BOARDS

 

5.1 At least one member of the Supervisory Board nominated by the Investor shall be entitled to serve on each Committee to the extent not prohibited by law.

 

5.2 The Investor shall be entitled to nominate at least one member to the board of directors of each of LBI’s direct and indirect significant subsidiaries to the extent that such appointment is consistent with applicable law and such Investor agrees to be bound by the policies of the applicable company. To the extent not prohibited by law, such nominee shall be entitled to serve on each of the committees of such board of directors. LBI shall cause each of its direct and indirect significant subsidiaries to take all actions necessary to give effect to this Clause 5.2.

 

6. DURATION

 

6.1 This Agreement shall take effect as of the date of issuance of shares to the Investor (or its Affiliates) pursuant to the Equity Commitment Agreement.

 

6.2 Except with respect to the provisions of this Agreement that expressly survive the Termination Date (defined below), this Agreement is entered into for an indefinite period of time and shall terminate as of the date on which the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly less than 5% of the issued share capital of LBI (the “ Termination Date ”); provided, that in no event may the Termination Date occur within the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement. Within three Business Days after the Termination Date the Investor shall notify LBI and, promptly following the written request of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board, shall cause the nominee or nominees of the Investor, as applicable, to execute and deliver a written resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI and any subsidiary of LBI for which such nominee serves as a director on the date of such resignation and shall not permit any such nominee or nominees to revoke any such resignation; provided that in no event may the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board request or solicit, directly or indirectly, such resignation prior to the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

 

6


7. MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1 Invalid Provisions

In the event that a provision of this Agreement is null and void or unenforceable (either in whole or in part), the remainder of this Agreement shall continue to be effective to the extent that, given this Agreement’s substance and purpose, such remainder is not inextricably related to the null and void or unenforceable provision. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement on a new clause whose effect differs as little as possible from the null and void or unenforceable provision, taking into account the substance and purpose of this Agreement.

 

7.2 Amendment

No amendment to this Agreement shall have any force or effect unless it is in writing and signed by both Parties.

 

7.3 Entire Agreement

This Agreement, including all Appendices, contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter covered hereby and supersedes all earlier agreements and understandings, whether oral, written or otherwise, between Parties.

 

7.4 No Implied Waiver; No Forfeit of Rights

 

  a. Any waiver under this Agreement must be given by notice to that effect.

 

  b. If the Investor does not exercise any right under this Agreement, this shall not be deemed to constitute a forfeit of any such rights (rechtsverwerking) .

 

7.5 No Rescission

To the extent permitted by law, the Parties hereby waive their rights under Articles 6:265 to 6:272 inclusive of the Civil Code to rescind ( ontbinden ), or demand in legal proceedings the total or partial rescission ( ontbinding ) of this Agreement or to nullify this Agreement because of error ( dwaling ).

 

7.6 No Assignment

This Agreement and the rights granted to the Investor hereunder are personal to the Investor and are not attached to any shares of the share capital of LBI. The Investor may not transfer or assign this Agreement ( contractsoverneming ) or any of its rights hereunder. Any transfer or assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be null and void and of no force and effect.

 

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7.7 Resignation of Members for Cause

 

  7.7.1 In the event that the Supervisory Board resolves that a member of the Supervisory Board should resign for Cause, such member shall and, in case such member is a nominee of the Investor, the Investor shall cause such member to, promptly execute and deliver an irrevocable resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI and any subsidiary of LBI for which such Member serves as a director on the date of such resignation.

 

  7.7.2 For the purpose of this Clause 7.7, “Cause” shall mean in respect to any member of the Supervisory Board: (A) indictment, conviction, guilty plea or plea of no lo contendere to, or confession of guilt of a felony or criminal act involving moral turpitude during such member’s term; (B) willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance or intentional non-performance of member’s duties to LBI or any of its subsidiaries; (C) commission of a fraudulent or illegal (including, without limitation, misappropriation, embezzlement or similar conduct) in respect of LBI or any of its Affiliates, customers or subsidiaries or (D) material breach of any LBI policy or any other misconduct that causes material harm to LBI, its Affiliates, customers or subsidiaries, or its or their respective business reputations.

 

7.8 Resignation of Director Nominees

Without prejudice to Clause 7.7, in the event that (i) a Three Director Investor becomes a Two Director Investor, (ii) a Three Director Investor becomes a One Director Investor, or (iii) a Two Director Investor becomes a One Director Investor (in each case, because such Investor, together with its Affiliates, ceases to hold directly or indirectly the requisite amount of the issued share capital of LBI set forth in Clause 4 of this Agreement), such Investor shall notify LBI within three Business Days of such event and, promptly following the written request of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board, shall cause one or more of the nominees of the Investor, as applicable, to execute and deliver a resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI and any subsidiary of LBI for which such nominee serves as a director on the date of such resignation and shall not permit any such nominee or nominees to revoke any such resignation; provided that in no event may the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board request such resignation prior to the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

 

7.9 Nomination of Additional Director Nominees

In the event that (i) a One Director Investor becomes a Two Director Investor, (ii) a One Director Investor becomes a Three Director Investor, (iii) a Two Director Investor becomes a Three Director Investor (in each case, because such Investor, together with its Affiliates, acquires directly or indirectly the requisite amount of the issued share capital of LBI set forth in Clause 4 of this Agreement), or (iv) a nominee of the Investor on the Supervisory Board resigns his position or otherwise terminates his membership on the Supervisory Board, such Investor shall notify LBI within three Business Days of such event and, as soon as

 

8


commercially practicable following the written request of the Investor, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all of the actions that are necessary to ensure that the Investor is able to nominate to the Supervisory Board the number of members indicated in Clause 4 of this Agreement so that the relevant nominee is, or nominees are, appointed to the Supervisory Board within the shortest possible period of time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the increase of the number of Supervisory Board members, the appointment of additional independent Supervisory Board members to ensure compliance with applicable listing standards, and the appointment of the Investor’s nominee in accordance with Clause 7.11); provided , however , that the failure of such Investor to so notify LBI within three Business Days shall not affect such Investor’s rights to appoint members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if the appointment of the Investor’s nominee(s) pursuant to this Clause 7.9 would cause the Supervisory Board to fail to have a majority of independent members under the applicable listing standards, the appointment of such Investor’s nominee(s) may be delayed for up to ninety (90) days in order to select and appoint a sufficient number of independent Supervisory Board members so that, upon the appointment of such Investor nominee(s), the Supervisory Board will be comprised of a majority of independent members.

 

7.10 Appointment Pending General Meeting of Shareholders

As soon as practicable after the date on which the right to nominate one or more members to the Supervisory Board arises, the Investor shall submit to LBI all personal details LBI reasonably requires in connection with the appointment of a Supervisory Board member. Following such submission, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all of the actions to appoint the relevant nominee or nominees as soon as practicable to the Supervisory Board in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles, which appointment shall terminate on the date of the next general meeting of shareholders of LBI, on which date the relevant nominee or nominees shall be nominated for (re)appointment to the Supervisory Board. If any Investor nominee, for any reason, is not appointed to the Supervisory Board during a general meeting of the shareholders of LBI, the Investor shall as soon as practicable put forward a nominee who shall be appointed to the Supervisory Board by the Supervisory Board in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles, which appointment shall terminate on the date of the then following general meeting of shareholders of LBI, on which date an Investor nominee shall be nominated for appointment to the Supervisory Board.

 

7.11 Calling General Meeting

In the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 5% or more of the issued share capital of LBI, the Investor can require the Supervisory Board to convene a general meeting of the shareholders. LBI agrees, in any event, to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to call a general meeting of shareholders at the shortest practicable notice in the event the ability to appoint an additional member of the Supervisory

 

9


Board pursuant to Clauses 7.10 and 7.11 above would be frustrated by the fact that by doing so the Supervisory Board would need to exceed the 1/3 limit laid down in Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles.

 

7.12 Choice of Law

This Agreement shall be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, without regard to any conflict of law rules under Dutch private international law.

 

7.13 Disputes

All disputes arising in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled in accordance with the arbitration rules of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI). The arbitral tribunal shall be composed of 3 (three) arbitrators; one selected by LBI, one selected by the Investor and the third agreed upon by the first two selected arbitrators. The place of arbitration shall be Amsterdam. The arbitral procedures shall be conducted in the English language. Consolidation of the arbitral proceedings with other arbitral proceedings pending in the Netherlands, as provided in article 1046 of the Netherlands Code of Civil Procedure, is excluded.

 

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Signed on this 30 th day of April, 2010.

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
By:  

/s/ Gerald A. O’Brien

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Attorney-in-fact


LEVERAGESOURCE (DELAWARE), LLC
  By:   Apollo Management VII, L.P., its manager
    By:   AIF VII Management, LLC, its
      general manager
By:  

    /s/ Wendy Dulman

  Name:   Wendy Dulman
  Title:   Vice President

Exhibit 4.4

NOMINATION AGREEMENT

between

ARES CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND III, L.P.

and

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

 

In relation to the nomination of the

members of the Supervisory Board

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.   DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION    2
  1.1   Definitions    2
  1.2   Interpretation    3
  1.3   Appendices    3
2.   ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION    4
3.   SUPERVISORY BOARD REGULATIONS    4
4.   SUPERVISORY BOARD NOMINATIONS    4
5.   SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES    6
6.   DURATION    6
7.   MISCELLANEOUS    7
  7.1   Invalid Provisions    7
  7.2   Amendment    7
  7.3   Entire Agreement    7
  7.4   No Implied Waiver; No Forfeit of Rights    7
  7.5   No Rescission    7
  7.6   No Assignment    7
  7.7   Resignation of Members for Cause    8
  7.8   Resignation of Director Nominees    8
  7.9   Nomination of Additional Director Nominees    8
  7.10   Appointment Pending General Meeting of Shareholders    9
  7.11   Calling General Meeting    9
  7.12   Choice of Law    10
  7.13   Disputes    10

APPENDICES

1. Articles of association.

2. The internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board.

 

i


NOMINATION AGREEMENT

THE UNDERSIGNED:

 

1. ARES CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND III, L.P., a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereinafter referred to as “Investor ;

 

2. LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V. , a public limited liability company ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with its corporate seat at Rotterdam (registered office: Weena 737, 3013AM Rotterdam, the Netherlands), registered with the Chamber of Commerce with number 24473890, hereinafter referred to as the “ LBI ” and together with Investor as “ Parties .

RECITALS

 

A. The Investor and LBI are a party to that certain equity commitment agreement dated December 11, 2009 by and among AI International Chemicals S.à r.l. (as successor in interest to AI LBI Investments LLC) ( “Access” ), Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P. ( “Ares” ), LeverageSource (Delaware), LLC ( “Apollo”) , LBI and the other parties signatory thereto (as amended from time to time, the “ Equity Commitment Agreement ”).

 

B. Upon issuance of shares in the capital of LBI pursuant to the Plan, the Investor, together with its Affiliates, will directly or indirectly hold shares of LBI to be issued to it upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Equity Commitment Agreement.

 

C. Pursuant to the Plan and the Equity Commitment Agreement, the Investor has nominated one member of the initial Supervisory Board.

 

D. Pursuant to this Agreement, the Investor shall as from issuance of the shares be entitled to nominate one, two or three (as the case may be) individuals to be appointed as members of the Supervisory Board.

 

E. If at any time during the term of this Agreement the Investor becomes a Three Director Investor, then so long as the Investor remains a Three Director Investor, at least one member of the Supervisory Board nominated by the Investor shall be entitled to serve on each Committee to the extent not prohibited by law or by any then applicable stock exchange rules or listing requirements and in accordance with Section 5.1.

 

1


HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1 Definitions

 

Affiliate    with respect to any person, any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “control,” “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” as used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Investor, “Affiliate” shall include all investment funds managed or controlled by the Investor or the Investor’s Affiliates.
Agreement    this Nomination Agreement
Appendix    an appendix to this Agreement
Articles    the draft articles of association of LBI attached as Appendix 1 to this Agreement.
Business Day    any day other than (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday, (c) any day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or The Netherlands are required or authorized to close by law or executive order and (d) the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Clause    a clause in this Agreement
Committees    the committees of the Supervisory Board
Disclosure Statement    means the disclosure statement to accompany the Plan as amended, modified or supplemented
Equity Commitment Agreement    has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement
Investor    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
LBI    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
One Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate one member of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.1 of this Agreement

 

2


Parties    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
Plan    means the joint chapter 11 plan of reorganization of Lyondell Chemical Company and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates who are debtors and debtors-in-possession, including all exhibits and schedules annexed thereto or associated therewith, as altered, amended or modified from time to time
Supervisory Board    the supervisory board of LBI
Termination Date    has the meaning attributed in Clause 6.2
Three Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate three members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.3 of this Agreement
Two Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate two members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.2 of this Agreement

 

1.2 Interpretation

In this Agreement, unless the context dictates otherwise:

 

  1.2.1 the masculine gender shall include the feminine and the neuter and vice versa;

 

  1.2.2 references to a person shall include a reference to any individual, company, association, partnership or joint venture;

 

  1.2.3 references to “include” and “including” shall be treated as references to “include without limitation “or “including without limitation”;

 

  1.2.4 references to documents in “agreed form” shall be to documents agreed between the Parties, annexed to this Agreement;

 

  1.2.5 the headings are for identification only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement;

 

  1.2.6 references to “Clauses,” “paragraphs” and “Appendices” are to clauses, paragraphs of, and appendices to, this Agreement.

 

1.3 Appendices

Any Appendix referred to in this Agreement forms an integral part of this Agreement.

 

3


2. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Prior to issuance of shares in the capital of LBI on the terms and conditions agreed upon in the Equity Commitment Agreement, the articles of association of LBI shall be amended in accordance with the agreed form attached to this Agreement as Appendix 1. No further amendment which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor shall be made to the Articles (including, without limitation, any amendments to paragraphs 13.2, 16.4, 17.3 and 24.1 of the Articles which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor) without prior written approval of the Investor.

 

3. SUPERVISORY BOARD REGULATIONS

 

3.1 The internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board are set out in Appendix 2 to this Agreement. LBI shall not take any action to cause the Supervisory Board to make any amendment to the internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor without prior written approval of the Investor.

 

3.2 LBI hereby confirms that each of the members of the Supervisory Board as of the date hereof has agreed to be bound by the attached internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board and has signed a copy thereof as his acceptance of such internal rules of procedure.

 

3.3 It shall be a condition for nomination of any person as a member of the Supervisory Board, whether or not an Investor nominee, that such person shall undertake to be bound by the attached internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board and that such person shall sign a copy thereof as his acceptance of such internal rules of procedure.

 

4. SUPERVISORY BOARD NOMINATIONS

 

4.1 Pursuant to the Equity Commitment Agreement and the Plan, the initial Supervisory Board shall have nine members. Apollo shall have the right to nominate three members to the initial Supervisory Board, Access shall have the right to nominate one member to the initial Supervisory Board and Ares shall have the right to nominate one member to the initial Supervisory Board. In accordance therewith, and following completion of the selection procedure for the remaining members of the Supervisory Board, the Supervisory Board, as of the date hereof, shall be composed as follows:

 

  1. Joshua Harris (Class 3) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  2. Scott Kleinman (Class 3) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  3. Marvin Schlanger (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  4. Phillip Kassin (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Access)

 

  5. Jeffrey Serota (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Ares)

The remaining four (4) initial directors will be appointed (one to Class 3 and three to Class 1) in accordance with Clause 4.2.

 

4


4.2 In case the Supervisory Board at the date of this Agreement consists of less than nine members, a Transitional Appointment Committee consisting of the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer has the right, during the period until the listing of LBI’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange to appoint such number of members to the Supervisory Board so that the Supervisory Board will consist of nine members in total, it being understood (i) that the Transitional Appointment Committee cannot appoint more than one-third of the members of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Article 2:143 DCC, as provided pursuant to the Transitional Provision 2 of the agreed form draft articles of association attached to this Agreement as Appendix 1, (ii) such appointees shall be independent in accordance with applicable listing standards and (iii) such appointees shall be subject to the approval of the Investor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. In the event that the Transitional Appointment Committee is unable to appoint a director because doing so would cause the Supervisory Board to exceed the 1/3 limit set forth in Article 2:143 and in Article 13.4 as modified by Section 28 of the Articles, the Supervisory Board shall call a general meeting of shareholders at the shortest practicable time once such director nominee has been identified in accordance with Section 28 of the Articles.

 

4.3 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 5% or more, but less than 12%, of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least one of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be a person nominated by the Investor.

 

4.4 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 12% or more, but less than 18%, of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least two of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be persons nominated by the Investor.

 

4.5 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 18% or more of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least three of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be persons nominated by the Investor.

 

5


4.6 LBI hereby represents to the Investor that each of Apollo and Access have equivalent nomination rights to the nomination rights of the Investor set forth in Clauses 4.1 through 4.5 above, Clause 6.2 below and Clauses 0 through 7.10 below. LBI hereby agrees with the Investor that it shall not grant any additional nomination rights to Apollo or Access without offering the same rights to the Investor, without further consideration.

 

5. SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES

 

5.1 If at any time during the term of this Agreement the Investor becomes a Three Director Investor, then so long as the Investor remains a Three Director Investor, at least one member of the Supervisory Board nominated by the Investor shall be entitled to serve on each Committee to the extent not prohibited by law or by any then applicable stock exchange rules or listing requirements. Each member of the Supervisory Board nominated by the Investor to serve on any such Committee shall disclose any conflict of interest to the other members of such Committee and with respect to any matter in which such member has or reasonably could be expected to have a conflict of interest (as determined by the other members of such Committee or the other members of the Supervisory Board in their sole discretion) the member shall be recused and not receive information or participate in discussions, deliberations, or decision-making processes related to such matter.

 

6. DURATION

 

6.1 This Agreement shall take effect as of the date of issuance of shares to the Investor (or its Affiliates) pursuant to the Equity Commitment Agreement.

 

6.2 Except with respect to the provisions of this Agreement that expressly survive the Termination Date (defined below), this Agreement is entered into for an indefinite period of time and shall terminate as of the date on which the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly less than 5% of the issued share capital of LBI (the “ Termination Date ”); provided, that in no event may the Termination Date occur within the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement. Within three Business Days after the Termination Date the Investor shall notify LBI and, promptly following the written request of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board, shall cause the nominee or nominees of the Investor, as applicable, to execute and deliver a written resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI and shall not permit any such nominee or nominees to revoke any such resignation; provided that in no event may the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board request or solicit, directly or indirectly, such resignation prior to the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

 

6


7. MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1 Invalid Provisions

In the event that a provision of this Agreement is null and void or unenforceable (either in whole or in part), the remainder of this Agreement shall continue to be effective to the extent that, given this Agreement’s substance and purpose, such remainder is not inextricably related to the null and void or unenforceable provision. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement on a new clause whose effect differs as little as possible from the null and void or unenforceable provision, taking into account the substance and purpose of this Agreement.

 

7.2 Amendment

No amendment to this Agreement shall have any force or effect unless it is in writing and signed by both Parties.

 

7.3 Entire Agreement

This Agreement, including all Appendices, contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter covered hereby and supersedes all earlier agreements and understandings, whether oral, written or otherwise, between Parties.

 

7.4 No Implied Waiver; No Forfeit of Rights

 

  a. Any waiver under this Agreement must be given by notice to that effect.

 

  b. If the Investor does not exercise any right under this Agreement, this shall not be deemed to constitute a forfeit of any such rights (rechtsverwerking) .

 

7.5 No Rescission

To the extent permitted by law, the Parties hereby waive their rights under Articles 6:265 to 6:272 inclusive of the Civil Code to rescind ( ontbinden ), or demand in legal proceedings the total or partial rescission ( ontbinding ) of this Agreement or to nullify this Agreement because of error ( dwaling ).

 

7.6 Assignment

Investor may assign this Agreement in whole but not in part to any of its Affiliates. Except for such assignments to Affiliates, the Investor may not transfer or assign this Agreement or any of its rights hereunder. Any transfer or assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be null and void and of no force and effect.

 

7


7.7 Resignation of Members for Cause

 

  7.7.1 In the event that the Supervisory Board resolves that a member of the Supervisory Board should resign for Cause, such member shall and, in case such member is a nominee of the Investor, the Investor shall cause such member to, promptly execute and deliver an irrevocable resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI.

 

  7.7.2 For the purpose of this Clause 0, “Cause” shall mean in respect to any member of the Supervisory Board: (A) indictment, conviction, guilty plea or plea of no lo contendere to, or confession of guilt of a felony or criminal act involving moral turpitude during such member’s term; (B) willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance or intentional non-performance of member’s duties to LBI or any of its subsidiaries; (C) commission of a fraudulent or illegal (including, without limitation, misappropriation, embezzlement or similar conduct) in respect of LBI or any of its Affiliates, customers or subsidiaries or (D) material breach of any LBI policy or any other misconduct that causes material harm to LBI, its Affiliates, customers or subsidiaries, or its or their respective business reputations.

 

7.8 Resignation of Director Nominees

Without prejudice to Clause 0, in the event that (i) a Three Director Investor becomes a Two Director Investor, (ii) a Three Director Investor becomes a One Director Investor, or (iii) a Two Director Investor becomes a One Director Investor (in each case, because such Investor, together with its Affiliates, ceases to hold directly or indirectly the requisite amount of the issued share capital of LBI set forth in Clause 4 of this Agreement), such Investor shall notify LBI within three Business Days of such event and, promptly following the written request of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board, shall cause one or more of the nominees of the Investor, as applicable, to execute and deliver a resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI on the date of such resignation and shall not permit any such nominee or nominees to revoke any such resignation; provided that in no event may the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board request such resignation prior to the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

 

7.9 Nomination of Additional Director Nominees

In the event that (i) a One Director Investor becomes a Two Director Investor, (ii) a One Director Investor becomes a Three Director Investor, (iii) a Two Director Investor becomes a Three Director Investor (in each case, because such Investor, together with its Affiliates, acquires directly or indirectly the requisite amount of the issued share capital of LBI set forth in Clause 4 of this Agreement), or (iv) a nominee of the Investor on the Supervisory Board resigns his position or otherwise terminates his membership on the Supervisory Board, such Investor shall notify LBI within three Business Days of such event and, as soon as commercially practicable following the written request of the Investor, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all of the actions that are

 

8


necessary to ensure that the Investor is able to nominate to the Supervisory Board the number of members indicated in Clause 4 of this Agreement so that the relevant nominee is, or nominees are, appointed to the Supervisory Board within the shortest possible period of time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the increase of the number of Supervisory Board members, the appointment of additional independent Supervisory Board members to ensure compliance with applicable listing standards, and the appointment of the Investor’s nominee in accordance with Clause 7.11); provided , however , that the failure of such Investor to so notify LBI within three Business Days shall not affect such Investor’s rights to appoint members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if the appointment of the Investor’s nominee(s) pursuant to this Clause 7.9 would cause the Supervisory Board to fail to have a majority of independent members under the applicable listing standards, the appointment of such Investor’s nominee(s) may be delayed for up to ninety (90) days in order to select and appoint a sufficient number of independent Supervisory Board members so that, upon the appointment of such Investor nominee(s), the Supervisory Board will be comprised of a majority of independent members.

 

7.10 Appointment Pending General Meeting of Shareholders

As soon as practicable after the date on which the right to nominate one or more members to the Supervisory Board arises, the Investor shall submit to LBI all personal details LBI reasonably requires in connection with the appointment of a Supervisory Board member. Following such submission, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all of the actions to appoint the relevant nominee or nominees as soon as practicable to the Supervisory Board in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles, which appointment shall terminate on the date of the next general meeting of shareholders of LBI, on which date the relevant nominee or nominees shall be nominated for (re)appointment to the Supervisory Board. If any Investor nominee, for any reason, is not appointed to the Supervisory Board during a general meeting of the shareholders of LBI, the Investor shall as soon as practicable put forward a nominee who shall be appointed to the Supervisory Board by the Supervisory Board in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles, which appointment shall terminate on the date of the then following general meeting of shareholders of LBI, on which date an Investor nominee shall be nominated for appointment to the Supervisory Board.

 

7.11 Calling General Meeting

In the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 5% or more of the issued share capital of LBI, the Investor can require the Supervisory Board to convene a general meeting of the shareholders. LBI agrees, in any event, to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to call a general meeting of shareholders at the shortest practicable notice in the event the ability to appoint an additional member of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clauses 7.10 and 7.11 above would be frustrated by the fact that by doing so the Supervisory Board would need to exceed the  1 / 3 limit laid down in Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles.

 

9


7.12 Choice of Law

This Agreement shall be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, without regard to any conflict of law rules under Dutch private international law.

 

7.13 Disputes

All disputes arising in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled in accordance with the arbitration rules of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI). The arbitral tribunal shall be composed of three (3) arbitrators; one selected by LBI, one selected by the Investor and the third agreed upon by the first two selected arbitrators. The place of arbitration shall be Amsterdam. The arbitral procedures shall be conducted in the English language. Consolidation of the arbitral proceedings with other arbitral proceedings pending in the Netherlands, as provided in article 1046 of the Netherlands Code of Civil Procedure, is excluded.

 

10


Signed on this 30 th day of April, 2010.

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
By:  

    /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Attorney-in-fact


ARES CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND III, L.P.,
on behalf of itself and one or more funds under the management of Ares Management LLC
  By:  

ACOF Operating Manager III, LLC,

its manager

By:  

    /s/ Michael D. Weiner

  Name:   Michael D. Weiner
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

EXHIBIT 4.5

NOMINATION AGREEMENT

between

AI INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS S.À R.L.

and

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

 

In relation to the nomination of the

members of the Supervisory Board

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.

   DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION    2
  

1.1    

   Definitions    2
  

1.2    

   Interpretation    3
  

1.3    

   Appendices    3

2.

   ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION    4

3.

   SUPERVISORY BOARD REGULATIONS    4

4.

   SUPERVISORY BOARD NOMINATIONS    4

5.

   SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES    6

6.

   DURATION    6

7.

   MISCELLANEOUS    7
  

7.1    

   Invalid Provisions    7
  

7.2    

   Amendment    7
  

7.3    

   Entire Agreement    7
  

7.4    

   No Implied Waiver; No Forfeit of Rights    7
  

7.5    

   No Rescission    7
  

7.6    

   No Assignment    7
  

7.7    

   Resignation of Members for Cause    8
  

7.8    

   Resignation of Director Nominees    8
  

7.9    

   Nomination of Additional Director Nominees    8
  

7.10 

   Appointment Pending General Meeting of Shareholders    9
  

7.11 

   Calling General Meeting    9
  

7.12 

   Choice of Law    10
  

7.13 

   Disputes    10

APPENDICES

1. Articles of association.

2. The internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board.

 

i


NOMINATION AGREEMENT

THE UNDERSIGNED:

 

1. AI INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS S.À R.L. , a société à responsabilité limitée or limited liability company organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés (R.C.S.) identification number Luxembourg B144098 (and formerly known as “AI International Finance S.à r.l.”), c/o Citadel Administration SA, 15-17, avenue Gaston Diderich, L-1420 Luxembourg, hereinafter referred to as “ Investor ”;

 

2. LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V. , a public limited liability company ( naamloze vennootschap ) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with its corporate seat at Rotterdam (registered office: Weena 737, 3013AM Rotterdam, the Netherlands), registered with the Chamber of Commerce with number 24473890, hereinafter referred to as the “ LBI ” and together with Investor as “ Parties .

RECITALS

 

A. The Investor and LBI are a party to that certain equity commitment agreement dated December 11, 2009 by and among AI International Chemicals S.à r.l. (as successor in interest to AI LBI Investments LLC) ( “Access” ), Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P. ( “Ares” ), LeverageSource (Delaware), LLC ( “Apollo”) , LBI and the other parties signatory thereto (as amended from time to time, the “ Equity Commitment Agreement ”).

 

B. Upon issuance of shares in the capital of LBI pursuant to the Plan, the Investor, together with its Affiliates, will directly or indirectly hold shares of LBI to be issued to it upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Equity Commitment Agreement.

 

C. Pursuant to the Plan and the Equity Commitment Agreement, the Investor has nominated one member of the initial Supervisory Board.

 

D. Pursuant to this Agreement, the Investor shall as from issuance of the shares be entitled to nominate one, two or three (as the case may be) individuals to be appointed as members of the Supervisory Board.

 

E. If at any time during the term of this Agreement the Investor becomes a Three Director Investor, then so long as the Investor remains a Three Director Investor, at least one member of the Supervisory Board nominated by the Investor shall be entitled to serve on each Committee to the extent not prohibited by law or by any then applicable stock exchange rules or listing requirements and in accordance with Section 5.1.

 

1


HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1 Definitions

 

Affiliate    with respect to any person, any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person. For purposes of this definition, the terms “control,” “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” as used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Investor, “Affiliate” shall include all investment funds managed or controlled by the Investor or the Investor’s Affiliates.
Agreement    this Nomination Agreement
Appendix    an appendix to this Agreement
Articles    the draft articles of association of LBI attached as Appendix 1 to this Agreement.
Business Day    any day other than (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday, (c) any day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or The Netherlands are required or authorized to close by law or executive order and (d) the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Clause    a clause in this Agreement
Committees    the committees of the Supervisory Board
Disclosure Statement    means the disclosure statement to accompany the Plan as amended, modified or supplemented
Equity Commitment Agreement    has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Agreement
Investor    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
LBI    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
One Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate one member of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.1 of this Agreement

 

2


Parties    has the meaning attributed in the heading of this Agreement
Plan    means the joint chapter 11 plan of reorganization of Lyondell Chemical Company and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates who are debtors and debtors-in-possession, including all exhibits and schedules annexed thereto or associated therewith, as altered, amended or modified from time to time
Supervisory Board    the supervisory board of LBI
Termination Date    has the meaning attributed in Clause 6.2
Three Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate three members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.3 of this Agreement
Two Director Investor    the Investor, if entitled to nominate two members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clause 4.2 of this Agreement

 

1.2 Interpretation

In this Agreement, unless the context dictates otherwise:

 

  1.2.1 the masculine gender shall include the feminine and the neuter and vice versa;

 

  1.2.2 references to a person shall include a reference to any individual, company, association, partnership or joint venture;

 

  1.2.3 references to “include” and “including” shall be treated as references to “include without limitation “or “including without limitation”;

 

  1.2.4 references to documents in “agreed form” shall be to documents agreed between the Parties, annexed to this Agreement;

 

  1.2.5 the headings are for identification only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement;

 

  1.2.6 references to “Clauses,” “paragraphs” and “Appendices” are to clauses, paragraphs of, and appendices to, this Agreement.

 

1.3 Appendices

Any Appendix referred to in this Agreement forms an integral part of this Agreement.

 

3


2. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Prior to issuance of shares in the capital of LBI on the terms and conditions agreed upon in the Equity Commitment Agreement, the articles of association of LBI shall be amended in accordance with the agreed form attached to this Agreement as Appendix 1. No further amendment which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor shall be made to the Articles (including, without limitation, any amendments to paragraphs 13.2, 16.4, 17.3 and 24.1 of the Articles which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor) without prior written approval of the Investor.

 

3. SUPERVISORY BOARD REGULATIONS

 

3.1 The internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board are set out in Appendix 2 to this Agreement. LBI shall not take any action to cause the Supervisory Board to make any amendment to the internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board which adversely affects the nomination rights of the Investor without prior written approval of the Investor.

 

3.2 LBI hereby confirms that each of the members of the Supervisory Board as of the date hereof has agreed to be bound by the attached internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board and has signed a copy thereof as his acceptance of such internal rules of procedure.

 

3.3 It shall be a condition for nomination of any person as a member of the Supervisory Board, whether or not an Investor nominee, that such person shall undertake to be bound by the attached internal rules of procedure of the Supervisory Board and that such person shall sign a copy thereof as his acceptance of such internal rules of procedure.

 

4. SUPERVISORY BOARD NOMINATIONS

 

4.1 Pursuant to the Equity Commitment Agreement and the Plan, the initial Supervisory Board shall have nine members. Apollo shall have the right to nominate three members to the initial Supervisory Board, Access shall have the right to nominate one member to the initial Supervisory Board and Ares shall have the right to nominate one member to the initial Supervisory Board. In accordance therewith, and following completion of the selection procedure for the remaining members of the Supervisory Board, the Supervisory Board, as of the date hereof, shall be composed as follows:

 

  1. Joshua Harris (Class 3) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  2. Scott Kleinman (Class 3) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  3. Marvin Schlanger (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Apollo)

 

  4. Phillip Kassin (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Access)

 

  5. Jeffrey Serota (Class 2) (based on nomination put forward by Ares)

The remaining four (4) initial directors will be appointed (one to Class 3 and three to Class 1) in accordance with Clause 4.2.

 

4


4.2 In case the Supervisory Board at the date of this Agreement consists of less than nine members, a Transitional Appointment Committee consisting of the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer has the right, during the period until the listing of LBI’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange to appoint such number of members to the Supervisory Board so that the Supervisory Board will consist of nine members in total, it being understood (i) that the Transitional Appointment Committee cannot appoint more than one-third of the members of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Article 2:143 DCC, as provided pursuant to the Transitional Provision 2 of the agreed form draft articles of association attached to this Agreement as Appendix 1, (ii) such appointees shall be independent in accordance with applicable listing standards and (iii) such appointees shall be subject to the approval of the Investor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. In the event that the Transitional Appointment Committee is unable to appoint a director because doing so would cause the Supervisory Board to exceed the 1/3 limit set forth in Article 2:143 and in Article 13.4 as modified by Section 28 of the Articles, the Supervisory Board shall call a general meeting of shareholders at the shortest practicable time once such director nominee has been identified in accordance with Section 28 of the Articles.

 

4.3 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 5% or more, but less than 12%, of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least one of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be a person nominated by the Investor.

 

4.4 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 12% or more, but less than 18%, of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least two of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be persons nominated by the Investor.

 

4.5 Subsequent to the appointment of the Supervisory Board in accordance with Clauses 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 18% or more of the issued share capital of LBI, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all required action to make the appointments by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.4 of the Articles and the binding nominations by the Supervisory Board in accordance with article 13.2 of the Articles for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board in such a way that at least three of the members of the Supervisory Board shall be persons nominated by the Investor.

 

5


4.6 LBI hereby represents to the Investor that each of Apollo and Ares have equivalent nomination rights to the nomination rights of the Investor set forth in Clauses 4.1 through 4.5 above, Clause 6.2 below and Clauses 7.7 through 7.10 below. LBI hereby agrees with the Investor that it shall not grant any additional nomination rights to Apollo or Ares without offering the same rights to the Investor, without further consideration.

 

5. SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES

 

5.1 If at any time during the term of this Agreement the Investor becomes a Three Director Investor, then so long as the Investor remains a Three Director Investor, at least one member of the Supervisory Board nominated by the Investor shall be entitled to serve on each Committee to the extent not prohibited by law or by any then applicable stock exchange rules or listing requirements. Each member of the Supervisory Board nominated by the Investor to serve on any such Committee shall disclose any conflict of interest to the other members of such Committee and with respect to any matter in which such member has or reasonably could be expected to have a conflict of interest (as determined by the other members of such Committee or the other members of the Supervisory Board in their sole discretion) the member shall be recused and not receive information or participate in discussions, deliberations, or decision-making processes related to such matter.

 

6. DURATION

 

6.1 This Agreement shall take effect as of the date of issuance of shares to the Investor (or its Affiliates) pursuant to the Equity Commitment Agreement.

 

6.2 Except with respect to the provisions of this Agreement that expressly survive the Termination Date (defined below), this Agreement is entered into for an indefinite period of time and shall terminate as of the date on which the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly less than 5% of the issued share capital of LBI (the “ Termination Date ”); provided, that in no event may the Termination Date occur within the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement. Within three Business Days after the Termination Date the Investor shall notify LBI and, promptly following the written request of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board, shall cause the nominee or nominees of the Investor, as applicable, to execute and deliver a written resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI and shall not permit any such nominee or nominees to revoke any such resignation; provided that in no event may the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board request or solicit, directly or indirectly, such resignation prior to the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

 

6


7. MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1 Invalid Provisions

In the event that a provision of this Agreement is null and void or unenforceable (either in whole or in part), the remainder of this Agreement shall continue to be effective to the extent that, given this Agreement’s substance and purpose, such remainder is not inextricably related to the null and void or unenforceable provision. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement on a new clause whose effect differs as little as possible from the null and void or unenforceable provision, taking into account the substance and purpose of this Agreement.

 

7.2 Amendment

No amendment to this Agreement shall have any force or effect unless it is in writing and signed by both Parties.

 

7.3 Entire Agreement

This Agreement, including all Appendices, contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter covered hereby and supersedes all earlier agreements and understandings, whether oral, written or otherwise, between Parties.

 

7.4 No Implied Waiver; No Forfeit of Rights

 

  a. Any waiver under this Agreement must be given by notice to that effect.

 

  b. If the Investor does not exercise any right under this Agreement, this shall not be deemed to constitute a forfeit of any such rights (rechtsverwerking) .

 

7.5 No Rescission

To the extent permitted by law, the Parties hereby waive their rights under Articles 6:265 to 6:272 inclusive of the Civil Code to rescind ( ontbinden ), or demand in legal proceedings the total or partial rescission ( ontbinding ) of this Agreement or to nullify this Agreement because of error ( dwaling ).

 

7.6 Assignment

Investor may assign this Agreement in whole but not in part to any of its Affiliates. Except for such assignments to Affiliates, the Investor may not transfer or assign this Agreement or any of its rights hereunder. Any transfer or assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be null and void and of no force and effect.

 

7


7.7 Resignation of Members for Cause

 

  7.7.1 In the event that the Supervisory Board resolves that a member of the Supervisory Board should resign for Cause, such member shall and, in case such member is a nominee of the Investor, the Investor shall cause such member to, promptly execute and deliver an irrevocable resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI.

 

  7.7.2 For the purpose of this Clause 7.7, “Cause” shall mean in respect to any member of the Supervisory Board: (A) indictment, conviction, guilty plea or plea of no lo contendere to, or confession of guilt of a felony or criminal act involving moral turpitude during such member’s term; (B) willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance or intentional non-performance of member’s duties to LBI or any of its subsidiaries; (C) commission of a fraudulent or illegal (including, without limitation, misappropriation, embezzlement or similar conduct) in respect of LBI or any of its Affiliates, customers or subsidiaries or (D) material breach of any LBI policy or any other misconduct that causes material harm to LBI, its Affiliates, customers or subsidiaries, or its or their respective business reputations.

 

7.8 Resignation of Director Nominees

Without prejudice to Clause 7.7, in the event that (i) a Three Director Investor becomes a Two Director Investor, (ii) a Three Director Investor becomes a One Director Investor, or (iii) a Two Director Investor becomes a One Director Investor (in each case, because such Investor, together with its Affiliates, ceases to hold directly or indirectly the requisite amount of the issued share capital of LBI set forth in Clause 4 of this Agreement), such Investor shall notify LBI within three Business Days of such event and, promptly following the written request of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board, shall cause one or more of the nominees of the Investor, as applicable, to execute and deliver a resignation which shall be effective with respect to LBI on the date of such resignation and shall not permit any such nominee or nominees to revoke any such resignation; provided that in no event may the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Supervisory Board request such resignation prior to the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

 

7.9 Nomination of Additional Director Nominees

In the event that (i) a One Director Investor becomes a Two Director Investor, (ii) a One Director Investor becomes a Three Director Investor, (iii) a Two Director Investor becomes a Three Director Investor (in each case, because such Investor, together with its Affiliates, acquires directly or indirectly the requisite amount of the issued share capital of LBI set forth in Clause 4 of this Agreement), or (iv) a nominee of the Investor on the Supervisory Board resigns his position or otherwise terminates his membership on the Supervisory Board, such Investor shall notify LBI within three Business Days of such event and, as soon as commercially practicable following the written request of the Investor, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all of the actions that are

 

8


necessary to ensure that the Investor is able to nominate to the Supervisory Board the number of members indicated in Clause 4 of this Agreement so that the relevant nominee is, or nominees are, appointed to the Supervisory Board within the shortest possible period of time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the increase of the number of Supervisory Board members, the appointment of additional independent Supervisory Board members to ensure compliance with applicable listing standards, and the appointment of the Investor’s nominee in accordance with Clause 7.11); provided , however , that the failure of such Investor to so notify LBI within three Business Days shall not affect such Investor’s rights to appoint members of the Supervisory Board pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if the appointment of the Investor’s nominee(s) pursuant to this Clause 7.9 would cause the Supervisory Board to fail to have a majority of independent members under the applicable listing standards, the appointment of such Investor’s nominee(s) may be delayed for up to ninety (90) days in order to select and appoint a sufficient number of independent Supervisory Board members so that, upon the appointment of such Investor nominee(s), the Supervisory Board will be comprised of a majority of independent members.

 

7.10 Appointment Pending General Meeting of Shareholders

As soon as practicable after the date on which the right to nominate one or more members to the Supervisory Board arises, the Investor shall submit to LBI all personal details LBI reasonably requires in connection with the appointment of a Supervisory Board member. Following such submission, LBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to take all of the actions to appoint the relevant nominee or nominees as soon as practicable to the Supervisory Board in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles, which appointment shall terminate on the date of the next general meeting of shareholders of LBI, on which date the relevant nominee or nominees shall be nominated for (re)appointment to the Supervisory Board. If any Investor nominee, for any reason, is not appointed to the Supervisory Board during a general meeting of the shareholders of LBI, the Investor shall as soon as practicable put forward a nominee who shall be appointed to the Supervisory Board by the Supervisory Board in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles, which appointment shall terminate on the date of the then following general meeting of shareholders of LBI, on which date an Investor nominee shall be nominated for appointment to the Supervisory Board.

 

7.11 Calling General Meeting

In the event the Investor, together with its Affiliates, holds directly or indirectly 5% or more of the issued share capital of LBI, the Investor can require the Supervisory Board to convene a general meeting of the shareholders. LBI agrees, in any event, to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Supervisory Board to call a general meeting of shareholders at the shortest practicable notice in the event the ability to appoint an additional member of the Supervisory Board pursuant to Clauses 7.10 and 7.11 above would be frustrated by the fact that by doing so the Supervisory Board would need to exceed the 1/3 limit laid down in Article 2:143 of the Civil Code and Article 13.4 of the Articles.

 

9


7.12 Choice of Law

This Agreement shall be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, without regard to any conflict of law rules under Dutch private international law.

 

7.13 Disputes

All disputes arising in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled in accordance with the arbitration rules of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute (NAI). The arbitral tribunal shall be composed of three (3) arbitrators; one selected by LBI, one selected by the Investor and the third agreed upon by the first two selected arbitrators. The place of arbitration shall be Amsterdam. The arbitral procedures shall be conducted in the English language. Consolidation of the arbitral proceedings with other arbitral proceedings pending in the Netherlands, as provided in article 1046 of the Netherlands Code of Civil Procedure, is excluded.

 

10


Signed on this 30 th day of April, 2010.
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
By:  

        /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Attorney-in-fact


AI INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS S.À R.L.
By:  

        /s/ Alejandro Moreno

  Name:   Alejandro Moreno
  Title:   Class A Manager
By:  

        /s/ Corinne Néré

  Name:   Corinne Néré
  Title:   Class B Manager

EXHIBIT 4.7

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

and

THE HOLDERS

Dated as of April 30, 2010


Table of Contents

 

     Page

1.      Definitions

   1

2.      Demand Registrations

   5

3.      Piggyback Takedowns

   9

4.      Suspension Period

   11

5.      Holdback Agreements

   11

6.      Company Undertakings

   12

7.      Registration Expenses

   17

8.      Intentionally Omitted

   17

9.      Indemnification; Contribution

   17

10.    Participation in Underwritten Offering/Sale of Registrable Securities

   21

11.    Rule 144 and Rule 144A; Other Exemptions

   22

12.    Private Placement

   22

13.    Transfer of Registration Rights

   22

14.    Amendment, Modification and Waivers; Further Assurances

   23

15.    Miscellaneous

   24

 

i


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of April 30, 2010 by and among LyondellBasell Industries N.V., a public limited liability company ( naamloze vennootschap ) formed under the laws of The Netherlands, (the “ Company ”), the Investors (as defined below) and any parties identified on the signature page of any joinder agreements executed and delivered pursuant to Section 13 hereof (each, including the Investors, a “ Holder ” and, collectively, the “ Holders ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein are defined in Section 1 hereof.

RECITALS:

Whereas pursuant to the Equity Commitment Agreement dated December 11, 2009 by and between the Company and the Investors set forth therein, as amended, the Company has agreed to offer registration rights to the Holders of the Company’s New Common Stock (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

Whereas the Company proposes to issue the New Common Stock pursuant to, and upon the terms set forth in, the plan of reorganization of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates under chapter 11, title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§101-1532 (the “ Plan ”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Holders hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions.

Access Investors ” means the Investors identified as the Access Investors on the signature pages hereto and any of their respective Affiliates.

Affiliate ” has the meaning given to that term pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Agreement ” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph hereof.

Apollo Investors ” means the Investors identified as the Apollo Investors on the signature pages hereto and any of their respective Affiliates.

Ares Investors ” means the Investors identified as the Ares Investors on the signature pages hereto and any of their respective Affiliates.

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” means an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 (or any successor rule then in effect) promulgated under the Securities Act.

beneficially owned , beneficial ownership ” and similar phrases have the same meanings as such terms have under Rule 13-d (or any successor rule then in effect) promulgated

 

1


under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any Holder, such Holder shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Holder has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition.

Board ” means the Supervisory Board of the Company.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or The Netherlands are authorized or required by applicable law or executive order to close.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental agency.

Company ” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph hereof.

Company Demand Registration Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(d) .

control ” has the meaning given to that term under Rule 405 under the Securities Act (and “ controlled ” and “ controlling ” shall have correlative meanings).

Counsel to the Holders ” means, with respect to any underwritten offering pursuant to a Demand Registration (including a Shelf Takedown), one law firm retained by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration (or Shelf Takedown, if applicable), together with any separate local counsel reasonably retained by such law firm.

Demand Registration ” means any registration statement made pursuant to Section 2(b) .

Demand Registration Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(d) .

Determination Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(g) .

Disclosure Package ” means, with respect to any offering of securities, (i) the preliminary prospectus, (ii) each Free Writing Prospectus and (iii) all other information, in each case, that is deemed, under Rule 159 promulgated under the Securities Act, to have been conveyed to purchasers of securities at the time of sale of such securities (including a contract of sale).

Effective Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or any successor regulatory authority.

 

2


Form 10 ” means a registration statement on Form 10 registering the class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Holder ” and “ Holders ” have the meanings given to those terms in the first paragraph hereof.

Holder Free Writing Prospectus ” means each Free Writing Prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the relevant Holder or used or referred to by such Holder in connection with the offering of Registrable Securities.

Initial Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(a) .

Investors ” means the Access Investors, the Ares Investors and/or the Apollo Investors.

Lock-Up Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 5(a) .

Long-Form Registration ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(b) .

Losses ” has the meaning specified in Section 9(d) .

New Common Stock ” means the class A ordinary shares of four eurocent (EUR 0.04) per share and class B ordinary shares of four eurocent (EUR 0.04) per share, of the Company, in each case, issued on and after the Effective Date and any additional ordinary shares paid, issued or distributed in respect of any such shares by way of a share dividend, share split or distribution, or in connection with a combination of shares, and any such security into which such New Common Stock shall have been converted or exchanged in connection with a recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, exchange, distribution or otherwise (including the class A ordinary shares issued upon conversion of the class B ordinary shares).

NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Other Holders ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(c) .

Person ” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Piggyback Takedown ” has the meaning specified in Section 3(a) .

Plan ” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

Prospectus ” means the prospectus used in connection with a Registration Statement.

Registrable Securities ” means at any time any shares of New Common Stock (i) issued on or after the Effective Date to any Holder or (ii) held or “ beneficially owned ” by any Holder,

 

3


including any New Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan or upon the conversion, exercise or exchange, as applicable, of any other securities and/or interests issued pursuant to the Plan, including shares of New Common Stock acquired in open market or other purchases after the Effective Date; provided , however , that as to any Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to constitute Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of: (A) the date on which such securities are disposed of pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; (B) the date on which such securities are disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor rule then in effect) promulgated under the Securities Act; (C) with respect to the Registrable Securities of any Holder, any time that such Holder no longer holds or “ beneficially owns ” at least 1% of the outstanding New Common Stock; and (D) the date on which such securities cease to be outstanding.

Registration Expenses ” means all expenses (other than Selling Expenses) arising from or incident to the registration of Registrable Securities in compliance with this Agreement, including:

(i) Commission, FINRA and other registration and filing fees,

(ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with complying with any securities or blue sky laws (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities),

(iii) all printing, messenger and delivery expenses,

(iv) the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Company and of its independent public accountants and any other accounting and legal fees, charges and expenses incurred by the Company (including any expenses arising from or incident to any special audits or “ comfort letters ” required in connection with or incident to any registration),

(v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on NYSE (or any other national securities exchange),

(vi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with marketing (including any “ road show ”) with respect to any underwritten offerings, and

(vii) reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of Counsel to the Holders, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any expenses of Counsel to the Holders in connection with the filing or amendment of any Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus hereunder.

Registration Statement ” means any registration statement filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 2 hereunder or in connection with a Piggyback Takedown.

Requesting Holder ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(b) .

Required Period ” means: (i) with respect to the Initial Shelf Registration Statement, two years following the effective date of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) with respect to any Shelf Registration, three years following the effective date of the Registration Statement for

 

4


such Shelf Registration, and (iii) with respect to a Demand Registration that is a Long-Form Registration (other than the Initial Shelf Registration Statement), 90 days following the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection therewith (which 90 day period shall be extended by the number of days such Demand Registration was suspended pursuant to Section 4), or, if sooner, in each case, until all Registrable Securities have been sold under such Registration Statement.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Selling Expenses ” means the underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to all Registrable Securities registered by the Holders.

Selling Holder ” means with respect to any specified Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, any Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement.

Shelf Registration ” means a registration of securities pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (or any successor form) or any similar short-form registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect).

Shelf Takedown ” means an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration.

Short-Form Registration ” has the meaning specified in Section 2(b)(B) .

Suspension Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 4(a) .

Underwriting Agreement ” means underwriting arrangements in customary form entered into pursuant to this Agreement, which shall be satisfactory to the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities participating in the offering.

Well-Known Seasoned Issuer ” means a “ well-known seasoned issuer ” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect) and which (i) is a “ well-known seasoned issuer ” under paragraph (1)(i)(A) of such definition or (ii) is a “ well-known seasoned issuer ” under paragraph (1)(i)(B) of such definition and is also eligible to register a primary offering of its securities relying on General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3 or Form F-3 under the Securities Act.

2. Demand Registrations.

(a) Initial Shelf Registration Statement . By the 30th day after the Form 10 is declared to be effective by the Commission, the Company shall file with the Commission a registration statement (the “ Initial Shelf Registration Statement ”) relating to the offer and sale of Registrable Securities by the Holders to the public, from time to time, on a delayed or continuous basis (but not involving any underwritten offering); provided that if the Form 10 is declared to be effective by the Commission on a date that is more than 90 days after the Effective Date, the Company shall file the Initial Shelf Registration Statement by no later than 10 days after the Form 10 is declared to be effective by the Commission. Except as otherwise provided

 

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herein, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cause the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable thereafter, and (ii) keep the Initial Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective and, except as otherwise expressly permitted herein in Section 4, not to suspend use of the prospectus included therein in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be usable by the Holders until the earliest to occur of the following: (A) there are no longer any Registrable Securities, (B) until the Company has filed a Short-Form Registration or an Automatic Shelf Registration registering all of the Registrable Securities, and such registration statement has been declared effective, or (C) the expiration of the Required Period. An Initial Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2(a) or the use thereof for any sale other than pursuant to an underwritten offering shall not count as the use of a Demand Registration.

(b) Requests for Demand Registration .

(A) Following the later of (x) 90 days after the Effective Date or (y) the date the Form 10 is declared to be effective by the Commission, but (i) at any time prior to the first anniversary date of the Effective Date, the Holder or Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities then outstanding and (ii) at any time on or after the first anniversary date of the Effective Date, any Holder of Registrable Securities then outstanding (in the case of clause (i) or (ii), the “ Requesting Holder ”) may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by such Requesting Holder on Form S-1 or similar long-form registration statement (a “ Long-Form Registration ”) with respect to only the number of Demand Registrations for each Holder set forth in the table in Section 2(c) below.

(B) At any time on or after the first anniversary date of the Effective Date, a Requesting Holder may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held by such Requesting Holder on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement (a “ Short-Form Registration ”), if available, with respect to only the number of Demand Registrations for each Holder set forth in the table in Section 2(c) below.

(C) In the case of each Demand Registration made pursuant to Section 2(b)(A) and Section 2(b)(B) above, such Requesting Holder will be entitled to make such demand only if the total offering price of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering and together with any other securities to be sold in such offering (including piggyback shares and before deduction of underwriting discounts), is reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $100 million; or, if an underwritten offering, $75 million, if such amount is acceptable to the managing underwriter; provided that in lieu of filing a new Long-Form Registration, the Company may elect to amend or supplement the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to provide for an underwritten offering on behalf of the Requesting Holder and such amended Initial Shelf Registration Statement shall count as a Long-Form Registration so long as it satisfies all other requirements for a Long-Form Registration contained in this Agreement.

(c) Demand Registration Allocation . The number of Demand Registrations, whether they be Long-Form Registration or Short-Form Registration, for each Holder shall be as follows:

 

Holder

   Number of
Demand
Registrations

Access Investors

   5

Apollo Investors

   10

Ares Investors

   5

 

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provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a Requesting Holder beneficially owns at least 10% of the New Common Stock then outstanding, such Requesting Holder may request an unlimited number of Demand Registrations.

(d) Demand Registration Notices . All requests for Demand Registrations shall be made by giving written notice to the Company (the “ Demand Registration Notice ”). Each Demand Registration Notice shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities to be sold in the Demand Registration and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Demand Registration. Within five days after receipt of any Demand Registration Notice, the Company shall give written notice of such requested Demand Registration to all other Holders of Registrable Securities (the “ Company Demand Registration Notice ”) and, subject to the provisions of 2(h) below, shall include in such Demand Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 20 days after sending the Company Demand Registration Notice. Holders who participate in such Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 2(d) shall not be deemed to have requested a Long-Form Registration.

(e) Effective Demand Registrations . A registration shall not count as one of the permitted Demand Registrations until both (i) it has become effective and (ii) such effective registration includes at least 80% of the Registrable Securities requested to be included by the Requesting Holder; provided that a Demand Registration which is withdrawn at the sole request of the Requesting Holder who demanded such Demand Registration will count as a Demand Registration of such Requesting Holder unless the Company is reimbursed by such holder of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such registration.

(f) Short-Form Registrations . Demand Registrations and the Initial Shelf Registration Statement shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the Company is permitted to use any applicable short-form registration statement. Promptly after the Company has become eligible to use a Shelf Registration that is a Short-Form Registration, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to make any already effective Initial Shelf Registration Statement or Long-Form Registration converted into a Short-Form Registration; provided that such conversion shall not count as the use of a Demand Registration.

(g) Automatic Shelf Registration . Further, upon the Company becoming a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer, (i) the Company shall give written notice to all of the Holders as promptly as practicable but in no event later than ten days thereafter, and such notice shall describe, in reasonable detail, the basis on which the Company has become a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer, and (ii) the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, register, under an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, the sale of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as

 

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practicable, but in no event later than 20 days after it becomes a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer, and to cause such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective thereafter until there are no longer any Registrable Securities or until the earlier expiration of the Required Period. The Company shall give written notice of filing such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement to all of the Holders as promptly as practicable thereafter. At any time after the filing of an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement by the Company, if the Company is no longer a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (the “ Determination Date ”), within 10 days after such Determination Date, the Company shall (A) give written notice thereof to all of the Holders and (B) file a Registration Statement on an appropriate form (or a post effective amendment converting the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement to an appropriate form) covering all of the Registrable Securities, and use commercially reasonable efforts to have such Registration Statement declared effective as promptly as practicable after the date the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is no longer useable by the Holders to sell their Registrable Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the Company shall only be obligated pursuant to this Agreement to maintain the effectiveness of one Shelf Registration at any given time so long as such Shelf Registration satisfies all the requirements for Demand Registrations under this Agreement and (ii) an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2(g) or the use thereof for any sale other than pursuant to an underwritten offering shall not count as the use of a Demand Registration.

(h) Priority on Demand Registrations . The Company shall not include in any Demand Registration any securities which are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Demand Registration except as set forth in the next sentence. If the Demand Registration is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters for such Demand Registration advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, which can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering within a price range acceptable to the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Demand Registration, the Company shall include in such Demand Registration the number of Registrable Securities which can be so sold in the following order of priority: (i)  first , the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration, which in the opinion of such underwriter can be sold in an orderly manner within the price range of such offering, pro rata among the respective Holders of such Registrable Securities on the basis of the total number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder, and (ii)  second , other securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration to the extent permitted hereunder.

(i) Restrictions on Demand Registrations . The Company shall not be obligated to effect (i) any Long-Form Registration within 180 days or (ii) any Short-Form Registration within 120 days, in each case, after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration or a previous registration statement in which the Holders of Registrable Securities were given piggyback rights pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement and in which such Holders were able to register at least 80% of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein. In addition, the Company shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration during the period starting with the date that is 60 days prior to the Board’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on the date that is 90 days after the effective

 

8


date of, a Company-initiated registration statement, provided that the Company is actively employing in good faith all reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and provided further that, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the aggregate number of days that any one or more Demand Registrations are suspended or delayed by operation of this Section 2(i) shall not exceed 90 days in any 12-month period. In the event of any such suspension or delay, the Holder of Registrable Securities initially requesting a Demand Registration that is suspended by operation of this Section 2(i) shall be entitled to withdraw such request and, if such request is withdrawn, such Demand Registration shall not count as one of the permitted Demand Registrations hereunder, and, notwithstanding the proviso in Section 2(e) , the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such registration.

(j) Selection of Underwriters . The Requesting Holders of such Demand Registration which is an underwritten offering shall have the right to select the lead investment banker and manager to administer the offering, subject to the Company’s approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in a Demand Registration which is an underwritten offering shall have the right to select the other investment banker(s) and manager(s) (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the Company’s approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

3. Piggyback Takedowns.

(a) Right to Piggyback . Whenever the Company proposes to register any of its securities, or proposes to offer any of its New Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to a Demand Registration (including pursuant to Section 2(d) ) or a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor forms) (a “ Piggyback Takedown ”), the Company shall give prompt written notice to all Holders of Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such Piggyback Takedown. In the case of a Piggyback Takedown that is an offering under a Shelf Registration, such notice shall be given not less than five Business Days prior to the expected date of commencement of marketing efforts for such Piggyback Takedown. In the case of a Piggyback Takedown that is an offering under a registration statement that is not a Shelf Registration, such notice shall be given not less than 20 days prior to the expected date of filing of such registration statement. The Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) and Section 3(c) below, include in such Piggyback Takedown, as applicable, all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 10 days (in the case of a Piggyback Takedown that is an offering under a Shelf Registration, within three Business Days) after sending the Company’s notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Company may determine not to proceed with any Piggyback Takedown upon written notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities requesting to include their Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Takedown; and (ii) any Holder of Registrable Securities may withdraw its request for inclusion of Registrable Shares in a Piggyback Takedown by giving written notice to the Company of its intention to withdraw from that Piggyback Takedown; provided , however , that the withdrawal shall be irrevocable and after making the withdrawal, a Holder shall no longer have any right to include its Registrable Securities in that Piggyback Takedown. No registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 3 will relieve the Company of its obligation to effect any registration request pursuant to Section 2 and the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration under Section 3.

 

9


(b) Priority on Primary Piggyback Takedowns . If a Piggyback Takedown is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriters for a Piggyback Takedown advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Takedown exceeds the number which can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering within a price range acceptable to the Company, the Company shall include in such Piggyback Takedown the number which can be so sold in the following order of priority: (i)  first , the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii)  second , the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Takedown ( pro rata among the Holders of such Registrable Securities on the basis of the total number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder), and (iii)  third , other securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Takedown.

(c) Priority on Secondary Piggyback Takedowns . If a Piggyback Takedown is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities that are not Registrable Securities (“ Other Holders ”), and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Takedown exceeds the number which can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering within a price range acceptable to the Other Holders, the Company shall include in such registration the number which can be so sold in the following order of priority: (i)  first , the securities requested to be included therein by the Other Holders and the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration ( pro rata among the Other Holders and the Holders on the basis of the number of such securities requested to be included therein by the Other Holders and the total number of Registrable Securities owned by the Holders who have requested to be included therein) and (ii)  second , other securities requested to be included in such registration, if any.

(d) Selection of Underwriters . If any Piggyback Takedown is a primary registration of an underwritten offering, the Company will have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering. If any Piggyback Takedown is an underwritten secondary registration, the selection of the investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be made in the manner agreed among a majority of such Holders initiating the registration or otherwise causing such registration to occur, subject to the Company’s approval.

(e) Exclusion of Securities . If the Piggyback Takedown is to be a registration in connection with an underwritten offering on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriter for such offering advises the Company in writing that, in such firm’s opinion, such offering would be materially and adversely affected by the inclusion therein of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein because such Registrable Securities are not of the same type, class or series as the securities to be offered and sold in such offering on behalf of the Company, the Company may exclude all such Registrable Securities from such offering provided that the Holder is permitted to substitute for the Registrable Securities so excluded an equal number of Registrable Securities of the same type, class or series as those being registered by the Company, if and to the extent such Holder owns Registrable Securities of such type, class or series or can acquire Registrable Securities of such type, class or series upon exercise or conversion of other Registrable Securities.

 

10


(f) Right to Terminate . The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 whether or not any Holder of Registrable Securities has elected to include securities in such registration. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 7 hereof.

4. Suspension Period.

(a) Suspension Period . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Board determines in good faith that the registration and distribution of Registrable Securities (i) would reasonably be expected to materially impede, delay or interfere with, or require premature disclosure of, any material financing, offering, acquisition, merger or corporate reorganization, or other significant transaction or any negotiations, discussions or pending proposals with respect thereto, involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) would require disclosure of material non-public information, the disclosure of which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Company, the Company shall be entitled to suspend, for a reasonable period of time (each, a “ Suspension Period ”), the use of any Registration Statement or Prospectus and shall not be required to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, any related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference. The Company shall use its good faith efforts to amend the Registration Statement and/or Prospectus to correct such untrue statement or omission as soon as reasonably practicable unless the Board determines in good faith that such amendment would have the effect described in subsection (i) or (ii) above. The Company promptly will give written notice of any such Suspension Period to each Holder that has securities registered on a Registration Statement filed hereunder.

(b) Limitations on Suspension Periods . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 4 to the contrary, the Company shall not be entitled to more than three Suspension Periods in any 12-month period, and in no event shall the number of days included in all Suspension Periods during any consecutive 12-month period exceed 90 in the aggregate.

5. Holdback Agreements.

(a) Holders of Registrable Securities . In connection with underwritten public offering of equity securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, by the Company for its own account or on behalf of any Holder or Other Holders (including pursuant to any Shelf Takedown), no Holder who “ beneficially owns ” five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of New Common Stock shall effect any public sale or distribution (including sales pursuant to Rule 144) of equity securities of the Company, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, without prior written consent from the underwriters managing the underwritten public equity offering by the Company during a period beginning up to seven days prior to and ending up to 90 days from and including the date of pricing as reasonably requested by the underwriters managing the underwritten public equity offering (including pursuant to any Shelf Takedown) (the “ Lock-Up

 

11


Period ”); provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to any shares of New Common Stock that are being issued pursuant to the underwritten public equity offering, (ii) such Lock-Up Period shall be no longer than the lock-up period applicable on substantially similar terms to the Company and the executive officers and directors of the Company and (iii) such Lock-Up Period shall not commence unless the Company notifies the Holders in writing prior to the commencement of the Lock-Up Period; provided , further , that nothing herein will prevent any Holder that is a partnership or corporation from (1) making a distribution of Registrable Securities to the partners or stockholders thereof or a transfer to an Affiliate that is otherwise in compliance with the applicable securities laws, or (2) consummating a private placement of Registrable Securities, so long as such distributees or transferees agree to be bound by the restrictions set forth in this Section 5(a) . Each Holder agrees to execute a lock-up agreement in favor of the Company’s underwriters to such effect and, in any event, that the Company’s underwriters in any underwritten public offering of equity securities shall be third party beneficiaries of this Section 5(a) . The provisions of this Section 5(a) will no longer apply to a Holder if (a) such Holder ceases to hold any Registrable Securities or (b) such Holder beneficially owns less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of New Common Stock.

(b) The Company . In connection with any underwritten public equity offering (including pursuant to any Demand Registration, Piggyback Takedown or Shelf Takedown), the Company shall not effect any public sale or distribution of its equity securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities (except pursuant to registrations on Form S-8 or Form S-4 under the Securities Act), during a period beginning up to seven days prior to and ending up to 90 days from and including the date of pricing of such underwritten public equity offering as reasonably requested by the underwriters managing the underwritten public equity offering; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to any securities that are being issued pursuant to the underwritten public equity offering; provided, further, that nothing herein will prevent the Company from (1) issuing securities upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion or exchange of a security outstanding on such date, or (2) granting securities pursuant to employee benefit plans in effect on such date.

6. Company Undertakings.

Whenever Registrable Securities are registered pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities as soon as reasonably practicable in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable:

(a) prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with regard to such Registrable Securities as soon as practicable (but in the case of a Demand Registration, not later than 30 days (45 days if the applicable registration form is other than Form S-3) of its receipt of a Demand Registration Notice) and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective;

(b) before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, at the Company’s expense, furnish to the Holders whose securities are covered by the Registration Statement no less than three Business Days prior to filing copies of

 

12


all such documents, other than documents that are incorporated by reference, proposed to be filed and such other documents reasonably requested by such Holders, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of the Counsel to such Holders;

(c) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement and prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for a period of not less than the applicable Required Period and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;

(d) furnish to each Selling Holder, and the managing underwriters, without charge, such number of copies of the applicable Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus, and any other Prospectus (including any Prospectus filed under Rule 424, Rule 430A or Rule 430B promulgated under the Securities Act and any “ issuer free writing prospectus ” as such term is defined under Rule 433 promulgated under the Securities Act)), all exhibits and other documents filed therewith and such other documents as such Selling Holder or such managing underwriters may reasonably request including in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Holder, and upon request, a copy of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence to or received from, the Commission or any other governmental authority relating to such offer;

(e) use its commercially reasonable efforts (i) to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Selling Holder reasonably requests, (ii) to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such Registration Statement remains in effect, and (iii) to do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Selling Holder to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Holder ( provided that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subsection, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction);

(f) notify each Selling Holder, the Counsel to the Holders and the managing underwriters (i) at any time when a Prospectus relating to the applicable Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, (A) upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, such Registration Statement, or the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement, or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus relating thereto not misleading or otherwise requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or document, and, at the request of any such Selling Holder and subject to Section 4(a) hereof, the Company shall promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus or Free Writing

 

13


Prospectus, furnish a reasonable number of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Selling Holder, Counsel to the Holders and the managing underwriters and file such supplement or amendment with the Commission so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus as so amended or supplemented shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) as soon as the Company becomes aware of any comments or inquiries by the Commission or any requests by the Commission or any Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus covering Registrable Securities or for additional information relating thereto, (C) as soon as the Company becomes aware of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending or threatening to suspend the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities or (D) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any Registrable Security for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and (ii) when each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when each Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or any post effective amendment thereto has become effective.

(g) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities (i) if the New Common Stock is then listed on a securities exchange or included for quotation in a recognized trading market, to continue to be so listed or included, (ii) if the New Common Stock is not then listed on a securities exchange or included for quotation in a recognized trading market, to, as promptly as practicable (subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan), be listed on NYSE or another national securities exchange, and (iii) to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities;

(h) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities from and after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement;

(i) enter into and perform under such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form, including customary representations and warranties and provisions with respect to indemnification and contribution) and take all such other actions as the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Takedown or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and provide reasonable cooperation, including causing appropriate officers to attend and participate in “ road shows ” and analyst or investor presentations and such other selling or other informational meetings organized by the underwriters, if any; provided , that (i) the Company shall have no obligation to participate in “ road shows ” in connection with any underwritten offering (including pursuant to a Shelf Takedown) in which the total offering price of the Registrable Securities to be sold therein is less than $200 million, and (ii) the Company shall have no obligation to participate in more than three “ road shows ” pursuant to Demand Registrations under Section 2(b) during any consecutive 12-month period (subject to compliance with Section 2(i));

 

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(j) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or the commencement of marketing efforts for a Shelf Takedown, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement, make available for inspection and copying by any Holder of Registrable Securities, Counsel to the Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement or Shelf Takedown, as applicable, and any other attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such Holder or underwriter, all reasonably requested financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees and independent accountants to supply all reasonably requested information and participate in any due diligence sessions reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such Registration Statement or Shelf Takedown, as applicable, provided that recipients of such financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents agree in writing to keep the confidentiality thereof pursuant to a written agreement reasonably acceptable to the Company and the applicable underwriter (which shall contain customary exceptions thereto);

(k) permit any Holder of Registrable Securities that beneficially owns at least 5% of the New Common Stock then outstanding, Counsel to the Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement, and any other attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such Holder of Registrable Securities or underwriter, to participate (including, but not limited to, reviewing, commenting on and attending all meetings) in the preparation of such Registration Statement and any Prospectus supplements relating to a Shelf Takedown, if applicable;

(l) in the event of the issuance or threatened issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related Prospectus or suspending the qualification of any New Common Stock included in such Registration Statement for sale in any jurisdiction, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts promptly to (i) prevent the issuance of any such stop order, and in the event of such issuance, to obtain the withdrawal of such order and (ii) obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or suspending qualification of any Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest practicable date;

(m) in connection with any Shelf Takedown, obtain and furnish to the underwriters (if any) and each such Holder of Registrable Securities including Registrable Securities in such Shelf Takedown a signed counterpart of (i) a cold comfort letter from the Company’s independent public accountants and any other accountants responsible for the audit or review of any financial statements included in the Registration Statement, and a bring-down thereof, and (ii) a legal opinion and disclosure letter of counsel to the Company addressed to the relevant underwriters and/or such Holders of Registrable Securities, in each case delivered at the customary times and in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by such letters as the managing underwriters and/or Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Takedown reasonably request;

(n) with respect to each Free Writing Prospectus or other materials to be included in the Disclosure Package, ensure that no Registrable Securities be sold “ by means of

 

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(as defined in Rule 159A(b) promulgated under the Securities Act) such Free Writing Prospectus or other materials without the prior written consent of a majority of the Holders of the Registrable Securities that are being sold pursuant to such Free Writing Prospectus, which Free Writing Prospectuses or other materials shall be subject to the review of Counsel to the Holders; provided , however , the Company shall not be responsible or liable for any breach by a Holder that has not obtained the prior written consent of the Company pursuant to Section 15(p) ;

(o) to the extent not already in existence, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement including Registrable Securities;

(p) promptly notify in writing the Holders, the sales or placement agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters of the securities being sold, (i) when such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any Prospectus amendment or supplement or post effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any such Registration Statement or any post effective amendment, when the same has become effective and (ii) of any written comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto;

(q) (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, including post effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the applicable time period required hereunder and if applicable, file any Registration Statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; (iii) comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any applicable securities exchange or other recognized trading market with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, earnings statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder; and (iv) provide additional information related to each Registration Statement as requested by, and obtain any required approval necessary from, the Commission or any Federal or state governmental authority;

(r) cooperate with each Holder of Registrable Securities and each underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and underwriters’ counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

(s) within the deadlines specified by the Securities Act, make all required filing fee payments in respect of any Registration Statement or Prospectus used under this Agreement (and any offering covered thereby);

 

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(t) if requested by any participating Holder of Registrable Securities or the managing underwriters, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or amendment such information as the Holder or managing underwriters may reasonably request, including in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities, and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such request;

(u) in the case of certificated Registrable Securities, cooperate with the participating Holders of Registrable Securities and the managing underwriters to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends) representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from each participating Holder that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such Holder will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement, and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or managing underwriters may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities; and

(v) use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other actions necessary to effect the registration and sale of the Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

7. Registration Expenses.

All Registration Expenses shall be borne by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the proviso in Section 2(e) of this Agreement, all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration initiated as a Demand Registration shall be borne by the Company regardless of whether or not such registration has become effective and whether or not such registration has counted as one of the permitted Long-Form Registrations pursuant to Section 2(e) of this Agreement. All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered shall be borne by the selling Holders of such Registrable Securities pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities sold. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Company shall not register any securities with respect to which it had given written notice to Holders of its intention to register, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such requesting Holders in connection with such registration (other than the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel other than the Counsel to the Holders) shall be deemed to be Registration Expenses.

8. Intentionally Omitted.

9. Indemnification; Contribution.

(a) Indemnification by the Company . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Securities, the Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, members, managers and agents of each such Holder and each Person who controls any such Holder within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses to which they or any of them may become subject insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based

 

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upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or the Disclosure Package, or any preliminary, final or summary Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus included in any such Registration Statement, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other federal law, any state or foreign securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under of the foregoing laws, relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities, and in any such case, the Company agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or investigation (whether or not the indemnified party is a party to any proceeding); provided , however , that the Company will not be liable to a Holder to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Indemnification by the Holders . Each Holder severally (and not jointly) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its Affiliates, directors, employees, members, managers and agents and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they or any of them may become subject insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Disclosure Package or any Holder Free Writing Prospectus, preliminary, final or summary Prospectus included in any such Registration Statement, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is contained in any written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; provided , however , that the total amount to be indemnified by such Holder pursuant to this Section 9(b) shall be limited to the net proceeds (after deducting underwriters’ discounts and commissions) received by such Holder in the offering to which such Registration Statement or Prospectus relates; provided , further , that a Holder shall not be liable in any case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement or Disclosure Package, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, each Holder has furnished in writing to the Company, information expressly for use in, and within a reasonable period of time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or Disclosure Package, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto which corrected or made not misleading information previously provided to the Company. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.

 

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(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 9 , notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under Section 9(a) or Section 9(b) above unless and to the extent such action and such failure results in material prejudice to the indemnifying party and forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in Section 9(a) or Section 9(b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and, except as provided in the next sentence, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election to so assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s rights set forth in the prior sentence, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel (and one local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if:

(A) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict of interest;

(B) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party;

(C) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or

(D) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party.

No indemnifying party shall, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general circumstances or allegations, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties. An indemnifying party shall not be liable under this Section 9 to any indemnified party regarding any settlement or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent is consented to by such indemnifying party. No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or

 

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compromise unless such settlement or compromise (x) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff therein, to such indemnified party, of a full and final release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation and (y) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such indemnified party.

(d) Contribution .

(i) In the event that the indemnity provided in Section 9(a) or Section 9(b) above is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party agrees to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending same) (collectively, “ Losses ”) to which such indemnifying party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and by the indemnified party on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the parties as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party on the one hand or the indemnified party on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(ii) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders of Registrable Securities or any agents or underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 9(d) . The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 9(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such action or claim.

(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9(d) , no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(iv) For purposes of this Section 9 , each Person who controls any Holder of Registrable Securities, agent or underwriter within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of any such Holder, agent or underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, agent or underwriter, and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each officer and director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this Section 9(d) .

 

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(e) The provisions of this Section 9 will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder of Registrable Securities or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling Persons referred to in this Section 9 hereof, and will survive the transfer of Registrable Securities.

(f) To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 9 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided , however , that: (i) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any Selling Holder shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such Selling Holder from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

10. Participation in Underwritten Offering/Sale of Registrable Securities.

(a) No Person may participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any Underwriting Agreement and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided that no Holder of Registrable Securities included in any underwritten registration shall be required to make any representations or warranties to the Company or the underwriters (other than representations and warranties regarding (A) such Holder’s ownership of its Registrable Securities to be sold or transferred, (B) such Holder’s power and authority to effect such transfer and (C) such matters pertaining to compliance with securities laws as may be reasonably requested, but excluding representations and warranties as to the content of the Registration Statement, any Prospectus, Free-Writing Prospectus or any other documents included in the Disclosure Package) or to undertake any indemnification obligations to the Company with respect thereto, except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b) hereof, or to the underwriters with respect thereto, except to the extent of the indemnification being given to the Company and its controlling persons in Section 9(b) hereof.

(b) Any Holder of Registrable Securities included in any underwritten registration shall be a party to the Underwriting Agreement and may, at its option, require that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such Underwriting Agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of the Holder. Any liability of a Holder thereunder to any underwriter or other person under such Underwriting Agreement shall be limited to liability arising from breach of its representations and warranties and shall be limited to an amount equal to the proceeds (net of expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions) that it derives from such registration.

 

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(c) Each Selling Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice contemplated in Section 4(a) , such Selling Holder will forthwith discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement.

11. Rule 144 and Rule 144A; Other Exemptions.

With a view to making available to the Holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 and Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act and other rules and regulations of the Commission that may at any time permit a Holder of Registrable Securities to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company covenants that, commencing 30 days following the Effective Date, it will (a) file in a timely manner all reports and other documents required, if any, to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder, (b) make and keep public information available (as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 (or any successor rule)), (c) make available information necessary to comply with Rule 144A, if available with respect to resales of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act, at all times, and (d) take such further action as such Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 and Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act (if available with respect to resales of the Registrable Securities), as such rules may be amended from time to time, (ii) Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any other rules or regulations now existing or hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the reasonable request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such information requirements, and, if not, the specific reasons for non-compliance.

12. Private Placement

Except for Section 5(a) , the Company agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Holders, at any time and from time to time, from selling or otherwise transferring Registrable Securities pursuant to a private placement or other transaction which is not registered pursuant to the Securities Act. To the extent requested by a Holder, the Company shall take all reasonable steps necessary to assist and cooperate with such Holder to facilitate such sale or transfer, including providing due diligence access to potential purchasers, and entering into a private placement agreement containing customary representations and warranties, indemnifications, opinions and other typical closing conditions.

13. Transfer of Registration Rights.

The rights of a Holder hereunder may be transferred, assigned, or otherwise conveyed on a pro rata basis in connection with any transfer, assignment or other conveyance of Registrable Securities (a) in a share amount equal to at least 1% of the New Common Stock then outstanding to any transferee or assignee and (ii) in any share amount to any transferee or assignee that is an Affiliate of such Holder; provided, however , that the right to effect any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2(b) may be transferred, assigned or otherwise conveyed by a Holder only if such Holder transfers, assigns or otherwise conveys Registrable

 

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Securities in a share amount equal to at least 5% of the New Common Stock then outstanding to a single transferee or assignee (it being understood that one Demand Registration right will be transferred, assigned or otherwise conveyed in connection with each transfer, assignment or conveyance of that number of Registrable Securities equivalent to 5% of the New Common Stock then outstanding to a single transferee or assignee). All of the following additional conditions must be satisfied with respect to any transfer, assignment or conveyance of rights hereunder: (a) such transfer or assignment is effected in accordance with applicable securities laws; (b) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to become subject to the terms of this Agreement by executing a joinder agreement hereto; (c) the Company is given written notice by such Holder of such transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of the transferee or assignee, the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred or assigned and the total number of Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company beneficially owned by such transferee or assignee after such transfer or assignment.

14. Amendment, Modification and Waivers; Further Assurances.

(a) Amendment . This Agreement may be amended with the consent of the Company and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the prior written consent of each of the Investors that holds any Registrable Securities.

(b) Changes in New Common Stock . If, and as often as, there are any changes in the New Common Stock by way of share split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions hereof as may be required so that the rights and privileges granted hereby shall continue with respect to the Registrable Securities as so changed and the Company shall make appropriate provision in connection with any merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization that any successor to the Company (or resulting parent thereof) shall agree, as a condition to the consummation of any such transaction, to expressly assume the Company’s obligations hereunder.

(c) Effect of Waiver . No waiver of any terms or conditions of this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any other breach of such terms and conditions or any other term or condition, nor shall any failure to enforce any provision hereof operate as a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof. No written waiver hereunder, unless it by its own terms explicitly provides to the contrary, shall be construed to effect a continuing waiver of the provisions being waived and no such waiver in any instance shall constitute a waiver in any other instance or for any other purpose or impair the right of the party against whom such waiver is claimed in all other instances or for all other purposes to require full compliance with such provision. The failure of any party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of such provision and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

(d) Further Assurances . Each of the parties hereto shall execute all such further instruments and documents and take all such further action as any other party hereto may reasonably require in order to effectuate the terms and purposes of this Agreement.

 

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15. Miscellaneous.

(a) No Inconsistent Agreements . The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement and the Company represents and warrants that the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with any other agreements to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(b) Other Registration Rights .

(i) Except as expressly contemplated by the Plan, the Company represents and warrants that it is not a party to, or otherwise subject to, any other agreement granting registration rights to any other Person with respect to any equity securities of the Company.

(ii) From and after the date hereof until the Holders shall no longer hold any Registrable Securities, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the holders of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any equity securities of the Company giving such holder or prospective holder demand or incidental registration rights containing cut-back provisions that are by their terms not subordinate to the registration rights granted in this Agreement.

(c) Remedies; Specific Performance . Any Person having rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically, to recover damages caused by reason of any breach or threatened breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that any party may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive relief (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement and shall not be required to prove irreparable injury to such party or that such party does not have an adequate remedy at law with respect to any breach of this Agreement. The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge that each and every obligation applicable to it contained in this Agreement shall be specifically enforceable against it. All rights and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies available under this Agreement or otherwise. Except as expressly provided herein, nothing herein will be considered an election of remedies or a waiver of the right to pursue any other right or remedy to which such party may be entitled.

(d) Successors and Assigns . All covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and conditions in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of and are enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto (including any trustee in bankruptcy) whether so expressed or not. In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which

 

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are for the benefit of purchasers or Holders of Registrable Securities are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent Holder of Registrable Securities. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by the Company without the prior written consent of each of the Holders of Registrable Securities, and any such purported assignment by the Company without prior written consent of the Holders will be null and void and not binding. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, confers or is intended to confer on any Person other than the parties hereto any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 15(d) shall be subject to the provisions of Section 13 .

(e) Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable due to applicable law or public policy, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unforceability, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement. Upon such determination that any provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the greatest extent possible.

(f) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, any one of which will be deemed an original and will need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

(g) Descriptive Headings; Interpretation; No Strict Construction .

(i) The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(ii) Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular forms of nouns, pronouns, and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns (including any trustee in bankruptcy).

(iii) When a reference in this Agreement is made to an Article, Section, Exhibit, Annex or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or Exhibit, Annex or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. Reference to any agreement, document, or instrument means such agreement, document, or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and, if applicable, hereof. All references to laws, rules, regulations and forms in this Agreement shall be deemed to be references to such laws, rules, regulations and forms, as amended from time to time or, to the extent replaced, the comparable successor thereto in effect at the time. All references to agencies, self-regulatory organizations or governmental entities in this Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the comparable successors thereto from time to time.

 

25


(iv) The words “ include ”, “ includes ” or “ including ” in this Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by “ without limitation ”. The word “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or” unless the context requires otherwise.

(v) The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

(h) Governing Law . This Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto and all claims and causes of action arising hereunder or relating hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

(i) Submission to Jurisdiction . The Holders hereby (i) irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of, and venue in, the United States Court for the Southern District of New York over any action or proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) between or among any of the parties seeking to enforce any provision of, or arising out of or relating to, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agree that the Holders will not bring any such action or proceeding other than in the aforesaid court and will not attempt to deny or defeat such jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (iii) irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection based on forum non conveniens . Each party 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. Process in any such action, suit or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, service of process on such party as provided in Section 15(j) shall be deemed effective service of process on such party.

(j) Notices . All notices, demands or other communications provided for and permitted to be given under the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) if telecopied or sent by facsimile to the recipient, upon confirmation by the transmitting equipment of successful transmission, except that if such confirmation occurs after 5:00 p.m. (in the recipient’s time zone) on a Business Day, or occurs on a day that is not a Business Day, then such notice, request or communication will not be deemed effective or given until the next succeeding Business Day, (iii) if sent for delivery by United States Express Mail or a reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid), on the date of delivery as confirmed by written confirmation of delivery or (iv) if sent by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), on the fifth Business Day after being deposited in the United States mail. Notices, requests and other communications sent in any other manner, including electronic mail, will not be effective. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Company at the address set forth below and to any Holder of Registrable Securities at the address set forth on the signature page hereto (with copies sent at the address set forth below), or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. The Company’s address is:

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

Weena 737

3013AM Rotterdam

The Netherlands

Attention: Frits Bos

Facsimile: 011-31-10-713-62-59

 

26


with copies to:

LyondellBasell Industries

1221 McKinney Street

Houston, TX 77010

Attention: Craig B. Glidden

Facsimile: (713) 309-7312

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

Attention: Louis J. Bevilacqua

         George A. Davis

Facsimile: (212) 504-6666

Copies of notices to the Holders shall be sent to:

Milbank Tweed Hadley McCloy LLP

One Chase Manhattan Plaza

New York, NY 10005

Attention: Matthew S. Barr

         Paul E. Denaro

Facsimile: (212) 530-5219

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Adam Weinstein

         Rosa A. Testani

Facsimile: (212) 872-1002

Proskauer Rose LLP

2049 Century Park East, 32nd Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: Monica J. Shilling

Facsimile: (310) 557-2193

 

27


Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

4 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Jay Goffman

Facsimile: (917) 777-2120

If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day which is not a Business Day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the immediately following Business Day.

(k) Delivery by Facsimile and Electronic Means . This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or by electronic mail in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) or by a combination of such means, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or other electronic means as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

(l) Waiver of Jury Trial . Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby unconditionally agrees to waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, its respective rights to a jury trial of any claim or cause of action (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The scope of this waiver is intended to be all-encompassing of any and all disputes that may be filed in any court and that relate to the subject matter of this Agreement, including contract claims, tort claims and all other common law and statutory claims. Each party hereto: (i) acknowledges that this waiver is a material inducement to enter into this Agreement, that each has already relied on this waiver in entering into this Agreement, and that each will continue to rely on this waiver in their related future dealings, (ii) acknowledges 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 any action or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (iii) warrants and represents that it has reviewed this waiver with its legal counsel and that it knowingly and voluntarily waives its jury trial rights following consultation with legal counsel. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 15(l) AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT. In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court.

 

28


(m) Arm’s Length Agreement . Each of the parties to this Agreement agrees and acknowledges that this Agreement has been negotiated in good faith, at arm’s length, and not by any means prohibited by law.

(n) Sophisticated Parties; Advice of Counsel . Each of the parties to this Agreement specifically acknowledges that (i) it is a knowledgeable, informed, sophisticated Person capable of understanding and evaluating the provisions set forth in this Agreement and (ii) it has been fully advised and represented by legal counsel of its own independent selection and has relied wholly upon its independent judgment and the advice of such counsel in negotiating and entering into this Agreement.

(o) Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with Schedule I attached hereto, and any certificates, documents, instruments and writings that are delivered pursuant hereto, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof.

(p) FWP Consent . No Holder shall use a Holder Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(q) Termination . The obligations of the Company and of any Holder, other than those obligations contained in Section 9 , shall terminate with respect to the Company and such Holder as soon as such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities.

*        *        *         *        *

 

29


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

By:

 

/s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Attorney-in-Fact

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Attorney-in-Fact

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)


Access Investors :
AI INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS S.À R.L.,

By:

 

/s/ Alejandro Moreno

  Name:   Alejandro Moreno
  Title:   Class A Manager

By:

 

/s/ C Néré

  Name:   Corinne Néré
  Title:   Class B Manager

 

Address:

730 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10023

Facsimile: (212) 977-8112

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)


Ares Investors :

ARES CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

III, L.P ., on behalf of itself and one or more funds under the management of Ares Management LLC

By: ACOF Operating Manager III, LLC, its manager

By:

 

/s/ Michael D. Weiner

  Name:   Michael D. Weiner
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

Address:

2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Facsimile: (310) 201-4170

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)


Apollo Investors :

LEVERAGESOURCE III S.À R.L.

By:

 

/s/ Wendy Dulman

  Name:   Wendy Dulman
  Title:   Class A Manager

By:

 

/s/ F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino

  Name:   F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino
  Title:   Class B Manager

Address:

15 rue Edward Steichen

L-2540 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)


ACLF / LYONDELL S.À R.L.
By:  

/s/ Joseph Glatt

  Name:   Joseph Glatt
  Title:   Class A Manager
By:  

/s/ F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino

  Name:   F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino
  Title:   Class B Manager
Address:
15 rue Edward Steíchen
L-2540 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)


ACLF CO-INVEST / LYONDELL S.À R.L.
By:  

/s/ Joseph Glatt

  Name:   Joseph Glatt
  Title:   Class A Manager
By:  

/s/ F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino

  Name:   F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino
  Title:   Class B Manager
Address:

15 rue Edward Steíchen

L-2540 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)


AIE EUROLUX S.À R.L.
By:  

/s/ Wendy Dulman

  Name:   Wendy Dulman
  Title:   Class A Manager
By:  

/s/ F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino

  Name:   F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino
  Title:   Class B Manager
Address:

7 Val Ste Croix

L-1371 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)


LEVERAGESOURCE XI S.À R.L.
By:  

/s/ Wendy Dulman

  Name:   Wendy Dulman
  Title:   Class A Manager
By:  

/s/ F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino

  Name:   F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino
  Title:   Class B Manager

Address:

15 rue Edward Steíchen

L-2540 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)


LEVERAGESOURCE HOLDINGS SERIES III S.À R.L.
By:  

/s/ Wendy Dulman

  Name:   Wendy Dulman
  Title:   Class A Manager
By:  

/s/ F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino

  Name:   F. Cannizzaro di Belmontino
  Title:   Class B Manager
Address:
15 rue Edward Steíchen
L-2540 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

(Signature Page for Registration Rights Agreement)

EXHIBIT 4.8

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

as Issuer

(as successor to

LBI ESCROW CORPORATION)

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

as Company

8% Senior Secured Dollar Notes due 2017

8% Senior Secured Euro Notes due 2017

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED INDENTURE

Dated as of April 30, 2010

to the

INDENTURE

Dated as of April 8, 2010

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST FSB

as Trustee

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01.   Definitions   1
SECTION 1.02.   Other Definitions   44
SECTION 1.03.   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act   46
SECTION 1.04.   Rules of Construction   46
ARTICLE II
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.01.   Amount of Notes; Terms   47
SECTION 2.02.   Form and Dating   48
SECTION 2.03.   Execution and Authentication   49
SECTION 2.04.   Registrar and Paying Agent   49
SECTION 2.05.   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust   50
SECTION 2.06.   Holder Lists   50
SECTION 2.07.   Transfer and Exchange   51
SECTION 2.08.   Replacement Notes   64
SECTION 2.09.   Outstanding Notes   64
SECTION 2.10.   [Intentionally Omitted]   64
SECTION 2.11.   Cancellation   64
SECTION 2.12.   Defaulted Interest   65
SECTION 2.13.   CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.   65
SECTION 2.14.   Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes   65
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01.   Optional Redemption   65
SECTION 3.02.   Applicability of Article   65
SECTION 3.03.   Notices to Trustee   65
SECTION 3.04.   Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed   66
SECTION 3.05.   Notice of Optional Redemption   66
SECTION 3.06.   Effect of Notice of Redemption   67
SECTION 3.07.   Deposit of Redemption Price   67
SECTION 3.08.   Notes Redeemed in Part   67
SECTION 3.09.   Special Mandatory Redemption   67
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01.   Payment of Notes   68

 

-i-


    Page
SECTION 4.02.   Reports and Other Information   69
SECTION 4.03.   Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock   70
SECTION 4.04.   Limitation on Restricted Payments   77
SECTION 4.05.   Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries   83
SECTION 4.06.   Asset Sales   85
SECTION 4.07.   Transactions with Affiliates   89
SECTION 4.08.   Change of Control   91
SECTION 4.09.   Compliance Certificate   93
SECTION 4.10.   Further Instruments and Acts   93
SECTION 4.11.   Future Subsidiary Guarantors   93
SECTION 4.12.   Liens   94
SECTION 4.13.   After-Acquired Property   94
SECTION 4.14.   Maintenance of Office or Agency   94
SECTION 4.15.   Covenant Suspension   95
SECTION 4.16.   Maintenance of Insurance   95
SECTION 4.17.   Additional Amounts   95
ARTICLE V
SUCCESSOR COMPANY
SECTION 5.01.   When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets   98
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01.   Events of Default   101
SECTION 6.02.   Acceleration   103
SECTION 6.03.   Other Remedies   103
SECTION 6.04.   Waiver of Past Defaults   103
SECTION 6.05.   Control by Majority   104
SECTION 6.06.   Limitation on Suits   104
SECTION 6.07.   Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment   104
SECTION 6.08.   Collection Suit by Trustee   104
SECTION 6.09.   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim   104
SECTION 6.10.   Priorities   105
SECTION 6.11.   Undertaking for Costs   105
SECTION 6.12.   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws   105
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE AND AGENTS
SECTION 7.01.   Duties of Trustee and Agents   106
SECTION 7.02.   Rights of Trustee and Agents   107
SECTION 7.03.   Individual Rights of Trustee   108
SECTION 7.04.   Trustee’s and Agents’ Disclaimer   108
SECTION 7.05.   Notice of Defaults   109

 

-ii-


    Page
SECTION 7.06.   Reports by Trustee to the Holders   109
SECTION 7.07.   Compensation and Indemnity   109
SECTION 7.08.   Replacement of Trustee and Agents   110
SECTION 7.09.   Successor Trustee or Agent by Merger   111
SECTION 7.10.   Eligibility; Disqualification   111
SECTION 7.11.   Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer   111
SECTION 7.12.   Escrow Authorization   112
SECTION 7.13.   Payment of Parallel Debt Pursuant to Dutch Law   112
ARTICLE VIII
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.01.   Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance   113
SECTION 8.02.   Conditions to Defeasance   114
SECTION 8.03.   Application of Trust Money   115
SECTION 8.04.   Repayment to Issuer   115
SECTION 8.05.   Indemnity for Government Obligations   115
SECTION 8.06.   Reinstatement   116
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION 9.01.   Without Consent of the Holders   116
SECTION 9.02.   With Consent of the Holders   118
SECTION 9.03.   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act   119
SECTION 9.04.   Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers   119
SECTION 9.05.   Notation on or Exchange of Notes   119
SECTION 9.06.   Trustee to Sign Amendments   119
SECTION 9.07.   Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount   120
ARTICLE X
RANKING OF NOTE LIENS
SECTION 10.01.   Relative Rights   120
ARTICLE XI
COLLATERAL
SECTION 11.01.   Security Documents   121
SECTION 11.02.   Collateral Agent   121
SECTION 11.03.   Authorization of Actions to Be Taken   122
SECTION 11.04.   Release of Collateral   123
SECTION 11.05.   Filing, Recording and Opinions   125
SECTION 11.06.   [ Intentionally Omitted .]   126
SECTION 11.07.   Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee   126
SECTION 11.08.   Release upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations   126

 

-iii-


    Page
SECTION 11.09.   Designations   127
ARTICLE XII
GUARANTEE
SECTION 12.01.   Guarantee   127
SECTION 12.02.   Limitation on Liability   129
SECTION 12.03.   Successors and Assigns   130
SECTION 12.04.   No Waiver   130
SECTION 12.05.   Modification   130
SECTION 12.06.   Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Note Guarantors   130
SECTION 12.07.   Non-Impairment   131
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 13.01.   Trust Indenture Act Controls   131
SECTION 13.02.   Notices   131
SECTION 13.03.   Communication by the Holders with Other Holders   132
SECTION 13.04.   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent   132
SECTION 13.05.   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion   132
SECTION 13.06.   When Notes Disregarded   133
SECTION 13.07.   Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar   133
SECTION 13.08.   Legal Holidays   133
SECTION 13.09.   GOVERNING LAW   133
SECTION 13.10.   No Recourse Against Others   133
SECTION 13.11.   Successors   133
SECTION 13.12.   Multiple Originals   133
SECTION 13.13.   Table of Contents; Headings   134
SECTION 13.14.   Indenture Controls   134
SECTION 13.15.   Severability   134
SECTION 13.16.   Intercreditor Agreements   134
SECTION 13.17.   PATRIOT Act   134
SECTION 13.18.   Force Majeure   134

SCHEDULE AND EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Schedule 4.10   Post-Closing Matters
Exhibit A-1   Form of Dollar Note
Exhibit A-2   Form of Euro Note
Exhibit B   Form of Certificate of Transfer
Exhibit C   Form of Certificate of Exchange
Exhibit D   Form of Supplemental Indenture Related to Subsidiary Guarantors
Exhibit E   Form of Supplemental Indenture Related to LCC Assumption

 

-iv-


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section

  

Indenture

Section

310   (a)(1)    7.10
  (a)(2)    7.10
  (a)(3)    N.A.
  (a)(4)    N.A.
  (b)    7.08; 7.10
  (c)    N.A.
311   (a)    7.11
  (b)    7.11
  (c)    N.A.
312   (a)    2.06
  (b)    13.03
  (c)    13.03
313   (a)    7.06
  (b)(1)    N.A.
  (b)(2)    7.06
  (c)    7.06
  (d)    7.06
314   (a)    4.02; 4.09
  (b)    11.05
  (c)    2.03; 11.05; 13.04
  (d)    11.05
  (e)    13.05
  (f)    4.10
315   (a)    7.01
  (b)    7.05
  (c)    7.01
  (d)    7.01
  (e)    6.11
316   (a)(last sentence)    13.06
  (a)(1)(A)    6.05
  (a)(1)(B)    6.04
  (a)(2)    N.A.
  (b)    6.07
  (c)    9.04
317   (a)(1)    6.08
  (a)(2)    6.09
  (b)    2.05
318   (a)    13.01

N.A. Means Not Applicable.

Note:    This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.


AMENDED AND RESTATED INDENTURE dated as of April 30, 2010 among the parties hereto (amending and restating that certain INDENTURE dated as of April 8, 2010 among LBI ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, (the “ Escrow Issuer ”) ( provided that (x) for purposes of this Indenture prior to the LCC Assumption (as defined herein), references to the “Issuer” in this Indenture refer only to the Escrow Issuer, and (y) for purposes of this Indenture following consummation of the LCC Assumption, references to the “Issuer” in this Indenture refer only to LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation), LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V., a new public limited liability company formed under the laws of The Netherlands, as the ultimate parent company of the Issuer and as the parent guarantor (the “ Company ”), each of the other Guarantors named herein, as guarantors, WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as U.S. Registrar and U.S. Paying Agent (the “ U.S. Paying Agent ”), DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH, as Euro Paying Agent and Common Depositary (the “ Euro Paying Agent ”) and DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A., as Euro Registrar (the “ Euro Registrar ”), as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 30, 2010 among the Escrow Issuer, Lyondell Chemical Company, the Company and the Trustee (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”) and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 30, 2010 among the Company, Lyondell Chemical Company, the Trustee and the Guarantors (the “ Second Supplemental Indenture ”).

The Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of senior secured notes in a principal amount of (i) $2,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 issued on the date hereof (the “ Initial Dollar Notes ”) and (ii) €375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 issued on the date hereof (the “ Initial Euro Notes ” and together with the Initial Dollar Notes, the “ Initial Notes ”).

Pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(i) and Section 9.01(a)(vi) of this Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer and the Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this amended Indenture (i) to reflect the assumption by Lyondell Chemical Company of the Obligations of the Escrow Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, (ii) to reflect the addition of the Guarantors pursuant to the Second Supplemental Indenture, (iii) to amend the Indenture to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency to correct or supplement any provision of the Indenture, and (iv) to conform the text of the Indenture to any provision of the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum. As of the date hereof, pursuant to the merger of the Escrow Issuer and Lyondell Chemical Company and the First Supplemental Indenture, Lyondell Chemical Company has assumed the Obligations of the Escrow Issuer as of the date hereof and the LCC Assumption has occurred.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions .

144A Global Note ” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto, as the case may be, bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the applicable Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the applicable series of Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

ABL Collateral Agent ” means the representative(s) from time to time administering the collateral on behalf of the lenders under the ABL Facility.


ABL Facility ” means the asset based revolving credit agreement dated as of its effective date among the Issuer, Equistar Chemicals, L.P., Houston Refining L.P., LyondellBasell Acetyls LLC and each other Subsidiary of the Issuer from time to time designated as a “Borrower” thereunder, the lenders and agents party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

ABL Facility Collateral ” will consist of all present and after-acquired inventory, accounts receivable, related contracts and other rights, deposit accounts into which proceeds of the foregoing are credited and books and records related thereto, together with all proceeds of the foregoing, in each case to the extent of the rights, title and interest therein of any “Borrower” under the ABL Facility.

ABL Obligations ” means all Indebtedness and other Obligations under the ABL Facility.

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset at the time such asset is acquired by such specified Person.

Additional Dollar Notes ” means additional Dollar Notes (other than the Initial Dollar Notes and other than Exchange Notes issued for such Initial Dollar Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.

Additional Euro Notes ” means additional Euro Notes (other than the Initial Euro Notes and other than Exchange Notes issued for such Initial Euro Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.

Additional First Lien Secured Party ” means the holders of any Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, including the holders of the Notes, and any collateral agent with respect to any Additional First Priority Lien Obligations or Authorized Representative with respect thereto, including the Trustee.

Additional First Priority Lien Obligations ” means any First Priority Lien Obligations that are Incurred after the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness Incurred under the Senior Term Loan Facility) and secured by the Common Collateral on a first priority basis pursuant to the Security Documents.

Additional Interest ” means all additional interest then owing in respect of a Note pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Additional Notes ” means Additional Dollar Notes and Additional Euro Notes.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “ control ” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

 

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Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent, Collateral Agent or Co-Registrar, including any permitted successors or assigns thereto.

Applicable Premium ” means

(x) with respect to any Dollar Note on any redemption date, the greater of:

(1) 1.00% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Dollar Note; and

(2) the excess of: (a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Dollar Note at May 1, 2013 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 5 of Exhibit A-1 hereto) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Dollar Note through May 2, 2013 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest but including Additional Interest, if any), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the outstanding principal amount of the Dollar Note; and

(y) with respect to any Euro Note on any redemption date, the greater of:

(1) 1.00% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Euro Note; and

(2) the excess of: (a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Euro Note at May 1, 2013 (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 5 of Exhibit A-2 hereto) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Euro Note through May 2, 2013 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest but including Additional Interest, if any), computed using a discount rate equal to the Bund Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the outstanding principal amount of the Euro Note

Applicable Procedures ” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the applicable Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange.

Asset Acquisition ” means:

(1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or shall be merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or

(2) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course of business.

Asset Backed Credit Facility ” means (i) the ABL Facility; (ii) any credit facility provided on the basis of the value of inventory, accounts receivable or other current assets (and related

 

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documents and intangibles) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or similar instrument; and (iii) any similar credit support agreements or guarantees Incurred from time to time, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time;  provided that any credit facility that refinances or replaces an Asset Backed Credit Facility must comply with clause (ii) of this definition in order to be an Asset Backed Credit Facility; and provided , further , that, if at the time any such refinancing or replacement is necessary or advisable in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, and an Asset Backed Credit Facility that complies with clause (ii) of this definition is not available on terms considered commercially reasonable for facilities of this nature (as determined in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company), then the ABL Facility may be refinanced with or replaced by any Credit Facility and such Credit Facility shall be an Asset Backed Credit Facility for purposes hereof.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) outside the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (each referred to in this definition as a “ disposition ”) or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or redundant, surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04;

(d) any sale, conveyance or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions), including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction, or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued have an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $50.0 million;

(e) any disposition of property or assets, or the issuance of securities, by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(f) (i) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company and (ii) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection

 

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with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company;

(g) any foreclosure or any similar action with respect to any property or other asset of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(h) any sale of Equity Interests in, or other ownership interests in or assets or property, including Indebtedness, or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) any lease, assignment, license or sublease which does not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(j) any grant of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property which does not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(k) any transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) in a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(l) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Release Date, including any Sale/Leaseback Transaction or asset securitization permitted by this Indenture;

(m) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

(n) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

(o) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

(p) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(q) pursuant to buy-sell arrangements or similar agreements between Lyondell China Holdings Limited of Ningbo ZRCC and Lyondell Chemical Company Ltd.; and

(r) any sale, conveyance or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) in connection with the Emergence Transactions.

Authorized Representative ” means (i) in the case of any Obligations under the Senior Term Loan Facility or the secured parties under the Senior Term Loan Facility, the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, (ii) in the case of the Obligations under the Notes or the holders of the Notes, the Collateral

 

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Agent, (iii) in the case of the ABL Facility, the ABL Collateral Agent and (iv) in the case of any Series of Additional First Priority Lien Obligations that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Authorized Representative named for such Series in the applicable joinder agreement.

Bankruptcy Code ” means the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq ., as amended from time to time.

Bankruptcy Court ” means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Basell GmbH ” means Basell Germany Holdings GmbH and any successor in interest thereto.

Berre Facility ” means any receivables-backed credit or factoring facility entered into by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries (other than Basell GmbH) related to receivables of the refinery located in Berre, France, and any permitted refinancings thereof.

Board of Directors ” means, as to any Person, the board of directors, supervisory board of such Person, or equivalent governing body (or, if such Person is a partnership or limited liability company, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person or manager) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Bund Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the equivalent yield to maturity as of such redemption date of the Comparable German Bund Issues, assuming a price for the Comparable German Bund Issues (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable German Bund Price for such redemption date, where:

(a) “ Comparable German Bund Issues ” means the German Bundesanleihe security selected by any Reference German Bund Dealer as having a fixed maturity most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to May 1, 2013, and that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of euro denominated corporate debt securities in a principal amount approximately equal to the then outstanding principal amount of the Euro Notes and of a maturity most nearly equal to May 1, 2013; provided that if the period from such redemption date to May 1, 2013 is less than one year, a fixed maturity of one year shall be used;

(b) “ Comparable German Bund Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the average of the Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations, or if the Issuer obtains fewer than four such Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations;

(c) “ Reference German Bund Dealer ” means any dealer of German Bundesanleihe securities appointed by the Trustee in consultation with the Issuer; and

(d) “ Reference German Bund Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference German Bund Dealer and any redemption date, the average as determined by the Issuer of the bid and offered prices for the Comparable German Bund Issues (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Issuer by such Reference German Bund Dealer at 3:30 p.m. Frankfurt, Germany time on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

 

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Business Acquisition ” means the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person.

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City, London or The Netherlands.

Capital Stock ” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;

(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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Cases ” means the proceedings of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. and certain of its Subsidiaries and affiliates, as debtors and debtors-in-possession under Chapter 11.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) U.S. Dollars, pounds sterling, Euros, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union (other than Greece or Portugal) or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank or trust company having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations and reverse repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

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(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision 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 ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Sponsors or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(8) U.S. Dollar-denominated money market funds as defined in Rule 2a-7 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(9) tax-exempt floating-rate option tender bonds backed by letters of credit issued by a national or state bank whose long-term unsecured debt has a rating of AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or the equivalent rating by any other internationally recognized rating agency; and

(10) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (9) above.

Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means a Sale/Leaseback Transaction that relates to a catalyst containing one or more precious metals used by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder; or

(2) the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer, conveyance or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company.

Chapter 11 ” means Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking S.A.

 

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

Collateral ” means all property subject or purported to be subject, from time to time, to a Lien under any Security Documents.

Collateral Agent ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as collateral agent under the Security Documents, together with its successors in such capacity.

Common Collateral ” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of two or more Series of First Priority Lien Obligations (or their respective Authorized Representatives) hold a valid and perfected security interest at such time. If more than two Series of First Priority Lien Obligations are outstanding at any time and the holders of less than all Series of First Priority Lien Obligations hold a valid and perfected security interest in any Collateral at such time, then such Collateral shall constitute Common Collateral for those Series of First Priority Lien Obligations that hold a valid security interest in such Collateral at such time and shall not constitute Common Collateral for any Series which does not have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral at such time.

Common Depositary ” means Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream and as depositary for the Euro Notes, together with its successors in such capacity.

Company “ means LyondellBasell Industries N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (public limited liability corporation) formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and any successor in interest thereto.

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:

(1) Consolidated Net Income;

(2) to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby;

(a) taxes of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise, property and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations), or such equivalent items in any foreign jurisdiction;

(b) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(c) Consolidated Non-cash Charges;

(d) the amount of net loss resulting from the payment of any premiums, fees or similar amounts that are required to be paid under the terms of the instrument(s) governing any Indebtedness upon the repayment, prepayment or other extinguishment of such Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of such Indebtedness;

(e) any expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Non-cash Charges) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, any Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or Incurrence, repayment, amendment or modification of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred or repaid pursuant to this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof)

 

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(in each case, whether or not successful), including, without limitation, (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Notes and the Credit Facility Indebtedness and other Exit Financing, (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes or other Indebtedness, (iii) any Additional Interest in respect of the Notes and (iv) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Financing; and

(f) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, facility consolidations, retention, headcount reductions, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); and

(3) the amount of net cost savings projected by such Person in good faith to be realized by specified actions taken or to be taken prior to or during such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of such period); provided that (x) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and (y) such actions have been taken or are to be taken within twelve months of the date of determination to take such action and the benefit is expected to be realized within twelve months of taking such action; minus

(4) any non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (excluding (i) the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period, (ii) items referenced in clause (e) of “Consolidated Net Income” and (iii) gains which have been offset against losses in determining Consolidated Net Income but for which the loss has not been added back as a Consolidated Non-cash Charge pursuant to the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”);

all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Consolidated EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarter ending (i) June 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $551.0 million, (ii) September 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $757.0 million and (iii) December 31, 2009 shall be deemed to be $578.0 million, before giving pro forma effect to any transaction occurring after the Issue Date, as permitted under the definitions of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” and “Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio.”

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income for such period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation:

(1) amortization of original issue discount,

(2) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued,

(3) net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations,

 

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(4) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, and

(5) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation,

but excluding, in each case, any amortization of fees, debt issuance costs and commissions incurred in connection with the Credit Facilities, any Receivables Financing, the issuance of the Notes, the Plan Roll-Up Notes, the Euro Securitization and any other debt issuance.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period:

(1) the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis; plus

(2) cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person by any other Person (the “ Payor ”) other than a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income, which have not been derived from Indebtedness of the Payor to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such referent Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such referent Person;

provided that there shall be excluded therefrom, without duplication (but only to the extent included in the calculation of the foregoing):

(a) (i) any net after-tax income or loss from operating results of discontinued operations as defined by GAAP, and (ii) any net after-tax gains or losses from sales of discontinued operations;

(b) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto or expenses or charges, any severance expenses, relocation expenses, curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, any expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses and fees, expenses or charges relating to facilities closing costs, acquisition integration costs, facilities opening costs, project start-up costs, business optimization costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or issuance, repayment, refinancing, amendment or modification of Indebtedness (in each case, whether or not successful), and all costs and expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred in connection with the Cases and the Exit Financings);

(c) the Net Income of any Payor, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or Net Income of such Payor that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or to a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person by such Payor (or to the extent converted into cash);

(d) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not a guarantor to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is restricted; provided , however , that the Net Income of Restricted

 

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Subsidiaries shall only be excluded in any calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Company as a result of application of this clause (d) if the restriction on dividends or similar distributions results from consensual restrictions other than any restriction contained in clauses (1), (2) and (4) and, to the extent related to clauses (1), (2) and (4), clause (15) under Section 4.05;

(e) (i) any restoration to income of any contingency reserve, except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made out of Consolidated Net Income accrued at any time following the Issue Date; and (ii) any restoration to or deduction from income for changes in estimates related to the post-emergence settlement of pre-petition claims obligations in relation with Chapter 11 following the Issue Date;

(f) in the case of a successor to such Person by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of such Person’s assets, any gains or losses of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets;

(g) any charges or credits relating to any purchase accounting adjustments or to the adoption of fresh start accounting principles;

(h) any (i) one-time non-cash compensation charges, and (ii) non-cash costs or expenses resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans, compensation charges or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or awards of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, Preferred Stock or other rights;

(i) Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(j) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by management of the Company) or reserves relating thereto;

(k) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered in relation with the Indebtedness extinguished;

(l) any gain or loss for such period from currency translation gains or losses or net gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk entered in relation with Indebtedness); and

(m) any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.04(a) pursuant to clause (3)(iv) or (3)(v).

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the Total Assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries less goodwill and intangibles (other than intangibles arising

 

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from, or relating to, intellectual property, licenses or permits (including, but not limited to, emissions rights) of such Person), in each case calculated in accordance with GAAP, provided that in the event that such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries assumes or acquires any assets in connection with the acquisition by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries of another Person subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is made, then the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such assumption or acquisition of assets, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable period.

Consolidated Non-cash Charges ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the consolidated depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits) (including any lower-of-cost-or-market adjustments of inventory) reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period.

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Credit Facilities ” means:

(1) the Senior Term Loan Facility,

(2) any Asset Backed Credit Facility;

(3) any debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other Indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes,

 

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other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted by Section 4.03) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders; and

(4) any such agreements, instruments or guarantees governing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance any Indebtedness or commitments referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above whether by the same or any other lender or group of lenders.

Credit Facility Indebtedness ” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Facilities as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Senior Term Loan Facility), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement Obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

Currency Agreement ” means, with respect to any Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency futures contract, currency option contract, currency derivative or other similar agreement to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.

Default ” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.07(c) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or A-2 hereto, as the case may be, except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

Depositary ” means the Dollar Depositary or the Common Depositary, as the case may be.

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock ” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on the issue date thereof.

DIP Roll-Up Claims ” means the Roll-Up Loans and all related Obligations of the Issuer and certain of its Affiliates under, and as is defined in, the Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2009, among LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., the other borrowers thereto (each, a debtor and debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11), the administrative agent and collateral agent, the syndication agent, joint lead arranger and sole bookrunner, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time, and as ordered by the Bankruptcy Court, as of the Release Date.

 

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Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund Obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

in each case prior to 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided , further , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Dollar Depositary ” means DTC as depositary for the Dollar Notes, and its successors in such capacity

Dollar Notes ” means the Initial Dollar Notes, any Additional Dollar Notes and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for such Initial Dollar Notes and Additional Dollar Notes.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and successors.

Emergence Transactions ” means all transactions arising out of the Reorganization Plan and emergence from Chapter 11, including, but not limited to, Exit Financing.

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).

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (to the extent the proceeds thereof are contributed to the Company), as applicable, on a primary basis, other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or such direct or indirect parent entity’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

 

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(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company; and

(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

Escrow Agent ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as escrow agent under the Escrow Agreement, or any successor escrow agent as set forth in the Escrow Agreement.

Escrow Agreement ” means the Escrow Agreement dated as of April 8, 2010, among the Issuer, the Trustee and the Escrow Agent, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Escrow End Date ” means the 60th day following the Issue Date; provided that the Issuer may elect to extend the Escrow End Date for an additional 30 days on no more than two occasions so long as, not later than five Business Days prior to the scheduled Escrow End Date, (i) it provides prior written notice to the Escrow Agent and the Trustee and has issued a press release stating that it has extended the Escrow End Date and (ii) Lyondell Chemical Company has deposited cash into escrow with the Escrow Agent, to be held pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, in an amount sufficient to fund the redemption price due on the latest permitted date for the revised Special Mandatory Redemption in respect of all outstanding Notes and has certified that such amounts will be satisfactory for such purpose.

Escrow Investment ” means (1) Treasury Securities, (2) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing no later the Escrow End Date in each case, entitled to U.S. Federal deposit insurance for the full amount thereof or issued by a bank or trust company (including the Escrow Agent or an affiliate of the Escrow Agent) which is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof having capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $500.0 million and (3) repurchase obligations maturing no later than the Escrow End Date entered into with a nationally recognized broker-dealer, with respect to which the purchase securities are Obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or any agency thereof, which repurchase Obligations shall be entered into pursuant to written agreements.

Escrow Proceeds ” means collectively the Gross Proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Initial Notes and sufficient Government Obligations, Cash Equivalents (solely with respect to instruments or investments satisfying clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) of the definition thereof herein, and in each case, maturing no later than the Escrow End Date, and with respect to clause (3) thereof, with a bank or trust company having capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $500 million) and other Escrow Investments, in an amount sufficient to redeem, for cash, the Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of 100% of the Gross Proceeds plus the applicable Specified Premium of the principal amount of the Notes offered on the Issue Date, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes from the Issue Date up to but not including the date of the Special Mandatory Redemption.

euro ” means the single currency of participating member states of the European Economic and Monetary Union.

Euro Notes ” means the Initial Euro Notes, any Additional Euro Notes and any Exchange Notes issued in exchange for such Initial Euro Notes and Additional Euro Notes.

Euro Paying Agent ” means an office or agency of the Company where Euro Notes may be presented for payment, which shall initially be Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch.

 

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Euro Registrar ” means an office or agency of the Company where Euro Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, which shall initially be Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A.

Euro Securitization ” means the transaction to be dated as of its effective date entered into in connection with the €450 million revolving securitization facility of trade accounts receivable with Basell Sales and Marketing Company B.V. and Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., as sellers, and Basell Polyolefins Collections Ltd., as receivables purchaser, as such facility may be amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Euroclear ” means Euroclear S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Notes ” means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.07(f) hereof.

Exchange Offer ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Excluded Assets ” has the meaning set forth in the Security Documents.

Excluded Contributions ” means the aggregate net cash proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after the Release Date from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (i) any Receivables Subsidiary, (ii) any Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (iii) any Special Purpose Subsidiary, (iv) any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary that is a subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary and (v) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Company as of the Release Date or at any time thereafter meeting any one of the following conditions that has been designated by the Issuer as an Excluded Subsidiary in a writing to the Trustee (which designation may be rescinded by granting a Guarantee in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture): (a) the Total Assets of such Domestic Subsidiary determined as of the end of the fiscal year of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements are required to be delivered under this Indenture does not exceed $25.0 million, or (b) the Consolidated EBITDA of such Domestic Subsidiary does not exceed $25.0 million, for the period of four consecutive quarters of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to this Indenture; provided that, at any time or from

 

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time to time after the Release Date, Domestic Subsidiaries (other than a Special Purpose Subsidiary) shall not be designated as Excluded Subsidiaries to the extent that such Domestic Subsidiaries under this clause (v) would represent, in the aggregate, (a) 5% or more of Total Assets of the Company at the end of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Company or (b) 5% or more of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the most recently ended fiscal year, in each case, based upon the most recent financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Indenture; provided , further , that, if the most recent financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Indenture for any fiscal quarter occurring after the Release Date indicate that, by reason of subsequent changes following the designation of any one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as an Excluded Subsidiary or Excluded Subsidiaries, the foregoing requirements of this definition would not be complied with (other than as a result of an impairment charge), individually or in the aggregate, then the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly (but in any event within 180 days after the date the financial statements are required), rescind such designations as are necessary, and provide such Guarantees as are necessary, so as to comply with the requirements of this Indenture. Any uncured Default shall not occur until the expiration of such 180-days provided such efforts are used.

Exit Financing ” means that certain financing to finance the Reorganization Plan expected to be comprised of the Senior Term Loan Facility, the ABL Facility, the Euro Securitization, the Plan Roll-Up Notes and the Notes.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction; provided that, other than as expressly set forth in this Indenture, for purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of any property or assets, such Fair Market Value shall be determined by (x) the Company in good faith with respect to property or assets with a Fair Market Value not in excess of $250.0 million, (y) an opinion as to the Fair Market Value issued by a qualified accounting, appraisal, financial advisory or investment banking firm or (z) the Board of Directors of the Company, as evidenced by a certificate of an officer of the Company, with respect to property or assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of $250.0 million.

First Lien Collateral Agent ” means the Collateral Agent and the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Release Date by and among the Company, the Collateral Agent and the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, with respect to the Common Collateral, which may be amended from time to time without the consent of the holders of the Notes to add other parties holding First Priority Lien Obligations permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture, the Senior Term Loan Facility and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

First Lien Secured Parties ” means (a) the “Secured Parties,” as defined in the Senior Term Loan Facility, (b) the “Secured Parties,” as defined in the Collateral Agreement, and (c) any Additional First Lien Secured Parties.

First Lien Security Documents ” means the Security Documents and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted securing First Priority Lien Obligations, and any Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed, in each case to the extent relating to the Collateral securing the First Priority Lien Obligations.

 

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First Priority After-Acquired Property ” means (x) at any time the outstanding principal amount of loans under the Senior Term Loan Facility is greater than $500.0 million, any property of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor that secures any First Priority Lien Obligations and Other First Lien Obligations other than the Notes that is not already subject to the Lien under the Security Documents, other than any Excluded Assets, and (y) if clause (x) is not applicable, then any property of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor that constitutes Notes Collateral (other than Excluded Assets).

First Priority Lien Obligations ” means (i) all Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities (other than the Asset Backed Credit Facility and any other Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to clause (iii)(B) of Section 4.03(b)), (ii) the Notes Obligations and the Obligations in respect of any refunding, refinancing or defeasement of the Notes, (iii) all other Obligations of the Company, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services in each case owing to a Person that is a holder of Credit Facility Indebtedness or an Affiliate of such holder at the time of entry into such Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services, (iv) Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, if any, permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.03 and (v) Indebtedness under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to clause (iii)(C) of Section 4.03(b).

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of revolving credit borrowings or revolving advances under any Receivables Financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and operational changes (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the

 

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Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and (2) all adjustments of the nature set forth as “Reorganization Adjustments” under “Unaudited Consolidated Pro Forma Financial Information” as set forth in the Offering Memorandum for the Company to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

For the purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. Dollars will be converted to U.S. Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement.

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, and

(2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States 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 have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Release Date as adopted by the Company. For the purposes of this Indenture, the term “ consolidated ” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

 

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Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.07(g)(ii) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Global Notes ” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or A-2 hereto, as the case may be, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.07(b), 2.07(d) or 2.07(f) hereof.

Government Obligations ” means securities that are:

(1) direct Obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or

(2) Obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit Obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided , however , that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

Gross Proceeds ” means the aggregate U.S. Dollar and euro amount received by the Issuer pursuant to the sale of the Initial Notes, before giving effect to any discount to the Initial Purchasers.

Hedging Obligations ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, emission rights, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

holder “ or “ noteholder ” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Incur ” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

 

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Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except any such balance that constitutes (i) a trade payable or similar Obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out Obligations until such Obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (iii) liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any Obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the Obligations referred to in clause (1) of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) 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); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed Obligations of the respective seller; or (4) Obligations under or in respect of a Qualified Receivables Financing or a Qualified Joint Venture Transaction.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness, and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.

Indenture ” means this Indenture as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed or restated in whole or in part from time to time.

Independent Financial Advisor ” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Indirect Participant ” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

 

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Initial Purchasers ” means Banc of America Securities LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. , Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC for the Initial Dollar Notes and Merrill Lynch International, UBS Limited, Barclays Bank PLC, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd., Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc and Well Fargo Securities International Limited for the Initial Euro Notes.

Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto.

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 an equivalent rating by any other 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 a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Company and its Subsidiaries,

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4) 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.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees (other than guarantees of performance made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Joint Venture)), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

 

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(b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

Issue Date ” means April 8, 2010.

Issuer ” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble.

Issuer Order ” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

Joint Venture ” means any joint venture entity, whether a company, unincorporated firm, association, partnership or any other entity which, in each case, is not a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries but in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has a direct or indirect equity or similar interest.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, entered on the Release Date by and among the Company, the Collateral Agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties under this Indenture, the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties under the Senior Term Loan Facility, the ABL Collateral Agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of the administrative agent and lenders under the ABL Facility, the trustee under the Plan Roll-Up Notes (the “ Roll-Up Notes Trustee ” and, together with the Collateral Agent, the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent and the ABL Collateral Agent, the “ Applicable Collateral Agents ”), on its own behalf and on behalf of the holders of the obligations under the Plan Roll-Up Notes, the Company, the Issuer and the Pledgors that sets forth the relative priority of the Liens securing any First Priority Lien Obligations, the Liens securing the ABL Obligations and the Liens securing any Junior Lien Obligations (collectively, the “ Applicable Obligations ”).

Junior Lien Obligations ” means the Plan Roll-Up Notes and Obligations with respect to other Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture, which is by its terms intended to be secured on a basis junior to the Liens securing the Notes and, to the extent required thereby, the ABL Facility; provided such Lien is permitted to be Incurred under the ABL Facility, the Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture, the Senior Term Loan Facility and this Indenture.

LCC Assumption ” means the consummation of the transactions on April 30, 2010 whereby (a) Lyondell Chemical assumed all of the obligations of the Escrow Issuer under this Indenture, (b) each of Lyondell Chemical’s Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Excluded Subsidiaries) guaranteed the Notes and (c) to the extent Lyondell Chemical assumed the obligations of the Escrow Issuer other than by merger, the Escrow Issuer is released from the obligations under this Indenture.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or similar encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest; provided that in no event shall an operating lease, rights of set-off or netting arrangements in the ordinary course of business be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

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Limited Recourse Stock Pledge ” means the pledge of the Equity Interests in any Joint Venture (that is not a Restricted Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary to secure non-recourse debt of such Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary, which pledge is made by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the activities of which are limited to making and managing Investments, and owning Equity Interests, in such Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only for so long as its activities are so limited.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Mortgaged Property ” means each parcel of Real Property owned, leased or otherwise held by the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor intended to be encumbered by a Mortgage to secure any First Priority Lien Obligations as set forth on Annex A of Schedule 4.10 and each Real Property, if any, which shall be subject to a Mortgage delivered after the Release Date pursuant to Section 4.13.

Mortgages ” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Negromex Receivables Dispositions ” means any disposition of accounts receivable arising from transactions with Industrias Negromex, S.A. de C.V.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, 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, 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 costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, 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 (other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(i)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

Notes ” means the Initial Dollar Notes and the Initial Euro Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include (i) any Exchange Notes and (ii) any Additional Dollar Notes and Additional Euro Notes that may be issued under a supplemental indenture. Dollar Notes and the Euro Notes (including, in each case, any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor) are separate series of Notes, but shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, except as set forth herein. For purposes of this Indenture, all references to Notes to be issued or authenticated upon transfer, replacement or exchange shall be deemed to refer to Notes of the applicable series.

 

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Notes Collateral ” has the meaning set forth in the Security Documents.

Notes Obligations ” means Obligations in respect of the Notes (including “other notes” Incurred pursuant to clause (i) of Section 4.03(b)), this Indenture and the Security Documents, including, for the avoidance of doubt, Obligations in respect of Exchange Notes and guarantees thereof.

Obligations ” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the holders of the Notes.

Offering Memorandum ” means the confidential offering memorandum, dated March 24, 2010, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes under this Indenture.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Financial Director or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of any Person (or, with respect to a Person that is a limited partnership, the general partner of such Person), member of the Board of Directors (in the case of any entity organized under the laws of The Netherlands), or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors serving in a similar capacity.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of any Person by an Officer of such Person, which meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Oil Indexed Credit Facility ” means a working capital facility for which availability is conditioned upon the price per barrel of crude oil that is not less than $125.0 and the proceeds of which are utilized for working capital purposes and related fees and expenses; provided that the Notes and any other First Priority Lien Obligations are secured by a Lien ranking at least pari passu with any Lien on assets securing any Oil Indexed Credit Facility and the collateral agent under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall have been made party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall be subject to the terms thereof.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Issuer or to the Trustee. Counsel giving any Opinion of Counsel shall be entitled to rely on an Officer’s Certificate as to any factual matters relevant to such opinion.

Other First Lien Obligations ” means other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is equally and ratably secured with the Notes as permitted by this Indenture and is designated by the Company as an Other First Lien Obligation.

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means:

(1) with respect to the Issuer, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to the Notes; and

 

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(2) with respect to any Pledgor, its Obligations in respect of the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Pledgor’s Obligations in respect of the Guarantees of the Notes.

Participants ” means (i) with respect to the Dollar Notes, institutions that have accounts with DTC or its nominee and (ii) with respect to the Euro Notes, institutions that have accounts with Euroclear, Clearstream or their respective nominees.

PBGC Settlement ” means the settlement agreement between the Issuer and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor in interest thereto) as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Permitted Holders ” means, at any time, each of (i) the Sponsor, (ii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the Company and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof and (iii) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above and that, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company (a “ Permitted Holder Group ”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member relative to the other members of the Permitted Holder Group with respect to voting in the election of Directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries generally and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than the Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the Release Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Release Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (x) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Release Date or (y) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

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(6) loans and advances to officers, directors or employees (a) for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, including as part of a recruitment or retention plan, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company, (b) required by applicable employment laws loans and (c) other loans and advances not to exceed $25.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(7) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(xi);

(9) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business or in Joint Ventures having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $750.0 million and (y) 3.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (9);  provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $250.0 million and (y) 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (10); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

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(11) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable; provided , however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(ii) or (iii) under Section 4.04(a);

(12) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(13) Investments consisting of or to finance purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, services or equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property;

(14) any Investment in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments in a Receivables Subsidiary, of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness and, to the extent constituting an Investment, the acquisition of accounts receivable that have been sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a Receivables Financing, including the repurchase of accounts receivable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or other payment obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(15) any Investment in an entity or purchase of a business or assets in each case owned (or previously owned) by a customer of a Restricted Subsidiary as a condition or in connection with such customer (or any member of such customer’s group) contracting with a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(16) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Release Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after the Release Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(17) any Investment in any Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;

(18) Investments through the licensing contribution in a Person that is or will be as a result of such Investment a Joint Venture or Investments through the licensing, contribution or transactions that economically result in a contribution in kind of intellectual property pursuant to Joint Venture arrangements, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(19) purchase of shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG required to satisfy Basell B.V.’s obligations under its stock option plans as such plans and stock appreciation rights were in effect on the Release Date;

(20) a transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with clauses (xii) and (xiii) of Section 4.04(b);

(21) any Investment in connection with a Structured Financing Transaction;

 

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(22) a transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with clause (38) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(23) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 4.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (iv), (v), (ix)(B), (xv) and (xix) of such Section ); and

(24) any Qualified Joint Venture Transaction.

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith pledges, deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance bonds, surety bonds, bid bonds, letters of credit or similar instruments issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business or with respect to statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements;

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03, (B) Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clauses (i), (iii)(A) and (iii)(C) of Section 4.03(b) and (y) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness that, as of the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of proceeds therefrom on such date, would not cause the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company to exceed 2.00 to 1.00, provided that, with respect to Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations permitted under this subclause (B), the Notes are secured by Liens on the property or assets subject to such Liens on at least a

 

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pari passu basis with the Liens securing all such First Priority Lien Obligations, with the priority and subject to intercreditor arrangements, in each case not materially less favorable to the holders of the Notes than those contemplated by Article XI of this Indenture, (C) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clause (iii)(B), (v)(A), (v)(B), (xiii), (xxi) or (xxv) of Section 4.03(b) ( provided that (1) in the case of clause (iii)(B), any Lien on Notes Collateral securing Indebtedness under the ABL Facility, or any refinancing or replacement thereof, must be expressly subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (2) in the case of clause (v)(A), such Lien extends only to the assets and/or Capital Stock, the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of which is financed thereby and any proceeds or products thereof, (3) in the case of clause (xxi), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of any Subsidiary of the Company other than a Foreign Subsidiary, (4) in the case of clause (v)(B) such Lien applies solely to acquired property or asset of the acquired entity, as the case may be), and (5) in the case of clause (xxv), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than Australia) and (D) Liens securing the Notes Obligations;

(7) Liens existing on the Release Date (other than Liens in favor of the lenders under the Senior Term Loan Facility and under the ABL Facility);

(8) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided , further , however , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided , further that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other Obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not Incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Lien extends only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s Obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, tender, bid, judgment, appeal, performance or governmental contract bonds and completion guarantees, surety, standby letters of credit and warranty and contractual service obligations of a like nature, trade letters of credit and documentary letters of credit and similar bonds or guarantees provided by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(13) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or other precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings;

(15) Liens in favor of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor;

(16) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing to the extent permitted by Section 4.03;

(17) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided , however , that such Lien is limited to the applicable insurance carriers;

(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15); provided , however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien ( plus improvements on such property), (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, (including tender premiums) and original issue discount, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement and (z) Junior Lien Obligations shall not be refinanced with First Priority Lien Obligations (other than any Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing); provided , further , however , that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (6)(B) or (C) above, the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (6)(B) or (C) and not this clause (20) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (6)(B) or (C) above and for purposes of the definition of “Secured Credit Facility Indebtedness”;

(21) Liens on equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

(22) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens Incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(25) other Liens on assets not constituting Notes Collateral securing Obligations that do not exceed $50.0 million in aggregate at any time;

(26) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any Joint Venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any Joint Venture or similar agreement;

(27) any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(28) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution;

(29) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts Incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking institution 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 industry;

(30) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Indenture;

(31) any netting or set-off arrangements entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash pooling arrangements) for the purposes of netting debit and credit balances of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, including pursuant to any Treasury Services Agreement;

(32) 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 in the ordinary course of business;

(33) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.03; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreements;

(34) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in or monies placed in escrow pursuant to an Investment permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, (ii) over assets being acquired pursuant to Investments permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” pending payment in full of the purchase price, (iii) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a disposition permitted pursuant to the definition of “Asset Sale” and (iv) consisting of intellectual property licenses permitted by clause (18) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(35) Liens arising by reason of deposits necessary to qualify the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to conduct business, maintain self insurance or comply with any law and Liens securing the PBGC Settlement;

 

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(36) any Lien arising as a result of a sale, transfer or other disposal which is an Asset Sale in compliance with Section 4.06;

(37) Liens relating to a Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(38) Liens relating to any Limited Recourse Stock Pledge; and

(39) Liens relating to any Treasury Services Agreement, Qualified Joint Venture Transaction or Structured Financing Transaction.

Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing ” means the issuance of other notes, and the Incurrence of additional term loans under any Credit Facilities, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,500.0 million if the proceeds thereof are used to refinance Plan Roll-Up Notes (and related interest, premiums, if any, and expenses) so long as

(i) on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto (including a pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), (x) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company is at least 2.00 to 1.00, (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness is greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such Incurrence and (z) the requirements of subclauses (1) and (3) of clause (xvi) of Section 4.03(b) are satisfied with respect to such refinancing; and

(ii) to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of such other notes and term loans exceeds $1,000.0 million, the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to subclause (iii)(A) of Section 4.03(b) shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis (without duplication for Indebtedness Incurred as part of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing), until such time as such excess over $1,000.0 million (x) would be permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.03(a) and (y) would be permitted to be secured by a Lien as an Additional First Priority Lien Obligation pursuant to clause (6)(B)(y) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Plan Roll-Up Notes ” means (a) any third-priority senior secured notes of the Issuer and guaranteed by one or more Guarantors issued in respect of DIP Roll-Up Claims under the Reorganization Plan; provided that any Indebtedness issued in lieu of the Plan Roll-Up Notes in respect of DIP Roll-Up Claims will be deemed to be Plan Roll-Up Notes (provided that any such Indebtedness is Incurred in compliance with the terms of this Indenture applicable to refinancings and replacements of Plan Roll-Up Notes had they been issued pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization), or (b) any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part thereof.

Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture ” means the indenture or indentures under which the Plan Roll-Up Notes are issued, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time all in accordance with this Indenture; provided no such amendment or modification may shorten the maturity of the Plan-Roll-Up Notes.

 

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Pledgor ” means any Guarantor other than the Company; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Subsidiary from its Obligations to pledge its assets and property to secure the Notes in accordance with this Indenture or the Security Documents, such Subsidiary ceases to be a Pledgor.

Preferred Stock ” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Primary Offering ” means an Equity Offering on any investment exchange or any other sale or issue by way of flotation or public offering or any equivalent circumstances with aggregate net cash proceeds to the Company or contributed to the Company of at least $500.0 million.

Private Placement Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.07(g)(i) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

Project Financings ” means, with respect to any project, the Incurrence of Indebtedness relating to the development, expansion, renovation, upgrade or other modification or construction of such project pursuant to which the providers of such Indebtedness or any trustee or other intermediary on their behalf or beneficiaries designated by any such provider, trustee or other intermediary are granted security over one or more assets relating to such project for repayment of principal, premium and interest or any other amount in respect of such Indebtedness, including Indebtedness to finance working capital requirements with respect to any project; provided that any working capital financing shall not be secured by any assets or property included in calculating the Borrowing Base for purposes of Section 4.03(b)(iii)(B).

Qualified Institutional Buyer ” or “ QIB ” has the meaning specified in Rule 144A.

Qualified Joint Venture Transaction ” means any transaction in which (i) Indebtedness is owed or incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary whose activities are limited to holding shares in Joint Ventures (but only to the extent that (a) the creditors under the relevant agreement have no recourse to the Company other than to such Restricted Subsidiary; and (b) the recourse those creditors have to such Restricted Subsidiary is limited to the proceeds (if any) of dividends received by such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Restricted Subsidiary’s investment in such Joint Ventures) or (ii) involving guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of a customer or a third party guarantor of such customer’s Indebtedness that are made to a governmental export credit agency, a state development bank or like governmental agency or organization to the extent that such guarantees are conditioned on a failure to perform by any of the Company, such Restricted Subsidiary or a joint venture under an engineering procurement or construction contract entered into with such customer or third party guarantor; provided that the aggregate amount of any Indebtedness referenced in this clause (ii) shall not at any time exceed 1.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.

Qualified Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness that (1) is (a) Incurred by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of property or the Equity Interests of any person owning such property and whether in a single acquisition or a series of related acquisitions) or (b) assumed by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (2) is non-recourse to the Company, the Issuer and any Pledgor and (3) is non-recourse to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary ” means (1) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Pledgor and that is formed or created after the Release Date in order to finance an acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property or equipment (directly or through one of its Subsidiaries) that secures Qualified Non-Recourse Debt and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary of a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

 

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Qualified Receivables Financing ” means any Receivables Financing that meets the following conditions (including, without limitation, the Euro Securitization, the Berre Facility and the Negromex Receivables Dispositions):

(1) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have 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 the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets are made at Fair Market Value; and

(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure the ABL Facility, any Credit Facility Indebtedness or any Indebtedness in respect of the Notes shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

Rating Agency ” means (1) S&P, (2) Moody’s, or (3) if either or both of S&P and Moody’s shall not then exist, a nationally recognized securities rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company, which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.

Real Property ” means, collectively, all right, title and interests (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned, leased or operated by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all buildings, structures, parking areas and improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Receivables Fees ” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Financing.

Receivables Financing ” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to any other Person including to a Receivables Subsidiary, or may grant a security interest in, bank accounts, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, 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 Hedging Obligations entered into by the Company or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation ” means any Obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation,

 

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warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset 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 Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Receivables Financing with the Company in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes an Investment and to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Company and its 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 the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other Obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (excluding guarantees of Obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(b) with which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company; and

(c) to which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company 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 the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Record Date ” for the interest or Additional Interest, if any, payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means April 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Registrar ” has the meaning provided in Section 2.04.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 8, 2010 among the Escrow Issuer, the Company and the Initial Purchasers, and, Lyondell Chemical Company and the other Guarantors on the Release Date upon execution of joinder agreements.

Regulation S ” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Global Note ” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as applicable.

 

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Regulation S Permanent Global Note ” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto, as the case may be, bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the applicable Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note of the applicable series upon expiration of the Restricted Period.

Regulation S Temporary Global Note ” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto, as the case may be, bearing the Global Note Legend, the Private Placement Legend and the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the applicable Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes of the applicable series initially sold in reliance on Rule 903.

Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.07(g)(iv) hereof.

Reorganization Plan ” means a plan of reorganization in any of the Cases.

Responsible Officer ” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Definitive Note ” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Global Note ” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Period ” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer shall at all times constitute a Restricted Subsidiary.

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule).

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule).

Rule 903 ” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule).

Rule 904 ” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule).

 

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S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency or commission.

Secured Credit Facility Indebtedness ” means any Credit Facility Indebtedness that is secured by a Permitted Lien Incurred or deemed Incurred pursuant to clause (6)(B) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date of such calculation. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Secured Leverage Calculation Date ”), then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the Issuer may elect pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Leverage Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated Indebtedness and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

 

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For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and (2) all adjustments of the nature set forth as “Restructuring Adjustments” under “Unaudited Consolidated Pro Forma Financial Information” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

For the purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. Dollars will be converted to U.S. Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Security Documents ” means the security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, collateral agreements, intercreditor agreements, mortgages and related agreements, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time, creating the security interests in the Collateral as contemplated by this Indenture.

Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent ” means UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as the collateral agent under the Senior Term Loan Facility, or its successors.

Senior Term Loan Facility ” means the senior secured term loan facility of the Issuer dated as of its effective date, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Series ” means (a) with respect to the First Lien Secured Parties, each of (i) the secured parties under the Senior Term Loan Facility (in their capacities as such), (ii) the holders of the Notes, the Collateral Agent and the Trustee (each in its capacity as such) and (iii) the Additional First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the date hereof that are represented by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Lien Secured Parties); (b) with respect to any First Priority Lien Obligations, each of (i) the Obligations under the Senior Term Loan Facility, (ii) the Notes Obligations and the Obligations in respect of any refunding, refinancing or defeasement of the Notes and (iii) the Additional First Priority Lien Obligations Incurred pursuant to any applicable agreement, which pursuant to any joinder agreement, are to be represented under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Priority Lien Obligations); and (c) with respect to any Junior Lien Obligations, each of (i) the Obligations under the Plan Roll-Up Notes and (ii) the Junior Lien Obligations Incurred after the Issue Date pursuant to any applicable agreement.

Shelf Registration Statement ” means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

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Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision).

Similar Business ” means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date or any business or activity that is reasonably similar or complementary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.

Special Purpose Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company whose material assets are comprised solely of the Capital Stock of a Joint Venture, where the pledge of such Capital Stock would be prohibited by any contractual requirement pertaining to such Joint Venture.

Specified ABL Facility Assets ” means any ABL Facility Collateral, the net proceeds of an Asset Sale of which are required to be applied as a prepayment of any Asset Backed Credit Facility.

Specified Premium ” means 1.00% if the Special Mandatory Redemption occurs on or prior to the 90th day following the Issue Date and 1.50% if the Special Mandatory Redemption occurs after the 90th day following the Issue Date.

Sponsor ” means Apollo Global Management, LLC and any of its successors in interest or Affiliates.

Standard Securitization Undertakings ” means representations, warranties, undertakings, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

Structured Financing Transaction ” means a sale of preferred shares of a Restricted Subsidiary, depositing the proceeds of such sale with a bank and pledging such deposit to guarantee a put and call with respect to such preferred shares.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means (a) with respect to the Issuer, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to Obligations in respect of the Notes.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or

 

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general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity; or (3) with respect to the Company, for so long as the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, has at least a 50% ownership interest in Lyondell Bayer Manufacturing Maasvlakle VOF, Lyondell Bayer Manufacturing Maasvlakle VOF. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

TIA ” or “ Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

Total Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, without giving effect to any amortization of the amount of intangible assets since the Issue Date, (x) as shown on the most recent balance sheet of such Person, or (y) in regards to the Company only, as shown on the most recent balance sheet required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.02.

Treasury Rate ” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury Securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to May 1, 2013; provided , however , that if the period from such redemption date to May 1, 2013 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury Securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Treasury Securities ” means any Investment in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or agency thereof, in each case, maturing no later than the Escrow End Date.

Treasury Services Agreement ” means any agreement between the Issuer, any Guarantor or Restricted Subsidiary and any commercial bank or other financial institution relating to treasury, depository, and cash management services, employee credit card arrangements or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds.

Trust Officer ” means:

(1) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and

(2) who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Trustee ” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

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Unrestricted Definitive Note ” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Global Note ” means a permanent Global Note, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or A-2 attached hereto, as the case may be, that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the applicable Depositary, representing Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided , however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except as permitted under Section 4.03); provided , further , however , that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.

The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.03 or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

U.S. Dollar Equivalent ” means, with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time for the determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase

 

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of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as quoted by Reuters at approximately 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such date of determination (or if no such quote is available on such date, on the immediately preceding Business Day for which such a quote is available).

U.S. Legal Tender ” means such coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required to be held by Foreign Subsidiaries) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

  

Defined in

Section

“3-16 Exemption”

   11.04(c)

“Additional Amounts”

   4.17(a)

“Additional Guarantee”

   4.11(a)

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.07(a)

“Applicable Collateral Agents”

   1.01

“Applicable Obligations”

   1.01

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(b)

“Authentication Order”

   2.03

“Bankruptcy Law”

   6.01

“Borrowing Base”

   4.03(b)(iii)(B)

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.08(b)

“Collateral Agreement”

   11.01

“Collateral Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(b)

“Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period”

   4.06(e)

“Collateral Excess Proceeds”

   4.06(b)

“Company”

   Preamble

“covenant defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Covenant Suspension Event”

   4.15

“Custodian”

   6.01

 

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Term

  

Defined in

Section

“DBL S.A.”    2.03
“DBTCA”    7.13(a)
“Dutch Security Documents”    7.13(a)
“Escrow Issuer”    Preamble
“EU Savings Tax Directive”    4.17(b)(7)
“EU-Swiss Savings Tax Agreement”    4.17(b)(7)
“Euro Paying Agent”    Preamble
“Euro Registrar”    Preamble
“Event of Default”    6.01
“Excess Proceeds”    4.06(b)
“Guarantee”    12.01(a)
“Guaranteed Obligations”    12.01(a)
“Guarantor”    12.01(a)
“incorporated provision”    13.01
“Initial Dollar Notes”    Preamble
“Initial Euro Notes”    Preamble
“Initial Notes”    Preamble
“Investment Grade Status Period”    4.15
“Issuer”    Preamble
“legal defeasance option”    8.01(b)
“Notice of Default”    6.01
“Offer Period”    4.06(d)
“other notes”    4.03(b)(i)
“Parallel Debt”    7.13(b)(i)
“Paying Agent”    2.04
“Payor”    4.17(a)
“primary obligations”    1.01
“primary obligor”    1.01
“Principal Obligations”    7.13(a)
“protected purchaser”    2.08
“Reference Period”    4.04(a)(3)(i)
“Refinancing Indebtedness”    4.03(b)(xvi)
“Refunding Capital Stock”    4.04(b)(ii)(A)
“Registrar”    2.04
“Release Date”    3.09
“Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”    4.17(a)
“Restricted Payments”    4.04(a)
“Retired Capital Stock”    4.04(b)(ii)(A)
“Reversion Date”    4.15
“Roll-Up Notes Trustee”    1.01
“Second Commitment”    4.06(b)
“Secured Leverage Calculation Date”    1.01
“Special Mandatory Redemption”    3.09
“Special Mandatory Redemption Price”    3.09
“Successor Company”    5.01(a)(i)
“Successor Issuer”    5.01(c)(i)
“Successor Pledgor”    5.01(f)(i)
“Suspended Covenants”    4.15

 

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Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Suspension Period”    4.15
“Taxes”    4.17(a)
“Transfer”    5.01(f)
“Trigger Date”    3.09
“Trustee”    Preamble
“U.S. Paying Agent”    Preamble

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . This Indenture incorporates by reference certain provisions of the TIA. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

Commission ” means the SEC.

indenture securities ” means the Notes and any Guarantee.

indenture security holder ” means a holder.

indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture.

indenture trustee ” or “ institutional trustee ” means the Trustee.

obligor ” on the indenture securities means the Issuer and each Guarantor and any other obligor on the Notes.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(c) “ or ” is not exclusive;

(d) “ including ” means including without limitation;

(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

(g) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(h) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;

(i) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(j) “ $ ” and “ U.S. dollars ” each refer to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;

(k) “ euro ” or “ ” means the currency introduced at the start of the third stage of economic and monetary union pursuant to the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Community, as amended by the Treaty on European Union, signed at Maastricht on February 7, 1992; and

(l) whenever in this Indenture or the Notes there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Interest, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, were or would be payable in respect thereof.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes; Terms . The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $2,250,000,000 and €375,000,000, respectively.

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuer pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer as provided in Section 4.06 hereof or a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.08 hereof. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article III.

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and Agents, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued under this Indenture from time to time by the Issuer without notice to or consent of the holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes other than the initial payment date; provided that the Issuer’s ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Issuer and the Company’s compliance with Sections 4.03 and 4.12 hereof. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under this Indenture may not, unless the Issuer so elects, be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture will be not treated as fungible with the Initial Notes of the relevant series for United States federal income tax purposes or under the laws of any other jurisdiction, unless the Issuer so elects. Unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture, references to the Notes include any Additional Notes actually issued.

 

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SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating .

(a) The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 (in the case of the Dollar Notes) and Exhibit A-2 (in the case of the Euro Notes) hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Dollar Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Euro Notes shall be in minimum denominations of €50,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof.

(b) Global Notes . Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 (in the case of the Dollar Notes) and Exhibit A-2 (in the case of the Euro Notes) attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 (in the case of the Dollar Notes) and Exhibit A-2 (in the case of the Euro Notes) attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Registrar or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the holder thereof as required by Section 2.07 hereof.

(c) Temporary Global Notes . Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Custodian and registered in the name of the applicable Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuer and, upon receipt of an Issuer Order, authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The Restricted Period shall be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of:

(1) a written certificate from the applicable Depositary, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of each Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who shall take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.07(b) hereof); and

(2) an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer.

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in each Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in a Regulation S Permanent Global Note of the same series pursuant to the Applicable Procedures. Simultaneously with the authentication of the corresponding Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee shall cancel the corresponding Regulation

 

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S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of a Regulation S Temporary Global Note and a Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Registrar and the applicable Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

(d) Euroclear and Clearstream Procedures Applicable . The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication . One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Notes in accordance with this Section 2.03. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order (an “ Authentication Order ”) and an Opinion of Counsel conforming with Section 314(c) of the TIA, authenticate and deliver (i) the Initial Dollar Notes and (ii) the Initial Euro Notes. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Authentication Order authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes and Exchange Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes or Exchange Notes issued hereunder.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with holders or an Affiliate of the Issuer. The Trustee hereby appoints DBTCA as authenticating agent for the Dollar Note and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. (“ DBL S.A. ”), as authenticating agent for the Euro Notes and each of DBTCA and DBL S.A. accept such appointment.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in Section 9.02, all Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote or consent) as one class and no series of Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. For purposes of any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of Notes, the principal amount, on the relevant date of determination, of Notes, the holders of which have so consented or otherwise taken action, and of Notes then outstanding, shall be calculated in U.S. Dollars, with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Euro Notes converted into U.S. Dollars using the U.S. Dollar-equivalent on the Issue Date.

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent . The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency, where (a) Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”), (b) Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Paying Agent shall not be

 

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the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer, upon notice to the Trustee, may have one or more Co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The term “Paying Agent” includes the Dollar Paying Agent and/or the Euro Paying Agent (as the context requires) and any additional paying agent, and the term “Registrar” includes the Dollar Registrar and/or the Euro Registrar (as the context requires and) and any Co-Registrar. The Issuer may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any holder.

The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture, which agreement shall incorporate the provisions of the TIA and implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee, in advance, of the name and address of any such Agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.

The Issuer initially appoints the Collateral Agent as the U.S. Registrar and U.S. Paying Agent with respect to the Dollar Notes and initially appoints Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch as Euro Paying Agent and Common Depositary and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. as Euro Registrar with respect to the Euro Notes, in each case until such time as such entity has resigned or a successor has been appointed.

The Issuer may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided , however , that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign upon 30 days prior written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee; provided , however , that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . With respect to any Dollar Notes, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time, and with respect to any Euro Notes, prior to 10:00 am London time, on each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists . The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of holders.

 

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SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.07, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the applicable Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor thereto. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note of the same series unless (A) in the case of a Global Note representing Dollar Notes, the Dollar Depositary (x) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 120 days, (B) in the case of a Global Note representing Euro Notes, (x) Euroclear or Clearstream notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as clearing agency or (y) the Common Depositary notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as common depositary for such Global Note, and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 120 days or (C) in the case of any Global Note, there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default with respect to the Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (A) or (B) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note of the same series or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.08 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note of the same series or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.07 or Section 2.08 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the preceding events in (A) or (B) above and pursuant to Section 2.07(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.07(a); provided , however , beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.07(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of (x) beneficial interests in the Global Notes representing Dollar Notes shall be effected through the Dollar Depositary and (y) beneficial interests in the Global Notes representing Euro Notes shall be effected through the Common Depositary, in each case in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided , however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.07(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.07(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the applicable Depositary

 

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in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing such Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the applicable Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing such Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note of the same series in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the applicable Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903. Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.07(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.07(b)(ii) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act and as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, the Registrar shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.07(h) hereof.

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note . A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.07(b)(ii) hereof and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; or

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note . A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.07(b)(ii) hereof and:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

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(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note of the same series, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note of the same series, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes .

(i) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes . If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in subsection (A) or (B) of Section 2.07(a) hereof and receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

 

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(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Registrar shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.07(h) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and the Registrar shall mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.07(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the applicable Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Registrar shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.07(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(ii) Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes . Notwithstanding Sections 2.07(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.

(iii) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only upon the occurrence of any of the events in subsection (A) or (B) of Section 2.07(a) hereof and if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

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(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

(2) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iv) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in subsection (A) or (B) of Section 2.07(a) hereof and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.07(b)(ii) hereof, the Registrar shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.07(h) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.07(c)(iv) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from or through the applicable Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Registrar shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.07(c)(iv) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests .

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes . If any holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

 

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(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Registrar shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the applicable Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable 144A Global Note, and in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note.

(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

(2) if the holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

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and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.07(d)(ii), the Registrar shall cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Registrar shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraph (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes . Upon request by a holder of Definitive Notes and such holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.07(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.07(e):

(i) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes . Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

 

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(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer;

(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

(2) if the holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . A holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the holder thereof.

(f) Exchange Offer . Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes of the same series tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not Broker-Dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal

 

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amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes of the same series tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (x) they are not Broker-Dealers, (y) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Registrar shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Issuer shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and the Registrar shall mail to the Persons designated by the holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the applicable principal amount. Any Notes that remain outstanding after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, and Exchange Notes issued in connection with the Exchange Offer, shall be treated as a single class of securities under this Indenture.

(g) Legends . The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture:

(i) Private Placement Legend .

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) EVIDENCED HEREBY WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT:

(A) SUCH SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY:

(i) (a) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (b) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (c) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903 OR 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (d) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1),(2),(3) OR (7) OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”)) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING

 

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CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $100,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (e) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL AND OTHER CERTIFICATIONS AND DOCUMENTS IF THE ISSUER SO REQUESTS),

(ii) TO THE ISSUER, OR

(iii) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND IN EACH CASE SUBJECT TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF THIS SECURITY BY THE HOLDER OR BY ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL; AND

(B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER FROM IT OF THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN (A) ABOVE.

THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE ACQUIRED OR HELD WITH THE ASSETS OF (I) AN “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” (AS DEFINED IN THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”)) THAT IS SUBJECT TO ERISA, (II) A “PLAN” WHICH IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), (III) ANY ENTITY DEEMED UNDER ERISA TO HOLD “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING BY REASON OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN’S OR PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN SUCH ENTITY, OR (IV) A GOVERNMENTAL PLAN OR CHURCH PLAN SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW THAT IS SIMILAR IN PURPOSE OR EFFECT TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAW”), UNLESS THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY BY THE PURCHASER OR TRANSFEREE, THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD THAT IT HOLDS THIS SECURITY, ARE EXEMPT FROM THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION RESTRICTIONS UNDER ERISA AND SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR ANY PROVISIONS OF SIMILAR LAW, AS APPLICABLE, PURSUANT TO ONE OR MORE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTIONS. BY ITS ACQUISITION OR HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY, EACH PURCHASER AND TRANSFEREE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT THE FOREGOING REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED.”

 

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(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraph (b)(iv), (c)(iii), (c)(iv), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) of this Section 2.07 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(ii) Global Note Legend . Each Global Note representing Dollar Notes shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DOLLAR DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DOLLAR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DOLLAR DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DOLLAR DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DOLLAR DEPOSITARY TO THE DOLLAR DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DOLLAR DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DOLLAR DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DOLLAR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DOLLAR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(iii) Each Global Note representing Euro Notes shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE COMMON DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE

 

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TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR COMMON DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE COMMON DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY TO THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR BY THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR COMMON DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR COMMON DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(iv) Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend . The Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall bear legends in substantially the following form, as applicable:

“THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN).”

“UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.”

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Registrar in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Registrar or by the applicable Depositary at the direction of the Registrar to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Registrar or by the applicable Depositary at the direction of the Registrar to reflect such increase.

 

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(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.08, 3.08, 4.06, 4.08 and 9.05 hereof).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(v) The Issuer shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.04 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(vii) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section 4.14 hereof, the Issuer shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and the Registrar shall mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

(viii) At the option of the holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and the Registrar shall mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.03 hereof.

(ix) All certifications, certificates, Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.07 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

 

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SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes . If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the holder (a) satisfies the Issuer and the Trustee within a reasonable time after such holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer and the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “ protected purchaser ”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss or liability that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer.

The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes . Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by the Registrar, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Subject to Section 13.06, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10. [ Intentionally Omitted ].

SECTION 2.11. Cancellation . The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Registrar for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall give written notice to the Trustee of any Notes delivered to them and cancelled. Subject to Section 2.08, the Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. However, if the Company shall acquire any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.11.

 

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SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest . If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuer shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes ( plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc . The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers.

SECTION 2.14. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes . The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the holders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09, Section 9.02 and Section 13.06 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Optional Redemption . The Notes may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Section 5 of the forms of Note set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

SECTION 3.02. Applicability of Article . Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuer or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.

SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee . If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 5 of the Note, it shall notify the Trustee, Registrar and each Paying Agent in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuer shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Section 5 of the Note, unless a

 

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shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Issuer to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, as well as such notice required to be delivered under Section 3.05 below. If fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Issuer and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

SECTION 3.04. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed . Selection of Notes for redemption will be made by the Registrar on a pro rata basis by lot or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository to the extent practicable; provided that no Notes of $100,000 or €50,000, as applicable, principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. Selection of Euro Notes for redemption by the Registrar on a pro rata basis by lot or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository shall be calculated in U.S. Dollars using the U.S. Dollar-Equivalent on the date of selection.

If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed at any time in connection with an optional redemption, the Registrar will select Notes for redemption as follows:

(i) if the Notes to be redeemed are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed; or

(ii) if the Notes to be redeemed are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Registrar shall deem fair and appropriate.

SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption .

(a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Section 5 of the Note, the Issuer shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.

Any such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;

(iii) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest;

(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

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(vii) the CUSIP number, ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed; and

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

(b) At the Issuer’s request, the Registrar and each Paying Agent shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Registrar and each Paying Agent with the information required by this Section at least one Business Day prior to the date such notice is to be provided to holders in the final form such notice is to be delivered to holders and such notice may not be canceled.

SECTION 3.06. Effect of Notice of Redemption . Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.05, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice, except as provided in the final sentence of Section 5 of the form of Note set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest, to, but not including, the redemption date; provided , however , that if the redemption date is after a regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant Record Date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other holder.

SECTION 3.07. Deposit of Redemption Price With respect to any Dollar Notes, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time, and with respect to any Euro Notes, prior to 10:00 am London time, on each due date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent U.S. Legal Tender (in the case of Dollar Notes) and/or euro (in the case of Euro Notes) funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, the Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any U.S. Legal Tender (in the case of Dollar Notes) and/or euro (in the case of Euro Notes) so deposited that is not required for that purpose, except with respect to monies owed as Obligations to the Trustee pursuant to Article VII.

Unless the Issuer fails to comply with the preceding paragraph and defaults in the payment of such redemption price, interest on the Notes to be redeemed will cease to accrue on and after the applicable redemption date, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment.

SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part . Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate for the holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, the Notes to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.09. Special Mandatory Redemption . The Notes will be subject to a mandatory redemption (a “ Special Mandatory Redemption ”) in the event that either the Escrow Proceeds have not been released to the Escrow Agent for distribution in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement (the “ Release Date ”) on or before the Escrow End Date or (ii) prior to the Escrow End Date, the Issuer has determined, in its reasonable discretion, that the escrow conditions cannot be satisfied by such date (any such date, a “ Trigger Date ”). The Issuer will cause the notice of Special Mandatory Redemption to be mailed no later than the next Business Day following the Trigger Date and will redeem the Notes five Business Days following the date of the notice of redemption.

 

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The redemption price for any Special Mandatory Redemption will be the sum of 100% of the Gross Proceeds plus the Specified Premium of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued on the Issue Date, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes from the Issue Date up to but not including the date of the Special Mandatory Redemption (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Price ”).

If the Escrow Agent receives a notice of a Special Mandatory Redemption pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agent will liquidate all Escrow Proceeds then held by it not later than the last Business Day prior to the date of the Special Mandatory Redemption. Concurrently with release of the amounts necessary to fund the Special Mandatory Redemption to the applicable Paying Agent, the Escrow Agent will release any excess of Escrow Proceeds over the Special Mandatory Redemption Price as specified in the Escrow Agreement, and the Issuer will be permitted to use such excess Escrow Proceeds refunded to it at its discretion.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

The covenants described in this Indenture shall not bind the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries prior to the Release Date. The references in Sections 4 and 5 in this Indenture to Obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, refer to the period beginning on and after the Release Date.

To the extent the Company, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred Indebtedness (treating Indebtedness not discharged pursuant to the Reorganization Plan and remaining outstanding on the Release Date as having been Incurred as of the Release Date), made any Restricted Payments, consummated any Asset Sale or otherwise taken any action or engaged in any activities during the period beginning on the Issue Date and ending on the Release Date, such actions and activities shall be treated and classified (including but not limited to impacting relevant baskets and determining whether a Default or Event of Default would have occurred as of the Release Date for purposes of the release conditions above), as if this Indenture and the covenants set forth herein had applied to the Company, the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period. For purposes of the foregoing, (i) the Company will be deemed to have been the direct or indirect owner of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Issuer will be deemed to have been the direct or indirect owner of all of the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company (or their intermediate holding companies between the Company and the Issuer) for all relevant periods and (ii) all Subsidiaries of the Company shall be deemed to be Restricted Subsidiaries for the period from the Issue Date through the Release Date.

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes . The Issuer shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds as of 12:00 p.m. Eastern time money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

 

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SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information .

(a) For the periods commencing with the period ending on December 31, 2010 and notwithstanding that the Issuer or the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Company shall file with the SEC (and provide the Trustee and holders with copies thereof, without cost to each holder, within 15 days after it files them with the SEC),

(i) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filers, annual reports on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form),

(ii) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filers, reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form),

(iii) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported (and in any event within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations), such other reports on Form 8-K (or any successor or comparable form), and

(iv) any other information, documents and other reports which the Issuer would be required to file with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

provided , however , that the Company shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event, the Company will make available such information to prospective purchasers of Notes in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the holders, in each case within 15 days after the time the Issuer would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to furnish any information, certificates or reports required by Items 307 or 308 of Regulation S-K prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement.

(b) In the event that the rules and regulations of the SEC permit the Company to report at such parent entity’s level on a consolidated basis and such parent entity is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the capital stock of the Issuer, or consolidating reporting at the parent entity’s level in a manner consistent with that described in this Section 4.02.

(c) The Issuer will make such information available to prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Issuer has agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or otherwise permitted to furnish the SEC with certain information pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) of the Exchange Act, it will furnish to the holders of the Notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee if the Issuer has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available. In addition, the requirements of this Section 4.02 shall be

 

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deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offers contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the Notes or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement by (1) the filing with the SEC of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and/or Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement, and any amendments thereto, if such registration statement and/or amendments thereto are filed at times that otherwise satisfy the time requirements set forth in Section 4.02(a) and/or (2) the posting of reports that would be required to be provided to the Trustee and the holders on the Issuer’s website (or that of any of its parent companies).

SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock .

(a) (i) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Issuer or any Guarantor) to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided , however , that the Issuer and any Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and, subject to Section 4.03(c), any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net cash proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to:

(i) (A) Indebtedness under the Notes outstanding on the Issue Date, and the guarantees thereof, and (B) an aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding in the form of any other series of notes representing First Priority Lien Obligations (“ other notes ”) issued in one or more tranches under this Indenture, and the guarantees by the Guarantors thereof, if (x) on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto (including a pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.00 to 1.00, or (y) pursuant to a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing;

(ii) Indebtedness under the Plan Roll-Up Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3,250 million at any one time outstanding;

(iii) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Credit Facilities, as follows:

(A) Indebtedness under any Credit Facilities (other than Asset Backed Credit Facilities) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000 million plus an aggregate additional principal amount of Indebtedness secured by a Lien outstanding at any one time such that on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the proceeds therefrom) the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.00 to 1.00; provided that (x) regardless of whether such Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is satisfied, term loans may be Incurred under this subclause (A) as part of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing and (y) the availability of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities shall be reduced for a period of time as a result of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing as provided in the definition thereof, provided further that the amount of Indebtedness

 

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that may be Incurred pursuant to this subclause (A) shall be reduced by the amount of any (x) prepayments of term loans under Credit Facilities or (y) permanent reductions of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility (other than any such prepayments of the ABL Facility), in the case of each of (x) and (y) with the proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than any Asset Sale in respect of Specified ABL Facility Assets);

(B) Indebtedness under Asset Backed Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $1,750 million and (ii) the sum of 85% of the net book value of the accounts receivable of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and 65% of the net book value of the inventory of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (the “ Borrowing Base ”) less (x) in the case of the calculation of the Borrowing Base under this subclause (B)(ii), the amount of the Borrowing Base that is the subject of an on-balance sheet Qualified Receivables Financing (it being understood that any of the Borrowing Base that is subject to arrangements for disposition or transfer in connection with an off-balance sheet Qualified Receivables Financing shall not be included in the Borrowing Base) and (y) in the case of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this subclause (B)(ii), the amount of any Indebtedness Incurred under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility; provided that any assets or property securing any Project Financing Incurred pursuant to clause (v)(B) below shall be excluded when determining the Borrowing Base; provided further that Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this subclause (B) shall be reduced by the amount of any permanent reductions of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility (other than any such prepayments of revolving credit facilities Incurred pursuant to subclause (A) above) with the proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than any Asset Sale in respect of Specified ABL Facility Assets); provided further that, in the event of an Asset Acquisition, Indebtedness may be Incurred against the Borrowing Base pursuant to the foregoing in anticipation of the completion of such Asset Acquisition on the assumption that the Borrowing Base of the subject of the Asset Acquisition has been acquired; and

(C) Indebtedness under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $750.0 million; provided that amounts Incurred pursuant to an Oil Indexed Credit Facility will be required to reduce the amount of Indebtedness Incurred under the Borrowing Base to the extent Indebtedness in such amount as would no longer be permitted to be Incurred under subclause (B) above (without duplication for the requirements of subclause (B) above);

(iv) Indebtedness existing on the Release Date (other than the Notes and Indebtedness described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $400.0 million, after giving effect to the consummation of the Reorganization Plan, which shall have the obligors, collateral, maturity and amortization features summarized under “Description of Certain Indebtedness” herein, and guarantees of Indebtedness of Joint Ventures outstanding on the Release Date, and operating leases of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Release Date to the extent characterized as a Capitalized Lease Obligation after the Release Date;

(v) (A) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, Disqualified Stock issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets); provided that Indebtedness

 

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Incurred pursuant to this clause (v)(A) is not Incurred to finance a Business Acquisition, (B) Indebtedness Incurred in connection with any Project Financing or (C) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to a Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(vi) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement Obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or similar requirements, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental or other permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type Obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(vii) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with any acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(viii) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries) any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations of the Company under the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (viii);

(ix) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (ix);

(x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the Issuer or a Guarantor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, in respect of the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (x);

 

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(xi) Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred for speculative purposes but for the purpose of (1) fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (2) fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; (3) fixing or hedging commodity price risk, including the price or cost of raw materials, emission rights, manufactured products or related commodities, with respect to any commodity purchases or sales; or (4) hedging the potential exposure in respect of certain executives’ and employees’ options over, or stock appreciation rights in relation to, shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG;

(xii) (A) obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, tender, bid, judgment, appeal, performance or governmental contract bonds and completion guarantees, surety, standby letters of credit and warranty and contractual service obligations of a like nature, trade letters of credit and documentary letters of credit and similar bonds or guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or (B) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to any of the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(xiii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or, subject to Section 4.03(c), Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii), does not exceed the greater of $750.0 million and 3.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xiii) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xiii));

(xiv) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor and Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Pledgor not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference not greater than 200% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since immediately after the Release Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (which proceeds are contributed to the Company) or cash contributed to the capital of the Company (in each case other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to, or contributions received from, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (ii) and (iii) of Section 4.04(a)(iv)(3) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash has not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof);

(xv) any guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other Obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that (i) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Notes, as applicable, any such guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Restricted Subsidiary’s Obligations

 

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with respect to the Notes substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Notes, as applicable, and (ii) if such guarantee is of Indebtedness of the Company, such guarantee is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.11, solely to the extent such covenant is applicable;

(xvi) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.03(a) and clauses (i), (iv), (v), (xiv) and (xvii) of this paragraph or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums) and original issue discount, expenses, defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith; provided that any such Indebtedness until reclassified in accordance with this Indenture shall remain Incurred pursuant to clauses (i), (iv), (v), (xiv) and (xvii), as applicable (subject to the following proviso, “ Refinancing Indebtedness ”), prior to its maturity; provided , however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or the Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Notes, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or such Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, to at least the same extent or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same issuer; and

(3) shall not include (a) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, or (b) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

provided , further that subclause (1) of this clause (xvi) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations;

(xvii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Company or, subject to Section 4.03(c), any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (A) Incurred to finance an Asset Acquisition or (B) Incurred by a Person in connection with or anticipation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of an Asset Acquisition or to finance an Asset Acquisition or (y) a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of an Asset Acquisition or assumed in connection with an Asset Acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and, in any such case under this subclause (y), not Incurred in connection with or in anticipation of such Asset Acquisition; provided that, in the case of clause (y), the holders of any such Indebtedness do not, at any time, have direct or indirect

 

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recourse to any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property or assets that are the subject of such Asset Acquisition; provided that after giving effect to such Asset Acquisition, either:

(1) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than immediately prior to such Asset Acquisition;

(xviii) Indebtedness Incurred in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is without recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

(xix) 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; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

(xx) Indebtedness under any Treasury Services Agreement or any Structured Financing Transaction;

(xxi) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xxi), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xxi), does not exceed the greater of $350.0 million and 3.50% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xxi) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xxi) but shall be deemed Incurred for the purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which such Foreign Subsidiary could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xxi));

(xxii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (1) the financing of insurance premiums or (2) take-or-pay Obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(xxiii) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company to the extent described in Section 4.04(b)(iv);

(xxiv) Indebtedness Incurred on behalf of, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness of, Joint Ventures of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of $250.0 million and 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company; and

(xxv) Indebtedness Incurred by Lyondell Basell Australia Pty Ltd. and its successors in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $80.0 million; provided that such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than Australia.

 

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(c) Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not Incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.03(a) or clause (xiii) or (xvii)(x) (or clause (xv) to the extent constituting a guarantee of Indebtedness Incurred under Section 4.03(a) or clause (xiii) or (xvii)(x)) of Section 4.03(b) if, after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net cash proceeds therefrom), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) and clauses (xiii) and (xvii)(x) (or clause (xv) to the extent constituting a guarantee of Indebtedness Incurred under Section 4.03(a) or clause (xiii) or (xvii)(x)) of Section 4.03(b), collectively, would exceed the greater of $400.0 million and 4.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03:

(i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xxv) of Section 4.03(b) or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Company, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03; provided that Indebtedness Incurred, or committed for, under the Credit Facilities and the Plan Roll-Up Notes on or before the Release Date or pursuant to an Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall at all times be deemed to be Incurred under clauses (ii) and (iii) of Section 4.03(b); and

(ii) at the time of Incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Sections 4.03(a) and (b) without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b) when calculating the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a).

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of liquidation preference 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 or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or Obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall 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 4.03.

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. 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 U.S. Dollar Equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable

 

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U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction shall 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.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.03, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness, solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments .

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company;

(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (viii) and (x) of Section 4.03(b)); or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all of the payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above are collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); and

 

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(3) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made after the Release Date (including the Fair Market Value of non-cash amounts constituting Restricted Payments and Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (ii) (vi)(B), (viii), (xii)(B) and (xvi) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)) shall not exceed the sum of, without duplication.

(i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period, the “ Reference Period ”) from March 31, 2012 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after March 31, 2012 (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiv) from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(iii) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company received in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash after March 31, 2012 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock and Disqualified Stock and other than contributions to the extent such contributions have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiv)), plus

(iv) 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof issued after March 31, 2012 (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof) or 100% of the principal amount of any debt securities of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof that are convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock issued after the Release Date (other than debt securities issued to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof) which, in any such case, have been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company ( provided in the case of any parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished) after March 31, 2012, plus

(v) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after March 31, 2012 from:

(A) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b) below) or

 

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(B) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(vi) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in each case subsequent to March 31, 2012, the Fair Market Value of the Investment of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable), after deducting any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or combined or any Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred or conveyed (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b) below or constituted a Permitted Investment).

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“ Retired Capital Stock ”) of the Company or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company) (collectively, including any such contributions, “ Refunding Capital Stock ”),

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of Refunding Capital Stock, and

(C) if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (vi) of this Section 4.04(b) and not made pursuant to clause (ii)(B), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which are used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Company) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(iii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, the Issuer or any Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Company, the Issuer or any Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value ( plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired, any tender premiums, plus any defeasance costs, fees and expenses Incurred in connection therewith),

 

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(B) such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Obligations in respect of the Notes, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value,

(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and (y) 91 days following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding, and

(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Subordinated Indebtedness being redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date that is 91 days following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided , however , that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (iv) do not exceed $35.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $70.0 million in any calendar year); provided , further , however , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company that occurs after the Release Date ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(iii) or be used as the basis for the Incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 4.03(b)(xiv)), plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity (to the extent contributed to the Company) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Release Date;

 

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provided that the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A) and (B) above in any calendar year; and provided , further , that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.04 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(vi) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Release Date; and

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(ii);

provided , however , in the case of each of (A) and (B) above of this clause (vi), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Company would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $250.0 million and 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (vii);

(viii) (x) Restricted Payments by the Company in an amount not to exceed $50.0 million per annum, and (y) following a Primary Offering only, the payment of dividends on the listed Equity Interests at a rate not to exceed 6% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by the Company or the Issuer in connection with such a Primary Offering or any subsequent Primary Offering;

(ix) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $350.0 million and 1.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time made;

 

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(xi) the payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that files a consolidated tax return that includes the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, by virtue of such parent being the common parent of a consolidated or combined tax group of which the Issuer and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries are members) in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes (as the case may be) if the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid such taxes as a standalone taxpayer (or standalone group);

(xii) the payment of Restricted Payments, if applicable:

(A) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to pay fees and expenses (including legal, audit and tax, including franchise tax, expenses) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer and general corporate operating and overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer in each case to the extent such fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries;

(B) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and that has been guaranteed by and treated as Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 (it being agreed that (i) all interest expense shall be included in the calculation of the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” of the Company and (ii) no contribution of such proceeds may be included in the calculation of Restricted Payments capacity or in the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred based on contributions to the Company); and

(C) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company to pay fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Company, related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent that has been undertaken to finance the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(xiii) repurchases of Equity Interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries 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;

(xiv) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;

(xv) Restricted Payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(xvi) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.06 and 4.08; provided that all Notes tendered by holders of the Notes in connection with a Change of Control Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value in accordance with the provisions hereof;

 

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(xvii) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 5.01; provided that as a result of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets, the Issuer shall have made a Change of Control Offer (if required by this Indenture) and that all Notes tendered by holders in connection with such Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

(xviii) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Emergence Transactions;

(xix) distributions by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture of chemicals to a holder of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture if such distributions are made pursuant to a provision in a Joint Venture agreement or other arrangement entered into in connection with the establishment of such Joint Venture or Restricted Subsidiary that requires such holder to pay a price for such chemicals equal to that which would be paid in a comparable transaction negotiated on an arm’s length basis (or pursuant to a provision that imposes a substantially equivalent requirement); and

(xx) any Restricted Payments under any Treasury Services Agreement or any Structured Financing Transaction;

provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (iii), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x) and (xii)(B) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding Section 4.04(b)(x), prior to March 31, 2012 the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay any cash dividend or make any cash distribution on, or in respect of, the Company’s Capital Stock or purchase for cash or otherwise acquire for cash any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company for the purpose of paying any cash dividend or making any cash distribution to, or acquiring Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent of the Company for cash from, the Sponsors, or guarantee any Indebtedness of any Affiliate of the Company for the purpose of paying such dividend, making such distribution or so acquiring such Capital Stock to or from the Sponsors, in each case by means of the exception provided by clause (x) of Section 4.04(b) if at the time and after giving effect to such payment, the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than 2.00 to 1.00.

SECTION 4.05. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements existing and contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Release Date, including pursuant to the Senior Term Loan Facility, the ABL Facility, the Plan Roll-Up Notes, the Euro Securitization and the other Credit Facilities;

(2) this Indenture, the Notes or the other notes permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i);

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(4) any agreement or other instrument (including those governing Capital Stock) of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 4.03 and 4.12 that limit the right of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(8) customary provisions in Joint Venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, subleases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(11) any encumbrance or restriction in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided that such restrictions only apply to the applicable receivables and related intangibles;

(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (a) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary, (b) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary so long as such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Company) or (c) of any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in connection with any Project Financing, provided that in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Release Date pursuant to Section 4.03;

(13) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 4.04 and any Permitted Investment;

(14) customary provisions in Hedging Obligations permitted under this Indenture and entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

(15) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or Obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (14) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, as determined in good faith by the Company, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

SECTION 4.06. Asset Sales .

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or such Restricted Subsidiary’s Obligations in respect of the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

 

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(ii) any notes or other Obligations or other securities or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 4.06(a)(iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of 3.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and $600.0 million at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (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),

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

(b) Within 15 months after the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s receipt of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

(i) to repay (A) Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations (and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto); provided that if the Issuer shall so reduce First Priority Lien Obligations, the Issuer will equally and ratably reduce Notes Obligations in any manner set forth in clause (D) below at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, (B) Indebtedness constituting Pari Passu Indebtedness other than First Priority Lien Obligations so long as the Asset Sale proceeds are with respect to non-Collateral ( provided that if the Company shall so reduce Pari Passu Indebtedness, the Issuer will equally and ratably reduce Notes Obligations in any manner set forth in clause (D) below), (C) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or (D) Notes Obligations as provided under Section 5 of the Note, through open-market purchases ( provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as applicable; or

(ii) to make an Investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such Investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), assets or property, in each case (a) used or useful in a Similar Business or (b) that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale, provided , however , that with respect to any Asset Sale of Collateral only, the assets or property subject to such Investment (other than to the extent it would constitute Excluded Assets) shall be pledged as Collateral.

In the case of Section 4.06(b)(ii), a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment; provided that in the event such binding commitment is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are so applied, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another binding commitment (a “ Second Commitment ”) within six months of such cancellation or termination of the prior binding commitment; provided , further , that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may only enter into a Second Commitment under the foregoing provision one time with respect to each Asset Sale and to the extent such Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then

 

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such Net Proceeds shall constitute Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as applicable. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales of Collateral (other than Specified ABL Facility Assets) that are not invested or applied as set forth in Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to purchase or make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “ Collateral Excess Proceeds .” The Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any First Priority Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture (which Lien is not subordinate to the Lien of the Notes with respect to the Collateral), to the holders of such First Priority Lien Obligations or such other Obligations (including any mandatory prepayment required by the Senior Term Loan Facility) (a “ Collateral Asset Sale Offer ”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes and such First Priority Lien Obligations or such other Obligations that is a minimum of $100,000 or €50,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 or €1,000, respectively, in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Collateral Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such other First Priority Lien Obligations were issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of other First Priority Lien Obligations, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such First Priority Lien Obligations), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture; provided that with respect to any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales of Collateral realized or received by any Foreign Subsidiary, the aggregate amount of such Net Proceeds required to be applied shall be subject to reduction to the extent the expatriation of such Net Proceeds (1) would result in adverse tax or legal consequences, (2) would be reasonably likely to result in adverse personal liability of any director of the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary or (3) would result in the insolvency of a Foreign Subsidiary. The Issuer will commence a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds within ten (10) Business Days after the date that Collateral Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee.

Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale of non-Collateral (other than Specified ABL Facility Assets) that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in this Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to purchase or make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $200.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Company, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) that is at least $100,000 or €50,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000 or €1,000, respectively, in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.06; provided that with respect to any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales of non-Collateral realized or received by any Foreign Subsidiary, the aggregate amount of such Net Proceeds required to be applied shall be subject to reduction to the extent the expatriation of such Net Proceeds (1) would result in adverse tax or legal consequences, (2) would be reasonably likely to result in adverse personal liability of any director of the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary or (3) would result in the insolvency of the Foreign Subsidiary. The Issuer will commence an Asset Sale

 

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Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten (10) Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of Section 4.06(f), with a copy to the Trustee.

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such other First Priority Lien Obligations or Obligations secured by a Lien permitted by this Indenture (which Lien is not subordinate to the Lien of the Notes with respect to the Collateral) tendered pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer is less than the Collateral Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Collateral Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes or other First Priority Lien Obligations or such other Obligations surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other First Priority Lien Obligations or such other Obligations to be purchased in the manner described below. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.06(f). Upon completion of any such Collateral Asset Sale Offer or Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as the case may be, shall be reset at zero.

(c) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its Obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(d) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “ Offer Period ”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering holder in the amount of the purchase price as so specified in the Officer’s Certificate. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(e) Not later than the date upon which written notice of a Collateral Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Collateral Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Collateral Asset Sales pursuant to which such Collateral Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Collateral

 

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Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Collateral Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “ Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period ”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering holder in the amount of the purchase price as instructed in the Officer’s Certificate. In the event that the Collateral Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer reasonably promptly following its actual knowledge of the expiration of the Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(f) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered by the holder for purchase and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period or Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period, as the case may be, more Notes (and such First Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer than the Issuer is required to purchase, Notes tendered will be repurchased on a pro rata basis; provided that no Notes of $100,000 or €50,000 or less shall be purchased in part. Selection of such First Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable shall be made pursuant to the terms of such First Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness.

(g) The Issuer shall mail notices of an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each holder of Notes at such holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

SECTION 4.07. Transactions with Affiliates .

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $75.0 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (a) above.

 

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(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i) transactions between or among the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) and any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Issuer and any direct parent of the Issuer;

(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04 and Permitted Investments;

(iii) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, managers, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company;

(iv) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of Section 4.07(a);

(v) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to officers, directors, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith;

(vi) any agreement as in effect as of the Release Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Release Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by the Company;

(vii) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any registration rights agreement to which it is a party as of the Release Date, and any transaction, agreement or arrangement described in the Offering Memorandum and, in each case, any amendment thereto or similar agreements or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Release Date shall only be permitted by this clause (vii) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Release Date;

(viii) the Emergence Transactions, including the payment of fees and expenses paid in connection therewith;

(ix) (A) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (B) transactions with Joint Ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry norm;

 

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(x) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(xi) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Person;

(xii) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as appropriate, in good faith;

(xiii) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement that complies with Section 4.04(b)(xii);

(xiv) any contribution to the capital of the Company;

(xv) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries solely because a director of such Person is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(xvi) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xvii) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(xviii) any employment agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xix) transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company in an Officer’s Certificate) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any provision set forth in this Indenture; and

(xx) transactions entered into by a Person prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary ( provided such transaction is not entered into in contemplation of such event).

SECTION 4.08. Change of Control .

(a) Upon a Change of Control after the Release Date, each holder shall have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in this Section 4.08; provided , however , that notwithstanding the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall not be obligated to purchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08 in the event that it has exercised its right to redeem such Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture.

 

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(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture, the Issuer shall mail a notice (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date);

(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

(iv) the instructions determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.08, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

(c) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered for purchase by the holder and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

(d) On the repurchase date, all Notes purchased by the Issuer under this Section shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the holders entitled thereto.

(e) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the consummation of a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.08 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(g) Notes repurchased by the Issuer pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Issuer. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding clause (f) will have the status of Notes issued and outstanding.

(h) At the time the Issuer delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Issuer shall also deliver an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Issuer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering holder.

 

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(i) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Issuer to make such offer have been complied with.

(j) The Issuer shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.09. Compliance Certificate . The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2010, an Officer’s Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an Officer of the Issuer he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default that occurred during such period. If he or she does, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Issuer also shall comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA. Except with respect to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes and any Default or Event of Default information contained in the Officer’s Certificate delivered to it pursuant to this Section 4.09, the Trustee shall have no duty to review, ascertain or confirm the Issuer’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

SECTION 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts .

(a) The Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

(b) Within the time period set forth on Schedule 4.10, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall deliver, furnish and/or cause to be delivered or furnished, all of the documents as set forth on Schedule 4.10.

SECTION 4.11. Future Subsidiary Guarantors .

(a) The Company shall cause each (i) Domestic Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Issuer) that is Wholly Owned other than, at the election of the Issuer, an Excluded Subsidiary and (ii) Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Issuer) that guarantees the Senior Term Loan Facility to execute and deliver to the Trustee (a) a supplemental indenture joining each such Subsidiary of the Company to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto; and (b) Security Documents and intercreditor agreements providing for First Priority Lien Obligations (other than, in the case of the ABL Facility Collateral, which shall be subject to a second priority security interest), pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes on the same terms and subject to the same conditions and limitations as those described under Article 12 in this Indenture (each such guarantee of the Notes, an “ Additional Guarantee ”).

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing and the other provisions of this Indenture, any Additional Guarantee of the Notes by a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company that is a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary shall provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released

 

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and discharged in the circumstances described under Section 12.02 hereof. Any Additional Guarantee shall be considered a “Guarantee” as described Section 12.01 and any such Domestic Subsidiary of the Company providing such Additional Guarantee shall be considered a “Guarantor” as described under Section 12.01.

SECTION 4.12. Liens . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary, other than Liens securing Indebtedness that are junior in priority to the Liens on such property or assets securing the Notes on terms no less favorable in any material respect to the holders of the Notes than those set forth in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 4.13. After-Acquired Property . Subject to Permitted Liens and the 3-16 Exemption and the Excluded Assets limitations, if any of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor acquires any First Priority After-Acquired Property, the Company, the Issuer or such Pledgor shall execute and deliver such mortgages, deeds of trust, security instruments, financing statements and certificates and opinions of counsel as shall be reasonably necessary to vest in the Collateral Agent a perfected first priority security interest, subject only to Permitted Liens, in such First Priority After-Acquired Property and to have such First Priority After-Acquired Property added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such First Priority After-Acquired Property to the same extent and with the same force and effect. In addition, if granting a security interest in such property requires the consent of a third party, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consent (i) with respect to the first priority security interest for the benefit of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the holders of the Notes and for the benefit of the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent on behalf of the lenders under the Senior Term Loan Facility, (ii) with respect to the second priority security interest for the benefit of the ABL Collateral Agents on behalf of lenders under ABL Facility and (iii) with respect to the third priority security interest for the benefit of the trustee under the Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture on behalf of the holders of the Plan Roll-Up Notes. If such third party does not consent to the granting of the first priority security interest after the use of such commercially reasonable efforts, the applicable entity will not be required to provide such security interest. The Issuer, the Company and the Pledgors will also ensure that second priority security interests are maintained as security for the Notes in any property or assets pledged to secure the ABL Facility.

SECTION 4.14. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

(a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 13.02.

(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

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(c) The Issuer hereby designates the corporate trust office of the Trustee or its agent as such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.04.

SECTION 4.15. Covenant Suspension . If on any date following the Release Date, (i) the Notes have achieved and continue to maintain Investment Grade Ratings from two Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing (such period is referred to herein as an “ Investment Grade Status Period ”), then beginning on that date and continuing until the Reversion Date (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “ Covenant Suspension Event ”), Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07 and 5.01(c)(iv) (the “ Suspended Covenants ”) will not be applicable to the Notes.

If on any date subsequent to a Covenant Suspension Event (the “ Reversion Date ”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events. The period of time between the Covenant Suspension Event and the Reversion Date is referred to as the “ Suspension Period .”

On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified as having been Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or 4.03(b) (to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would be permitted to be Incurred or issued thereunder as of the Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness Incurred or issued prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reversion Date). To the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would not be so permitted to be Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or 4.03(b) such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Release Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.03(b)(iv). Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04 will be made as though Section 4.04 had been in effect since the Release Date and throughout the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a). As described above, however, no Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred on the Reversion Date as a result of any actions taken by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period. For purposes of Section 4.06, on the Reversion Date, the unutilized Collateral Excess Proceeds and Excess Proceeds amount will be reset to zero.

SECTION 4.16. Maintenance of Insurance . The Company shall maintain with reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its assets, properties and business against loss or damage to the extent available on commercially reasonable terms of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons of similar size engaged in the same or similar industry, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance (including captive industry insurance) reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons of similar size engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Company, the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances (including flood insurance) by such other Persons to the extent available to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on commercially reasonable terms.

SECTION 4.17. Additional Amounts .

(a) All payments made under or with respect to the Guarantee Agreement by (i) the Company or (ii) any entity that becomes a successor of the Company that is organized in a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia as a result of a merger of or other transaction permitted by Section 5.01 (each such person, a “ Payor ”) will be made free and clear of

 

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and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge (including, without limitation, penalties, interest and other similar liabilities related thereto) of whatever nature (collectively, “ Taxes ”) imposed or levied by or on behalf of any jurisdiction in which any Payor is organized, resident or doing business for tax purposes or from or through which any Payor makes any payment on the Notes or its Guarantee or any department or political subdivision thereof (each, a “ Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction ”), unless such Payor is required to withhold or deduct Taxes by law. If a Payor is required by law to withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of Taxes of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction from any payment made under or with respect to the Notes or such Guarantee, the Payor, subject to the exceptions listed below, will pay additional amounts (the “ Additional Amounts ”) as may be necessary to ensure that the net amount received by each holder of the Notes after such withholding or deduction (including withholding or deduction attributable to Additional Amounts payable hereunder) will not be less than the amount the holder would have received if such Taxes had not been withheld or deducted.

(b) A Payor will not, however, pay Additional Amounts to a holder or beneficial owner of Notes:

(1) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed but for the holder’s or beneficial owner’s present or former connection with the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or but for any such connection on the part of a partner, beneficiary, settlor or shareholder of such a holder or beneficial owner (other than any connection resulting from the acquisition, ownership, holding or disposition of Notes, the receipt of payments thereunder and/or the exercise or enforcement of rights under any Notes);

(2) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed but for the failure of the holder or beneficial owner of Notes, following the Payor’s written request addressed to the holder, to the extent such holder or beneficial owner is legally eligible to do so, to comply with any certification, identification, information or other reporting requirements, whether required by statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, Taxes imposed by the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (including, without limitation, a certification that the holder or beneficial owner is not resident in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction);

(3) with respect to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, personal property or any similar Taxes;

(4) with respect to any Taxes, which are payable otherwise than by withholding from payments of principal of or interest on the Notes;

(5) if such holder is a fiduciary or partnership or person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment and the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed on such payment had the holder been the beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner, as the case may be, of such Note (but only if there is no material cost or expense associated with transferring such Note to such beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner and no restriction on such transfer that is outside the control of such beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner);

(6) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed but for the presentation by the holder of any Note, where presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

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(7) with respect to any withholding or deduction that is imposed on a payment to an individual and that is required to made pursuant to the European Council Directive on the taxation of savings income which was adopted by the ECOFIN Council on June 3, 2003 or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to such directive (the “ EU Savings Tax Directive ”) or is required to be made pursuant to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation dated October 26, 2004 providing for measures equivalent to those laid down in the EU Savings Tax Directive (the “ EU-Swiss Savings Tax Agreement ”) or any law or other governmental regulation implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such agreement;

(8) to the extent of any Taxes imposed by the United States or any political subdivision thereof or tax authority therein; or

(9) any combination of items (1) through (8).

(c) The Payor will (i) make any such withholding or deduction required by applicable law and (ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law. The Payor will make reasonable efforts to obtain certified copies of tax receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld from each Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes. The Payor will provide to the Trustee, within a reasonable time after the date the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld are due pursuant to applicable law, either a certified copy of tax receipts evidencing such payment, or, if such tax receipts are not reasonably available to the Payor, such other documentation that provides reasonable evidence of such payment by the Payor.

(d) At least 30 calendar days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to a Guarantee is due and payable if the Payor will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payments (unless such obligation to pay Additional Amounts arises shortly before or after the 35th day prior to the date on which payment under or with respect to the Guarantee is due and payable, in which case it will be promptly due thereafter), the Payor will deliver to the Trustee, the Registrar and each Paying Agent an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable and the amounts so payable and will set forth such other information necessary to enable each Paying Agent to pay such Additional Amounts to the holders on the payment date. The Payor will promptly publish a notice in accordance with Section 13.02 stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable and describing the obligation to pay such Additional Amounts. The Issuer will pay to the Trustee or the Paying Agent such Additional Amounts and, if paid to a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, shall promptly provide the Trustee with documentation evidencing the payment of such Additional Amounts. Copies of such documentation shall be made available to the holders upon request. The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee and the Paying Agent for, and hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished to them pursuant to this Section 4.17.

The Payor will indemnify and hold harmless the holders of Notes, and, upon written request of any holder of Notes, reimburse such holder for the amount of (i) any Taxes levied or imposed by a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction and payable by such holder in connection with payments made under or with respect to the Notes held by such holder or any Guarantee; and (ii) any Taxes levied or imposed with respect to any reimbursement under the foregoing clause (i) or this clause (ii), so that the net amount received by such holder after such reimbursement will not be less than the net amount such holder would

 

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have received if the Taxes giving rise to the reimbursement described in clauses (i) and/or (ii) had not been imposed, provided , however , that the indemnification obligation provided for in this paragraph shall not extend to Taxes imposed for which the holder of the Notes would not have been entitled to receive payment of Additional Amounts hereunder by virtue of clauses (1) through (9) of subsection (b) above or to the extent such holder received Additional Amounts with respect to such payments. Whenever in this Indenture refers to, in any context, the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Note or any Guarantee, such reference includes the payment of Additional Amounts or indemnification payments as described hereunder, if applicable.

The foregoing obligations of this Section 4.17 will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this Indenture and the removal or resignation of the Trustee and the Agents and will apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to any Payor and to any jurisdiction in which such successor is organized or is otherwise resident or doing business for tax purposes or any jurisdiction from or through which payment is made by such successor or its respective agents.

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

SECTION 5.01. When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets .

(a) The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Company is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, Canada or any province thereof or any state which was a member of the European Union on December 31, 2003 (other than Greece) (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Company ”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(ii) the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the Obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form required by this Indenture and in compliance with the intercreditor agreements;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an Obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an Obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

 

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(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(v) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

(b) The Successor Company (if other than the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, and in such event the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this covenant, without complying with the foregoing clause (iv), the Company may (A) merge with an Affiliate that has no material assets or liabilities and that is incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Issuer in any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Canada or any province thereof or any state which was a member state of the European Union on December 31, 2003 (other than Greece) and (B) may otherwise convert its legal form under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.

(c) The Issuer may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (the Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Issuer ”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(ii) the Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) expressly assumes all the Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form required by this Indenture and in compliance with the intercreditor agreements;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an Obligation of the Successor Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness

 

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which becomes an Obligation of the Successor Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either (a) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(v) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

(d) The Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, and in such event the Issuer will automatically be released and discharged from its Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this covenant, without complying with the foregoing clause (4), the Issuer may (A) merge with an Affiliate that has no material assets or liabilities and that is incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Issuer, as the case may be, in any state of the U.S. or the District of Columbia and (B) may otherwise convert its legal form under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization so long as there remains a corporate co-obligor. This Section 5.01 shall not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(e) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04 (which govern the release of assets and property securing the Notes upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Pledgor), no Pledgor shall, and the Company shall not permit any Pledgor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Pledgor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) either (A) such Pledgor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Pledgor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Pledgor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Pledgor ”) and the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) expressly assumes all the Obligations of such Pledgor under this Indenture, the Security Documents and such Pledgor’s Obligations in respect of the Notes pursuant to documents or instruments in form required by this Indenture and in compliance with the intercreditor agreements, or (B) such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 4.06; and

(ii) the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Pledgor under this Indenture and such Pledgor’s Obligations in respect of the Notes, and such Pledgor will automatically be released and discharged from its Obligations under this Indenture and such Pledgor’s Obligations in respect of the Notes. Notwithstanding

 

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the foregoing, (1) a Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing such Pledgor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Pledgor is not increased thereby and (2) a Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Pledgor or the Company or may convert its legal form under the laws of reorganization in its jurisdiction.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Pledgor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (collectively, a “Transfer”) to the Company or any Pledgor.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the LCC Assumption and the related transactions shall be permitted under this Indenture.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default . An “ Event of Default ” occurs with respect to Notes if:

(a) there is a default in any payment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

(b) there is a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise,

(c) the failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture,

(d) the failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $100.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent,

(e) either the Company, the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences a voluntary case;

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

 

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(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency,

(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer;

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days,

(g) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $100.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days,

(h) the Guarantee of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or the Company denies or disaffirms its Obligations under this Indenture and such Default continues for 10 days,

(i) unless all of the Notes Collateral has been released from the first priority Liens in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture or the Security Documents, the first priority Liens on all or substantially all of the Notes Collateral cease to be valid or enforceable and such Default continues for 30 days, or the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and, in the case of any such Person that is a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company fails to cause such Subsidiary to rescind such assertions within 30 days after the Company has actual knowledge of such assertions, or

(j) the failure by the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Security Documents except for a failure that would not be material to the holders of the Notes and would not materially affect the value of the Collateral taken as a whole.

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

The term “ Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “ Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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However, a default under clauses (c) or (j) above shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 30% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the default and the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (c) or (j) hereof after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “ Notice of Default .” The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officer’s Certificate of any event which is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration . If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) hereof with respect to the Company or the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuer may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Company or the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes, this Indenture or the Security Documents.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. To the extent required by law, all available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults . Provided the Notes are not then due and payable by reason of a declaration of acceleration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes by written notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except (a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Note, (b) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Note when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (c) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured and the Issuer, the Trustee and the holders will be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

 

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SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority . The holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense for which it is not adequately indemnified, or subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable indemnification and security satisfactory to it in its reasonable discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits .

(a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

(ii) holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

(iii) such holders have offered the Trustee security and reasonable indemnity against any loss, liability or expense acceptable to the Trustee in its sole discretion,

(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security and indemnity, and

(v) the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

(b) A holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another holder.

SECTION 6.07. Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Notes) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee may file such proofs of claim, statements of interest and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements

 

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and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or the Company, any Pledgor, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities . Subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI and any other money or property distributable in respect of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee and the Agents for amounts due under Section 7.07;

SECOND: to the holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Issuer or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to the such Guarantor.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the holders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs . In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes.

SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws . Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE AND AGENTS

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee and Agents .

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in them by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee and Agents undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee and Agents (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee and Agents to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee and Agents may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and Agents and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee and Agents shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee and Agents shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee or Agents may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee or Agents shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer or Agent unless it is proved that the Trustee or Agent was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee or Agents to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur financial or personal liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section and paragraph (b) and (c) with respect to the Agents.

 

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(e) The Trustee and Agents shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee and Agents may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee and Agents shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the TIA.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee and Agents .

(a) The Trustee and Agents may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee and Agents need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee or Agents acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee and Agents shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee and Agents may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible or liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided , however , that the Trustee’s and Agents’ conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e) The Trustee and Agents may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee and Agents shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, but the Trustee and Agents, in their discretion, may (but shall not be obligated to) make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee or Agents shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, they shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuer and shall Incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation. Any and all notices, instructions, demands, requests, consents, appraisals, correspondence or other communications shall be in writing and delivered in accordance with Section 13.02.

(g) The Trustee or Agents shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee or Agents security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee or Agents against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be Incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

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(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee and Agents, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee and Agents in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(i) The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee and Agents or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

(j) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee and Agents in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon future holders of Notes and upon Notes executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

(k) The Trustee and Agents shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee or Agents at the Corporate Office of the Trustee or Agents, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(l) The Trustee and Agents may request that the Issuer deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(m) The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee and Agents have been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of actions.

(n) The Trustee and Agents shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

(o) The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee . The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s and Agents’ Disclaimer . The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Notes, Liens, Collateral or Security Documents, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer or any

 

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Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s or Agents’ certificate of authentication. The Trustee and Agents shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c)-(j) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee or Agents shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof from the Issuer, the Company or any Pledgor or any holder. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee and Agents acts solely as Trustee and Agents for the holders of the Notes and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the holders of Notes and the Issuer having any claim against the Trustee and Agents arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee and Agents hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each holder notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the holders. The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee, annually, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year. The Issuer also is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to the Holders . As promptly as practicable after each June 30 beginning with the June 30 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to July 30 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each holder a brief report dated as of such July 30 that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee shall also comply with Section 313(b) of the TIA.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed. The Issuer agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity . The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee and Agents from time to time such compensation, as the Issuer and the Trustee and Agents shall from time to time agree in writing, for the Trustee’s and Agent’s acceptance of this Indenture and its applicable services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee or Agents upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses Incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s or Agents’ applicable agents and counsel. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally shall indemnify the Trustee or Agents against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses except for such actions to the extent caused by any negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part) Incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Guarantee against the Issuer or any Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Guarantor, any holder or any other Person). The obligation to pay such amounts shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Notes or the removal or resignation of the Trustee or Agents. The Trustee and Agents shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided , however , that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuer

 

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shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Issuer and such Guarantor, as applicable shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided , however , that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Guarantor, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense; provided , further , that, unless the Issuer otherwise agrees in writing, the Issuer shall not be liable to pay fees and expenses of more than one counsel at any given time located within one particular jurisdiction. The Issuer needs not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense Incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee and Agents shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee and Agents other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.

The Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment and indemnity obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee or Agents. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee and Agents under applicable law, when the Trustee and Agents Incur expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee or Agents to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur any financial or personal liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity and security against such risk or liability is not assured to its satisfaction.

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee and Agents .

(a) The Trustee or Agents may resign by so notifying the Issuer in writing at least 30 days in advance. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee or Agents by so notifying the Issuer and the applicable Trustee or Agent and may appoint a successor Trustee or Agent with the Issuer’s consent. A resignation or removal of a Trustee or Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or Agent shall become effective only with the successor Trustee’s or Agents’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee or Agent if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(ii) the Trustee or Agent is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee or Agent otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee or any Agent resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or an Agent for any reason (the Trustee or Agent in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee or retiring Agent), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Agent.

 

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(c) The successor Trustee or Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or Agent and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or Agent shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or Agent under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or Agent shall mail a notice of its succession to the holders. The retiring Trustee or Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Agent to the successor Trustee or Agent, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(d) If a successor Trustee or Agent does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee or Agent resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or Agent or the holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or Agent.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Agent.

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee or Agent by Merger . If the Trustee or Agent consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or Agent; provided , however , that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VII.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee or Agent shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee or Agent may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or agent, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee or Agent may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee or agent; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee or Agent shall have.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification . The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided , however , that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuer are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer . The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

 

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SECTION 7.12. Escrow Authorization . Each holder, by its acceptance of a Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, including related documents thereto, as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in writing by the parties thereto ( provided that no amendment that would materially adversely affect the rights of the holders may be effected without the consent of each holder of Notes affected thereby), and authorizes and directs the Trustee to enter into the Escrow Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. Escrow Issuer shall do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Escrow Agreement, to assure and confirm to the Trustee the security interest contemplated by the Escrow Agreement or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the intent and purpose herein expressed. Escrow Issuer shall take, or shall cause to be taken, any and all actions reasonably required to cause the Escrow Agreement to create and maintain, as security for the obligations of Escrow Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes as provided in the Escrow Agreement, valid and enforceable first priority perfected liens in and on all the Escrow Proceeds, in favor of the Trustee for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the holders, superior to and prior to the rights of third Persons and subject to no other Liens.

SECTION 7.13. Payment of Parallel Debt Pursuant to Dutch Law .

(a) In this Section 7.13:

DBTCA ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas;

Dutch Security Documents ” means any Security Documents governed by the laws of the Netherlands; and

Principal Obligations ” means all present and future Obligations to the extent for the payment of money (whether actual or contingent and whether owed jointly or severally) by the Issuer under this Indenture.

(b) With respect to Dutch Security Documents, and solely for purposes of the laws of the Netherlands:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to DBTCA an amount equal to the aggregate of all Principal Obligations due and payable but unpaid (the “ Parallel Debt ”);

(ii) the Parallel Debt constitutes obligations and liabilities of the Issuer to DBTCA which are separate and independent from, and without prejudice to, the Principal Obligations and the Parallel Debt represents DBTCA’s own independent right to receive payment of the Parallel Debt from the Issuer;

(iii) notwithstanding Section 7.13(b)(ii), if DBTCA receives or recovers any amount in respect of (A) the Parallel Debt, the Principal Obligations decrease by that amount as if that amount was received or recovered directly in payment of the Principal Obligations and, for the avoidance of doubt, (B) the Principal Obligations, the Parallel Debt decreases by that amount as if that amount had been received or recovered directly in payment of the Parallel Debt;

 

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(iv) the parties acknowledge and confirm that the provisions contained in this Section 7.13 shall not be interpreted so as to increase the maximum total amount of the Principal Obligations under this Indenture; and

(v) the Issuer shall not repay or prepay Parallel Debt if and as long as it owes Principal Obligations, unless directed to do so by DBTCA and the Issuer is otherwise required to repay or prepay the Principal Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE VIII

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance .

(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when:

(i) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the Notes (1) have become due and payable, (2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (3) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(ii) the Issuer and/or the Company has paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all of its Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to the holders of the Notes) (“ legal defeasance option ”) or (ii) its Obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 and 4.16 and the operation of Section 5.01 for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, and Sections 6.01(c), 6.01(d) and Sections 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) and 6.01(j) (“ covenant defeasance option ”). The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) by exercising its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the Obligations of each Guarantor with respect to the Notes and the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such Obligations.

 

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If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) or 6.01(j) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.01(a)(iv).

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those Obligations that the Issuer terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 4.14, 7.07, 7.08 and in this Article VIII shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance .

(a) The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee, in the case of the Dollar Notes, cash in U.S. Dollars or Government Obligations and in the case of the Euro Notes, cash in euros or non-callable government obligations of any member nation of the European Union whose official currency is the Euro, rated AAA or better by S&P and Aaa or better by Moody’s, in each case in such amounts or a combination thereof as will be sufficient to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date;

(ii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited Government Obligations or deposited non-callable government obligations of any member nation of the European Union whose official currency is the Euro, rated AAA or better by S&P and Aaa or better by Moody’s plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(iii) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Issuer and is not prohibited by Article X;

(v) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding

 

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the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer;

(vi) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes;

(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and

(viii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article VIII have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article III.

SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money . The Trustee shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations, non-callable government obligations of any member nation of the European Union whose official currency is the Euro, rated AAA or better by S&P and Aaa or better by Moody’s, as applicable, (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article VIII. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations and euros, as applicable, through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Issuer . Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money, Government Obligations, non-callable government obligations of any member nation of the European Union whose official currency is the Euro, rated AAA or better by S&P and Aaa or better by Moody’s held by it as provided in this Article which, in the written opinion of nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if Government Obligations, non-callable government obligations of any member nation of the European Union whose official currency is the Euro, rated AAA or better by S&P and Aaa or better by Moody’s, as applicable, have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations . The Issuer shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such Government Obligations.

 

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SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement . If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII; provided , however , that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, or interest on, any such Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of the Holders .

(a) The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Notes without notice to or consent of any holder:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or to make any other provisions as may be necessary or desirable, including the making of any modifications in the form of the Note, provided that such actions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Notes in any material respect;

(ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes;

(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the Obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Pledgor of the Obligations of a Pledgor under this Indenture and the Security Documents;

(iv) to add a Guarantor with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11;

(v) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; provided , however , that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

(vi) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Escrow Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement to any provision of the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the “Description of Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Escrow Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

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(vii) to evidence and provide acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent or Transfer Agent under this Indenture;

(viii) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository;

(ix) to add a Pledgor with respect to the Notes or to add Collateral to secure the Notes;

(x) to release Collateral in compliance with this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(xi) to add additional secured creditors holding Other First-Lien Obligations, other Junior Lien Obligations or any other secured Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred so long as such Obligations are in compliance with this Indenture, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents;

(xii) to add to the covenants of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(xiii) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA;

(xiv) to make any change that would provide any additional benefit or rights to the holders or that does not adversely affect in any material respect the legal rights of any holder;

(xv) to provide for the issuance of the Exchange Notes, which shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Notes, and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Initial Notes, as a single issue of securities;

(xvi) to consummate the LCC Assumption in accordance with this Indenture and the Escrow Agreement;

(xvii) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository; or

(xviii) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes under this Indenture in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture.

(b) The Trustee may require an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel that such amendment under this Section 9.01(a) is permitted under this Indenture and that all conditions have been complied with. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, and delivery of an Officer’s Certificate.

(c) After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, provided that in the case of an amendment pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(xiv), no such notice shall be required. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

 

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SECTION 9.02. With Consent of the Holders .

(a) The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture and the Security Documents with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes). However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected, an amendment may not:

(1) reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,

(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(3) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed in accordance with Article III,

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note,

(6) expressly subordinate the Notes to any other Indebtedness of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor,

(7) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes,

(8) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions,

(9) make any change in the provisions in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture dealing with the application of proceeds of Collateral that would adversely affect the holders of the Notes, or

(10) except as expressly provided by this Indenture, modify or release the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes.

In addition, without the consent of the holders of at least 66% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents with respect to the Notes.

Without the consent of the holders of at least 75% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may make any change to, or extend the time for performance under, the escrow release provisions described in the Escrow Agreement or the Special Mandatory Redemption provisions described under Section 3.09 of this Indenture.

For purposes of any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of Notes, the principal amount, on the relevant date of determination, of Notes, the holders of which have so consented or otherwise taken action, and of Notes then outstanding, shall be calculated in U.S. dollars, with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Euro Notes converted into U.S. dollars using the U.S. Dollar-Equivalent on the Issue Date.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act . From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, every amendment, waiver or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers .

(a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a holder of a Note shall bind the holder and every subsequent holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such holder or subsequent holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of consents by the holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer and the Trustee.

(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes . If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Issuer may require the holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments . The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity and security reasonably satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Company, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03).

 

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SECTION 9.07. Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount . All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote) as one class and no Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter only if the Issuer so elects pursuant to Section 2.01 of this Indenture. Determinations as to whether holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article IX and Section 2.14.

ARTICLE X

RANKING OF NOTE LIENS

SECTION 10.01. Relative Rights . The First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement define the relative rights, as lienholders, of holders of first priority Liens, holders of Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations and holders of Liens securing Junior Lien Obligations. Nothing in this Indenture or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement will:

(a) impair, as between the Issuer and holders of Notes, the Obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, premium and interest on Notes in accordance with their terms or to perform any other obligation of the Issuer or any other obligor under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents;

(b) restrict the right of any holder to sue for payments that are then due and owing, in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(c) prevent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder from exercising against the Issuer or any other obligor any of its other available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default (other than its rights as a secured party, which are subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement); or

(d) restrict the right of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder:

(1) to file and prosecute a petition seeking an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case as to any obligor or otherwise to commence, or seek relief commencing, any insolvency or liquidation proceeding involuntarily against any obligor;

(2) to make, support or oppose any request for an order for dismissal, abstention or conversion in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding;

(3) to make, support or oppose, in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, any request for an order extending or terminating any period during which the debtor (or any other Person) has the exclusive right to propose a plan of reorganization or other dispositive restructuring or liquidation plan therein;

(4) to seek the creation of, or appointment to, any official committee representing creditors (or certain of the creditors) in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings and, if appointed, to serve and act as a member of such committee without being in any respect restricted or bound by, or liable for, any of the obligations under this Article X;

 

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(5) to seek or object to the appointment of any professional person to serve in any capacity in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding or to support or object to any request for compensation made by any professional person or others therein;

(6) to make, support or oppose any request for order appointing a trustee or examiner in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings; or

(7) otherwise to make, support or oppose any request for relief in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding that it is permitted by law to make, support or oppose:

if it were a holder of unsecured claims; or

(x) as to any matter relating to any plan of reorganization or other

(y) restructuring or liquidation plan or as to any matter relating to the administration of the estate or the disposition of the case or proceeding (in each case except as set forth in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

ARTICLE XI

COLLATERAL

SECTION 11.01. Security Documents . Prior to a Special Mandatory Redemption or Release Date, payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, pursuant to a Special Mandatory Redemption under Section 3.09 or an acceleration under Section 6.02, shall be secured by a pledge of the Escrow Proceeds as described in the Escrow Agreement, pursuant to which the Escrow Agent will grant the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, a first priority security interest in the escrow account and all deposits therein to secure the Special Mandatory Redemption. Upon release of the funds from escrow after the LCC Assumption and on the Release Date, the Company, the Issuer, the Pledgors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall enter into one or more collateral agreements (as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time, the “ Collateral Agreement ”) establishing the terms of the security interests and Liens that secure the Notes. These security interests will secure the payment and performance when due of all of the Obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture and the Guarantors under the Guarantee, as provided in the Security Documents.

The Company shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, and each Restricted Subsidiary shall, make all filings (including filings of continuation statements and amendments to UCC financing statements that may be necessary to continue the effectiveness of such UCC financing statements) and all other actions as are necessary or required by the Security Documents to maintain (at the sole cost and expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) the security interest created by the Security Documents in the Collateral (other than with respect to any Collateral the security interest in which is not required to be perfected under the Security Documents or this Indenture) as a perfected first priority security interest subject only to Permitted Liens.

SECTION 11.02. Collateral Agent .

(a) The Collateral Agent shall have all the rights and protections provided in the Security Documents.

 

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(b) Subject to Section 7.01, neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys or agents will be responsible or liable for the existence, genuineness, value or protection of any Collateral, for the legality, enforceability, effectiveness or sufficiency of the Security Documents, for the creation, perfection, priority, sufficiency or protection of any first priority Lien, or any defect or deficiency as to any such matters.

(c) Subject to the First Lien Security Documents and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (i) the Trustee shall direct the Collateral Agent and (ii) except as directed by the Trustee as required or permitted by this Indenture and any other representatives or pursuant to the Security Documents, the holders acknowledge that the Collateral Agent will not be obligated:

(1) to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any other Person;

(2) to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any first priority Lien; or

(3) to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the first priority Liens, Security Documents or Collateral.

(d) The holders of Notes agree that the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities and benefits provided to the Collateral Agent by the Security Documents. Furthermore, each holder of a Note, by accepting such Note, consents to the terms of and authorizes and directs the Trustee (in each of its capacities) and hereby appoints, authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into and perform the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and Security Documents in each of its capacities thereunder.

(e) If the Issuer (i) Incurs First Priority Lien Obligations at any time when the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement is not in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing intercreditor agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) directs the Trustee to deliver to the Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement in effect on the Issue Date) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Priority Lien Obligations so Incurred, the holders acknowledge that the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized and directed to enter into such intercreditor agreement, bind the holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

SECTION 11.03. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken .

(a) Each holder, by its acceptance of the Notes, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, authorizes and directs the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to bind the holders of Notes and other holders of Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

(b) The Trustee is authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the holders of Notes any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 hereof, and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Trustee may (but shall not be obligated to), in its sole discretion and without the consent of the holders, direct, on behalf of the holders, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(1) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the first priority Liens;

(2) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(3) collect and receive payment of any and all Obligations.

Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the first priority Liens or the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the holders of Notes in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

SECTION 11.04. Release of Collateral .

(a) Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Liens on Collateral securing the Notes will be automatically and unconditionally released:

(1) as to any property or asset (including Capital Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company), to enable the Company, the Issuer and the Pledgors to consummate the disposition of such property or asset to the extent not prohibited by clause (6) below or under the covenants described under Section 4.04 or Section 4.06;

(2) to release Excess Proceeds and Collateral Excess Proceeds to the Issuer that remain unexpended after the conclusion of an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer conducted in accordance with this Indenture and not required to be made a part of the Collateral;

(3) in respect of the property and assets of a Pledgor, upon the designation of such Pledgor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the covenant described under Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(4) to the extent (x) greater than $750.0 million of loans are outstanding under the Senior Term Loan Facility and (y) the Collateral is released from the Liens securing the Senior Term Loan Facility and is not otherwise securing or will not be securing Indebtedness outstanding under any refinancing or replacement thereof or any other similar Secured Indebtedness or any Indebtedness secured by junior Liens on the Collateral;

 

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(5) in respect of the property and assets of a Guarantor upon release of the Guarantee with respect to the Notes of such Guarantor;

(6) in the case of the property and assets of a specific Pledgor, upon such Pledgor making a Transfer of such assets to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Pledgor; provided that (i) such Transfer is not subject to Section 5.01 and (ii) the aggregate net book value of the assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are at any time Notes Collateral (excluding cash proceeds of accounts receivable, inventory and related assets) that are so transferred pursuant to this clause (6) subsequent to the Release Date shall not exceed 5% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries per year and shall not be in an amount that will result in an Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to qualify as an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with the definition thereof; provided , further , that Liens on all property and assets of any Subsidiary of Lyondell Europe Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be automatically and unconditionally released upon any transfer of such Subsidiary;

(7) as described under Article IX; or

(8) as to the pledge of Capital Stock of first-tier Foreign Subsidiaries, in connection with a reorganization, change or modification of the direct or indirect ownership of Foreign Subsidiaries by the Company, the Issuer or a Pledgor, as applicable, in compliance with this Indenture, a release may be obtained as to such Capital Stock in connection with the substitution of pledge of 65% of the voting Capital Stock and 100% of the non-voting Capital Stock of any one or more new or replacement first-tier Foreign Subsidiaries pursuant to valid Security Documents.

In addition, the security interests granted pursuant to the Security Documents securing the Notes Obligations shall automatically terminate and/or be released all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the applicable Pledgors (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), as of the date upon (i) the payment in full of principal of premium (if any), on, and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) on the Notes and all the Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture and the Security Documents (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities not then due) have been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds; (ii) a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance or discharge under Article VIII; or (iii) the holders of at least 66% in aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued under this Indenture consent to the termination of the Security Documents.

In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section 11.04(a), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), at such Pledgor’s expense, all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence and provide such termination or release (including, without limitation, UCC termination statements), and will duly assign and transfer to such Pledgor, such of the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) that may be in the possession of the Collateral Agent and has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 11.04(a) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent. In connection with any release pursuant to this Section 11.04(a), the Pledgors shall be permitted to take any action in connection therewith consistent with such release including, without limitation, the filing of UCC termination statements.

 

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Upon the receipt of an Officers’ Certificate from the Issuer, as described in Section 11.04(b) below, if applicable, and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Issuer, the Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents or the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in connection with (x) any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 11.04(a)(1), (6), (7) or (8) above, such Collateral may not be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents and (y) any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 11.04(a)(2), (3), (4) and (5), the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute, deliver or acknowledge any instruments of termination, satisfaction or release unless, in each case, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all conditions precedent, including, without limitation, this Section 11.04, have been met and stating under which of the circumstances set forth in Section 11.04(a) above the Collateral is being released have been delivered to the Collateral Agent on or prior to the date of such release or, in the case of clause (y) above, the date on which the Collateral Agent executes any such instrument.

(c) To the extent that Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act requires or would require (or is replaced with another rule or regulation, or any other law, rule or regulation is adopted, that would require) the filing with the SEC (or any other governmental agency) of separate financial statements of any Subsidiary of the Company due to the fact that such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock secures the Notes, then the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary will automatically be deemed not to be part of the Notes Collateral securing the Notes but only to the extent necessary to not be subject to such requirement and only for so long as required to not be subject to such requirement (such requirement, the “ 3-16 Exemption ”); provided that the 3-16 Exemption will not apply to the capital stock of the Issuer and LyondellBasell Subholdings, B.V. In such event, the Security Documents may be amended or modified, without the consent of any holder of such Notes, to the extent necessary to release the security interests in favor of the Collateral Agent on the shares of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary that are so deemed to no longer constitute part of the Notes Collateral. In the event that Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act is amended, modified or interpreted by the SEC to permit (or is replaced with another rule or regulation, or any other law, rule or regulation is adopted, that would permit) such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to secure the Notes in excess of the amount then pledged without the filing with the SEC (or any other governmental agency) of separate financial statements of such Subsidiary, then the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary will automatically be deemed to be a part of the Notes Collateral.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at any time when a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the maturity of the Notes has been accelerated (whether by declaration or otherwise) and the Trustee has delivered a notice of acceleration to the Collateral Agent, no release of Collateral pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Security Documents will be effective as against the holders, except as otherwise provided in the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 11.05. Filing, Recording and Opinions .

(a) The Issuer will comply with the provisions of TIA Sections 314(b), 314(c) and 314(d), in each case following qualification of this Indenture pursuant to the TIA and except to the extent not required as set forth in any SEC regulation or interpretation (including any no-action letter issued by the Staff of the SEC, whether issued to the Issuer or any other Person). Following such qualification, to the extent the Issuer is required to furnish to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel pursuant to TIA Section 314(b)(2), the Issuer will furnish such opinion not more than 60 but not less than 30 days prior to each September 30.

 

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Any release of Collateral permitted by Section 11.04 hereof will be deemed not to impair the Liens under this Indenture and the Security Documents in contravention thereof and any person that is required to deliver an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 314(d) of the TIA, shall be entitled to rely upon the foregoing as a basis for delivery of such certificate and opinion. The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents, Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

(b) If any Collateral is released in accordance with this Indenture and if the Issuer has delivered the certificates and documents required by the Security Documents and Section 11.04, the Trustee will determine whether it has received all documentation required by TIA Section 314(d) in connection with such release and, based on such determination and Officer’s Certificate and the Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 11.04, will, upon request, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent setting forth such determination.

(c) Any certificate or opinion required by Section 314(d) of the TIA may be made by an Officer of the Issuer, except in cases where Section 314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries will not be required to comply with all or any portion of Section 314(d) of the TIA if they determine, in good faith based on advice of counsel, that under the terms of that section and/or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of Section 314(d) of the TIA is inapplicable to the released Collateral.

(e) Upon the request of the Trustee, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel in respect of any matter in furtherance of the foregoing transactions contemplated by this Section 11.05.

SECTION 11.06. [ Intentionally Omitted .]

SECTION 11.07. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee . In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XI upon the Issuer or the Company with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or the Company or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XI; and if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture or the Security Documents, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

SECTION 11.08. Release upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations . In the event (i) that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee, in form and substance acceptable to it, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all the obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, and all such obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a discharge, legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of this Indenture occurs under Article VIII, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, or, if applicable, a Special Mandatory redemption occurs and the obligations under the Escrow Agreement are also met, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall (or shall direct the Collateral Agent to) do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

 

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SECTION 11.09. Designations . Except as provided in the next sentence, for purposes of the provisions hereof and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement requiring the Issuer to designate Indebtedness for the purposes of the terms First Priority Lien Obligations and Other First Lien Obligations or any other such designations hereunder or under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any such designation shall be sufficient if the relevant designation provides in writing that such First Priority Lien Obligations or Other First Lien Obligations are permitted under this Indenture and is signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in an Officer’s Certificate.

ARTICLE XII

GUARANTEE

SECTION 12.01. Guarantee .

(a) Prior to the Release Date, the Company, by execution of this Indenture, will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee and the Agents) and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on in respect of the Notes (the “ Guarantee ”) and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes and the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). Upon release from escrow on the Release Date and from and after the date of the LCC Assumption, the Company and each existing and subsequently acquired or organized direct or indirect Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, by execution of this Indenture, (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) (each such entity, a “ Guarantor ”) will, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee on a first-priority secured basis, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee and the Agents) and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on in respect of the Notes (the “ Guarantee ”) and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing, including the Guarantee, being hereinafter collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from any Guarantor, and that each Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article XII notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

(b) To the extent applicable, each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or each Guarantor; (v)

 

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the failure of any holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of each Guarantor, except as provided in Section 12.02(b) or Section 12.02(c). Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its Obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed.

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(e) The Guarantee of each Guarantor is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Article XII, will be the senior secured Obligations of the Guarantors, equal in right of payment to all existing and future Pari Passu Indebtedness, equal in right of payment to all existing and future unsubordinated Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor, and subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Secured Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor and is made subject to such provisions of this Indenture.

(f) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 12.02 and 12.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(g) Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise.

(h) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the holders, the Trustee and Agents.

 

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(i) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of the Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article VI, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Company for the purposes of this Section 12.01.

(j) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee, the Agents or any holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 12.01.

(k) Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.02. Limitation on Liability .

(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by each Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(b) The Obligations of any Guarantor, including the Company, under its Guaranteed Obligations will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all Obligations under this Article XII when any of the following occurs:

(i) upon the full and final payment by or on behalf of the Issuer of all of its Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

(ii) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company (subject to the provisions described under Section 5.01) any issuance, sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition (including, without limitation, by way of acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer, conveyance or otherwise), directly or indirectly, of Capital Stock of such Guarantor (or any parent of such Guarantor) to any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that results in such Guarantor ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such issuance, sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition is made in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company, the designation of such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iv) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company (subject to the provisions described under Section 5.01), upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor; provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would be caused thereby;

 

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(v) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company, the occurrence of legal defeasance or covenant defeasance in accordance with this Indenture;

(vi) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company and for those limitations described in the following paragraph, in the event that the continued Obligation of such Guarantor under its Guarantee or the continued existence of such Guarantee will result in a violation of applicable law that cannot be avoided or otherwise prevented through measures reasonably available to the Company or such Guarantor; provided that all guarantees, if any, of all other First Priority Lien Obligations by such Guarantor are also released; or

(vii) upon such Guarantor being designated as an Excluded Subsidiary in compliance with this Indenture and the Company gives written notice of such release to the Trustee.

In addition to the initial Guarantors, other Domestic Subsidiaries may become Guarantors after the Release Date, as provided under Section 4.11 and Section 12.06 of this Indenture. The Guaranteed Obligations of the Guarantors will be limited as necessary to recognize certain defenses generally available to guarantors (including those that relate to fraudulent conveyance or transfer, voidable preference, financial assistance, corporate purpose, capital maintenance or similar laws, regulations or defenses affecting the rights of creditors generally) or other considerations under applicable law.

SECTION 12.03. Successors and Assigns . This Article XII shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee, the Agents and the holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any holder, the Agents or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.04. No Waiver . Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee, the Agents or the holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article XII shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee, the Agents and the holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article XII at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 12.05. Modification . No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article XII, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle any Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 12.06. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Note Guarantors . Each Subsidiary and other Person which is required to become a Guarantor of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit D hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary or other Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article XII and shall guarantee the Notes. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary or other Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a valid and binding obligation of such guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms and/or to such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

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SECTION 12.07. Non-Impairment . The failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Note shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “ incorporated provision ”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318 of the TIA, inclusive, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

SECTION 13.02. Notices .

(a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer, the Company or a Guarantor:

Lyondell Chemical Company

1221 McKinney St

Suite 700

Houston, TX 77010

Facsimile:

Attention: Craig B. Glidden, Esq.

if to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust FSB

166 Mercer Street, Suite 2-R

New York, NY 10012

Facsimile: (212) 343-1079

Attention: Adam Berman, Vice President CCS - Global Financial

if to the U.S. Paying Agent, U.S. Registrar or Collateral Agent:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust & Securities Services

60 Wall Street, MS NYC60-2710

New York, New York 10005

Tel: 201-593-3543

Fax: 732-578-4635

Attn: Corporate Deal Manager – Lyondell

with a copy to:

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

Trust & Securities Services

 

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100 Plaza One

6 th Floor - MS JCY03-0699

Jersey City, NJ 07311-3901

Fax: 732-578-4635

Attention: Corporate Deal Team - Lyondell

if to the Euro Paying Agent:

Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch

10 Bishops Square

London, E1 6AO

United Kingdomif to the Euro Registrar:

Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A.

2, Boulevard Konrad Adenauer

L-1115 Luxembourg

Luxembourg

The Issuer or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a holder shall be mailed, first class mail, to the holder at the holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

(c) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

SECTION 13.03. Communication by the Holders with Other Holders . The holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and other Persons shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

SECTION 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(a) an Officer’s Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

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(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided , however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 13.06. When Notes Disregarded . In determining whether the holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 13.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 13.08. Legal Holidays . If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular Record Date is not a Business Day, the Record Date shall not be affected.

SECTION 13.09. GOVERNING LAW . THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

SECTION 13.10. No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Company, Issuer or any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any Obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor under the Notes or this Indenture 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.

SECTION 13.11. Successors . All agreements of the Issuer and the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 13.12. Multiple Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 13.13. Table of Contents; Headings . The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 13.14. Indenture Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

SECTION 13.15. Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 13.16. Intercreditor Agreements . The terms of this Indenture are subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 13.17. PATRIOT Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee and the Agents, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account. The parties to this agreement agree that they will provide to the Trustee and the Agents with such information as it may request in order to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

SECTION 13.18. Force Majeure . In no event shall the Trustee or any Agent be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond the Trustee’s or the Agents’ control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot or embargo, which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Indenture.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY
By:  

            /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Vice President

  Name:     Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:     Authorized Person
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
By:  

            /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien

  Name:     Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:     Authorized Person

[Amended and Restated Indenture]


BASELL NORTH AMERICA INC.

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP

EQUISTAR GP, LLC

EQUISTAR LP, LLC

HOUSTON REFINING LP

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL F&F HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL FINANCE COMPANY

LYONDELLBASELL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES, LLC

LYONDELL CHEMICAL INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL OVERSEAS SERVICES, INC.

LYONDELL CHIMIE FRANCE LLC

LYONDELL REFINING COMPANY LLC

By:

 

              /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Vice President

  Name:     Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:     Authorized Person

 

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LYONDELL CHEMICAL DELAWARE COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY 1 INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, L.P.

LYONDELL EUROPE HOLDINGS INC.

LYONDELL REFINING I LLC

By:  

              /s/ Francis P. McGrail

  Name:     Francis P. McGrail
  Title:     Authorized Person


WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, as Trustee
By:  

              /s/ Adam Berman

  Name:     Adam Berman
  Title:     Vice President
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON BRANCH,
as Euro Paying Agent and Common Depositary
By:  

              /s/ S. Harding

  Name:     S. Harding
  Title:     Vice President
By:  

              /s/ M. Keeler

  Name:     M. Keeler
  Title:     Vice President
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, U.S. Paying Agent, and U.S. Registrar
By:   Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
By:  

              /s/ Cynthia J. Powell

  Name:     Cynthia J. Powell
  Title:     Vice President
By:  

              /s/ David Contino

  Name:     David Contino
  Title:     Vice President
DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A.,
as Euro Note Registrar
By:  

              /s/ S. Harding

  Name:     S. Harding
  Title:     Attorney
By:  

              /s/ M. Keeler

  Name:     M. Keeler
  Title:     Attorney


Schedule 4.10

Post-Closing Matters

(a) Within ninety (90) days after the Release Date, to the extent not previously delivered, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received each of the following documents:

 

  (i) Title Insurance. With respect to each Mortgage encumbering Mortgaged Property, a ALTA policy of title insurance (or commitment to issue such a policy having the effect of a loan policy of title insurance) insuring (or committing to insure) the lien of such Mortgage (either on a per-property basis or on a collective basis) as a valid and enforceable first-priority mortgage or deed of trust lien on each Mortgaged Property (other than pipeline easements) described therein, in an amount equal to not less than the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property (such policies collectively, the “Mortgage Policies”) issued by the title insurance company, which reasonably assures the Collateral Agent that the Mortgages on such Mortgaged Properties are valid and enforceable mortgage liens on the respective Mortgaged Properties, free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except Permitted Collateral Liens (as defined in the Mortgages) and such Mortgage Policies shall otherwise be in customary form and substance and shall bear such title endorsement as are necessary and advisable in connection with the creation of the security interest evidenced by such Mortgage.

 

  (ii) Survey. The Company shall deliver to the applicable title insurance company any and all surveys and any and all affidavits as may be reasonably necessary to cause such title insurance company to issue the title insurance required pursuant to clause (i) above.

 

  (iii) Consent s. With respect to the applicable Mortgaged Property, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to acquire such consents, approvals or tenant subordination agreements, as are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions or as shall be necessary and advisable in order for the owner or holder of such Mortgaged Property to grant the lien contemplated by the Mortgage.

 

  (iv) Mortgaged Property Indemnification. With respect to each Mortgaged Property, such affidavits, certificates, instruments of indemnification and other items (including a so-called “gap” indemnification) as shall be reasonably required to induce the title insurance company to issue the Mortgage Polices and endorsements contemplated above.

 

  (v) Collateral Fees and Expenses. Evidence of payment by the Company of all Mortgage Policy premiums, search and examination charges and issuance of the Mortgage Policies referred to above.

 

  (vi) Amendments . If necessary (or advisable in connection with the creation of the security interest evidenced by Mortgages) amendments to the Mortgages duly authorized, executed and acknowledged, in recordable form with respect to each Mortgaged Property sufficient for the owner of such Mortgaged Property to (x) grant to the Collateral Agent and/or confirm the Collateral Agent’s Mortgage lien on and security interests in such Mortgaged Property, (y) confirm such owner’s right and indefeasible title thereto and (z) confirm the Mortgaged Property to be encumbered thereby.


ANNEX A

MORTGAGED PROPERTY

 

 

Bayport Choate Plant, 10801 Choate Road, Pasadena, Texas 77507

 

 

Channelview Chemical Complex (South) 2502 Sheldon Road, Channelview, Texas 77530

 

 

Bayport Underwood Plant, 5761 Underwood Drive, Pasadena, Texas 77507

 

 

Equistar Chemicals (North) 8280 Sheldon Road, Channelview, Texas 77530

 

 

3400 Anamosa Road, Clinton, Iowa 52732

 

 

1501 McKinzie Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78410

 

 

1515 Miller Cut-Off Road, La Porte, Texas 77571

 

 

US Highway 60, 13 miles south of Bay City, Bay City, Texas 77414

 

 

8805 N. Tabler Road, Morris, Illinois 60450

 

 

Old Bloomington Highway, Victoria, Texas 77902 – Leasehold Mortgage

 

 

11530 Northlake Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

 

 

12000 Lawndale, Houston, Texas 77017

 

 

Bayport Plant, 12001 Bay Area Blvd., Pasadena, TX 77507

 

 

Lake Charles Plant, 14101 Highway 108 South, Westlake, Louisiana 70669

 

 

601 Crestwood, Jacksonville, Florida 32208

 

 

2 miles West of FM 2917 on FM 2004, Alvin, Texas 77512

 

 

625 East U.S. Highway 36, Tuscola, Douglas County, Illinois 61953

 

 

1350 Miller Cut-Off Road, La Porte, Texas 77571

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Neuces County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in San Patricio County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Refugio County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Calhoun County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Victoria County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Jackson County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Matagorda County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Brazoria County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Harris County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Galveston County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Chambers County, TX

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Calcasieu Parish, LA

 

 

Those certain pipeline easements located in Orange County, TX


EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF DOLLAR NOTE

[Face of Dollar Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

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CUSIP: [144A:50178T AA5/ Reg. S:U5139FAA4]

ISIN: [144A: US50178TAA51/ Reg. S: USU5139FAA40]

[RULE 144A] [REGULATION S] GLOBAL NOTE

representing up to

$[                      ]

8% Senior Secured Note due 2017

 

No.         

[$                      ]

LBI ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (to be merged with and into LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as the surviving entity), promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Note attached hereto on November 1, 2017.

Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1

Record Dates: April 15 and October 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

A-1-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

LBI ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

Dated: April 8, 2010

 

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This is one of the Dollar Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Authenticating Agent
By Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
By:  

 

Authorized Signatory

 

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[Back of Dollar Note]

8% Senior Secured Note Due 2017

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. LBI ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (to be merged with and into LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as the surviving entity) (the “ Issuer ,”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Dollar Note at 8% per annum from April 8, 2010 until maturity and shall pay the Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuer will pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). Interest on the Dollar Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be November 1, 2010. The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Dollar Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Dollar Notes. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Issuer will pay interest on the Dollar Notes and Additional Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered holders of Dollar Notes at the close of business on the April 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Dollar Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the holders at their addresses set forth in the register of holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. TRUSTEE; PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Wilmington Trust FSB will be the Trustee (the “ Trustee ”) under the Indenture. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will be the Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreement and, initially, the Collateral Agent under the Indenture and has been appointed by the Issuer as U.S. Registrar and U.S. Paying Agent with regard to the Notes (the “ U.S. Paying Agent ”). Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch has been appointed as Euro Paying Agent and Common Depositary under the Indenture (the “ Euro Paying Agent ”) and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. has been appointed as Euro Registrar.

4. INDENTURE. The Issuer issued the Dollar Notes under an Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2010 (the “ Indenture ”), among LBI Escrow Corporation, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “ Company ”), the Trustee, the U.S. Paying Agent and the Dollar Paying Agent. This Dollar Note is one of

 

A-1-5


a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as its 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017. The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional Dollar Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Indenture. The Dollar Notes and the Euro Notes issued under the Indenture (including, in each case, any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor) (collectively referred to herein as the “ Notes ”) are separate series of Notes, but shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture, unless otherwise specified in the Indenture. The terms of the Dollar Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”). The Dollar Notes are subject to all such terms, and holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Dollar Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(a) On or after May 1, 2013, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve months beginning on May 1 of the years indicated below:

 

     Redemption price of Notes  

2013

   106.000

2014

   104.000

2015

   102.000

2016 and thereafter

   100.000

(b) In addition, prior to May 1, 2013, the Issuer may redeem the Notes (including any Additional Notes) at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

(c) In addition, prior to May 1, 2013, the Issuer may redeem up to 10% of the outstanding Notes per year (including any additional Notes) upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to May 1, 2013, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any additional Notes), at a redemption price of 108.000% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date, with the net proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that:

(1) at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture (together with any additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and

 

A-1-6


(2) the redemption must occur within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

6. SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION. If the Escrow Proceeds have not been released to the Escrow Agent for distribution in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement on or before the Escrow End Date or if the Company shall at any time determine that it is unlikely to be able to comply with the requirements set forth in the Escrow Agreement for obtaining a release of the Escrow Proceeds (the first such date to occur, the “ Trigger Date ”), then the Company shall redeem the Notes (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption ”) in cash at a price equal to the sum of 100% of the Gross Proceeds plus the Specified Premium of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued on the Issue Date, together with accrued and unpaid interest and the accreted amount of any original issue discount on the Notes from the Issue Date up to but not including the date of the Special Mandatory Redemption (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Price ”).

Upon receipt of the notice of Special Mandatory Redemption, the Escrow Agent will liquidate all Escrow Proceeds in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.

7. MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Other than in connection with a Special Mandatory Redemption, the Issuer shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Dollar Notes.

8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address. In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable; provided that no Notes of $100,000 or €50,000 (and integral multiples of $1,000 or €1,000, respectively in excess thereof), as applicable, principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $100,000 or €50,000, as applicable. Notes and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $100,000 or €50,000 (and integral multiples of $1,000 or €1,000, respectively, in excess thereof). The notice of redemption relating to such Note selected to be redeemed shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed at any time in connection with an optional redemption, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption as follows:

(1) if the Notes to be redeemed are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed; or

(2) if the Notes to be redeemed are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

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9. OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

(b) In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase Notes upon the occurrence of certain events.

10. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Dollar Notes are in fully registered form only, without coupons, in denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. A holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes during a period beginning 15 days before the mailing of a redemption notice for any Notes or portions thereof selected for redemption.

11. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered holder of a Dollar Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

12. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

13. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer) and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, in each case, by notice to the Issuer, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity and security against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless (i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security and indemnity against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security and indemnity and (v) the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions,

 

A-1-8


the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable indemnification and security satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

14. AUTHENTICATION. This Dollar Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

15. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to holders of Dollar Notes under the Indenture, holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, including the right to receive Additional Interest (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

16. GOVERNING LAW. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES.

17. CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Dollar Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Dollar Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuer will furnish to any holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

Lyondell Chemical Company

1221 McKinney St

Suite 700

Houston, TX 77010

Facsimile: (713) 652-7312

Attention: Gerald A. O’Brien

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Dollar Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Dollar Note to:   

 

   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint   

 

to transfer this Dollar Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                                                  

 

    Your Signature:   

 

       (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Dollar Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                                       

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Dollar Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

[    ] Section 4.06            [    ] Section 4.08

If you want to elect to have only part of this Dollar Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or Section 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                     

Date:                     

 

    Your Signature:   

 

       (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Dollar Note)
    Tax Identification No.:   

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                                       

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $                      . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

   Amount  of
decrease
in Principal
Amount
   Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this

Global Note
   Principal  Amount
of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase
   Signature of
authorized  officer
of Trustee or
Note Custodian
           
           
           
           
           

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

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EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF EURO NOTE

[Face of Euro Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

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ISIN: [144A: XS0498579183/ Reg. S: XS0498576833]

[RULE 144A] [REGULATION S] GLOBAL NOTE

representing up to

€[              ]

8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017

 

No.            [€                      ]

LBI ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (to be merged with and into LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as the surviving entity), promises to pay to BT Globenet Nominees Ltd., or registered assigns, the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Note attached hereto on November 1, 2017.

Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1

Record Dates: April 15 and October 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

LBI ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated: April 8, 2010

 

A-2-3


This is one of the Euro Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK LUXEMBOURG S.A.,

as Authenticating Agent

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

A-2-4


[Back of Euro Note]

8% Senior Secured Note Due 2017

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. LBI ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (to be merged with and into LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as the surviving entity), (the “ Issuer ”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Euro Note at 8% per annum from April 8, 2010 until maturity and shall pay the Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuer will pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). Interest on the Euro Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be November 1, 2010. The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Euro Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Euro Notes. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Issuer will pay interest on the Euro Notes and Additional Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered holders of Euro Notes at the close of business on the April 15 and October 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Euro Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the holders at their addresses set forth in the register of holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Additional Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the European Union as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. TRUSTEE; PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Wilmington Trust FSB will be the Trustee (the “ Trustee ”) under the Indenture. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will be the Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreement and, initially, the Collateral Agent under the Indenture and has been appointed by the Issuer as U.S. Registrar and U.S. Paying Agent with regard to the Notes (the “ U.S. Paying Agent ”). Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch has been appointed as Euro Paying Agent and Common Depositary under the Indenture (the “ Euro Paying Agent ”) and Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. has been appointed as Euro Registrar.

4. INDENTURE. The Issuer issued the Euro Notes under an Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2010 (the “ Indenture ”), among LBI Escrow Corporation, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “ Company ”), the Trustee, the U.S. Paying Agent and the Euro Paying Agent. This Euro Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as its 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017. The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional Euro Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Indenture. The

 

A-2-5


Dollar Notes and the Euro Notes issued under the Indenture (including, in each case, any Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor) (collectively, referred to herein as the “ Notes ”) are separate series of Notes, but shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture, unless otherwise specified in the Indenture. The terms of the Euro Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”). The Euro Notes are subject to all such terms, and holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Euro Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(a) On or after May 1, 2013, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve months beginning on May 1 of the years indicated below:

 

     Redemption price of Notes  

2013

   106.000

2014

   104.000

2015

   102.000

2016 and thereafter

   100.000

(b) In addition, prior to May 1, 2013, the Issuer may redeem the Notes (including any Additional Notes) at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

(c) In addition, prior to May 1, 2013, the Issuer may redeem up to 10% of the outstanding Notes per year (including any additional Notes) upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 103% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to May 1, 2013, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any additional Notes), at a redemption price of 108.000% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date, with the net proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that:

(1) at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture (together with any additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and

 

A-2-6


(2) the redemption must occur within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

6. SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION. If the Escrow Proceeds have not been released to the Escrow Agent for distribution in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement on or before the Escrow End Date or if the Company shall at any time determine that it is unlikely to be able to comply with the requirements set forth in the Escrow Agreement for obtaining a release of the Escrow Proceeds (the first such date to occur, the “ Trigger Date ”), then the Company shall redeem the Notes (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption ”) in cash at a price equal to the sum of 100% of the Gross Proceeds plus the Specified Premium of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued on the Issue Date, together with accrued and unpaid interest and the accreted amount of any original issue discount on the Notes from the Issue Date up to but not including the date of the Special Mandatory Redemption (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Price ”).

Upon receipt of the notice of Special Mandatory Redemption, the Escrow Agent will liquidate all Escrow Proceeds in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.

7. MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Other than in connection with a Special Mandatory Redemption, the Issuer shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Euro Notes.

8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address. In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable; provided that no Notes of $100,000 or €50,000 (and integral multiples of $1,000 or €1,000, respectively in excess thereof), as applicable, principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $100,000 or €50,000, as applicable. Notes and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $100,000 or €50,000 (and integral multiples of $1,000 or €1,000, respectively, in excess thereof). The notice of redemption relating to such Note selected to be redeemed shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed at any time in connection with an optional redemption, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption as follows:

(1) if the Notes to be redeemed are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed; or

(2) if the Notes to be redeemed are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

A-2-7


9. OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

(b) In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase Notes upon the occurrence of certain events.

10. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Euro Notes are in fully registered form only, without coupons, in denominations of €50,000 and integral multiples of €1,000. A holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes during a period beginning 15 days before the mailing of a redemption notice for any Notes or portions thereof selected for redemption.

11. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered holder of a Euro Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

12. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

13. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer) and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, in each case, by notice to the Issuer, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity and security against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless (i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security and indemnity against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security and indemnity and (v) the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions,

 

A-2-8


the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable indemnification and security satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

14. AUTHENTICATION. This Euro Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

15. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to holders of Euro Notes under the Indenture, holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, including the right to receive Additional Interest (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

16. GOVERNING LAW. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES.

17. ISIN NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused ISIN numbers to be printed on the Euro Notes and the Trustee may use ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Euro Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuer will furnish to any holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

Lyondell Chemical Company

1221 McKinney St

Suite 700

Houston, TX 77010

Facsimile: (713) 652-7312

Attention: Gerald A. O’Brien

 

A-2-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Euro Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Euro Note to:   

 

   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint   

 

to transfer this Euro Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                     

 

    Your Signature:   

 

       (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Euro Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                                       

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-2-10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Euro Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

[    ] Section 4.06            [    ] Section 4.08

If you want to elect to have only part of this Euro Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or Section 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

                    

Date:                     

 

    Your Signature:   

 

       (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Euro Note)
    Tax Identification No.:   

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                                       

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-2-11


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is €                      . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

   Amount  of
decrease
in Principal
Amount
   Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
   Principal Amount
of Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase
   Signature of
authorized  officer
of Trustee or
Note Custodian
           
           
           
           
           

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Euro Note is issued in global form.

 

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EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

LBI Escrow Corporation

c/o Lyondell Chemical Company

1221 McKinney St

Suite 700

Houston, TX 77010

Facsimile: (713) 652-7312

Attention: Gerald A. O’Brien

 

  Re: [8% Dollar Senior Secured Notes due 2017] [8% Euro Senior Secured Notes due 2017]

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2010 (the “ Indenture ”), among LBI Escrow Corporation (to be merged with and into Lyondell Chemical Company, as the surviving entity), LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “ Company ”), the Trustee, the U.S. Paying Agent and the Euro Paying Agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                     (the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of [$] [€]              in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to                      (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the

 

B-1


transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. [    ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b) [    ] such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c) [    ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

4. [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.

(a) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the

 

B-2


Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) [    ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

 

B-3


This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                     

 

B-4


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

  1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]

 

  (a) [    ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) [    ] 144A Global Note ([CUSIP:        ] [Common [ISIN:    ]), or

 

  (ii)

[    ] Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP:        ] [ISIN:    ]), or

 

  (b) [    ] a Restricted Definitive Note.

 

  2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

[CHECK ONE]

 

  (a) [    ] a beneficial interest in the:

 

  (i) [    ] 144A Global Note ([CUSIP:        ] [Common [ISIN:    ]), or

 

  (ii) [    ] Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP:     ] [Common [ISIN:     ]), or

 

  (iii)

[    ] Unrestricted Global Note ([            ] 3 [            ]); or

 

  (b) [    ] a Restricted Definitive Note; or

 

  (c) [    ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

LBI Escrow Corporation

c/o Lyondell Chemical Company

1221 McKinney St

Suite 700

Houston, TX 77010

Facsimile: (713) 652-7312

Attention: Gerald A. O’Brien

 

  Re: [8% Dollar Senior Secured Notes due 2017] [8% Euro Senior Secured Notes due 2017]

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 8, 2010 (the “ Indenture ”), among LBI Escrow Corporation (to be merged with and into Lyondell Chemical Company, as the surviving entity), LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “ Company ”), the Trustee, the U.S. Paying Agent and the Euro Paying Agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                          (the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of [$] [€]                      in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1) EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OF THE SAME SERIES

a) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OF THE SAME SERIES. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note of the same series in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

b) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE OF THE SAME SERIES. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note of the same series, the Owner

 

C-1


hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

c) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OF THE SAME SERIES. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note of the same series, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

d) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE OF THE SAME SERIES. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note of the same series, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2) EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES OF THE SAME SERIES

a) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE OF THE SAME SERIES. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note of the same series with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

b) [    ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OF THE SAME SERIES. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] [    ] 144A Global Note [    ] Regulation

 

C-2


S Global Note of the same series, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer and are dated                                          .

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:                                         

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE RELATED TO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”) dated as of [            ], among [GUARANTOR] (the “ New Guarantor ”), a subsidiary of LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V., a public limited liability company formed under the laws of the Netherlands (or its successor) (the “ Company ”), LBI ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (to be merged with and into LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as the surviving entity) (the “ Issuer ”), 1 and WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, 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 Issuer and the Company have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Indenture ”) dated as of April 8, 2010, as supplemented, providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s (i) $2,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 and (ii) €375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 ( collectively, the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer, the Company and other existing Guarantors, if any, are 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 New Guarantor, the Company, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “ holders ” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “ holders ” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders. The words “ herein ,” “ hereof ” and “ hereby ” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article XII of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a guarantor under the Indenture.

 

1 Delete this reference if supplemental indenture Exhibit E is signed prior to signing of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

D-1


3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 13.02 of the Indenture.

4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

 

D-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

[NEW GUARANTOR]
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

WILMINGTON TRUST FSB

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

D-3


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE RELATED TO ASSUMPTION]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”) dated as of [            ], 2010, among LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “ New Issuer ”), and WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, 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 LBI Escrow Corporation (the “ Issuer ”) and LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V. (the “ Company ”) have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Indenture ”) dated as of April 8, 2010, [as supplemented], providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s (i) $2,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 and (ii) €375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 8% Senior Secured Notes due 2017 (collectively, the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the New Issuer and the Company are 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 New Issuer, the Issuer, the Company, and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “ holders ” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “ holders ” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders. The words “ herein ,” “ hereof ” and “ hereby ” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2. Agreement to Assume Obligations . The New Issuer hereby agrees to unconditionally assume the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and to be bound by all applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of the Issuer under the Indenture.

3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Issuer shall be given as provided in Section 13.02 of the Indenture.

4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

 

E-1


5. Release of Obligations of Escrow Issuer . Upon execution of this Supplemental Indenture by the New Issuer, the Company and the Trustee, the LBI Escrow Corporation is released and discharged from all obligations under the Indenture and the Notes.

6. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

7. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

8. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

9. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

 

E-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

E-3


WILMINGTON TRUST FSB
as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

E-4


Acknowledged by:
LBI ESCROW CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

E-5

EXHIBIT 4.9

Execution Version

SECURITY AGREEMENT

8% Senior Secured Dollar Notes due 2017

8% Senior Secured Euro Notes due 2017

dated as of

April 30, 2010

among

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY,

as a Grantor and as Issuer

and

THE OTHER GRANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Grantors

and

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Collateral Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

     P AGE

SECTION 1 . Definitions

   1

SECTION 2 . Grant of Transaction Liens.

   8

SECTION 3 . General Representations and Warranties

   9

SECTION 4 . Further Assurances; General Covenants

   12

SECTION 5 . Investment Property

   14

SECTION 6 . Restricted Accounts

   15

SECTION 7 . Transfer Of Record Ownership

   15

SECTION 8 . Right to Vote Securities

   16

SECTION 9 . Remedies upon Event of Default

   17

SECTION 10 . Application of Proceeds

   19

SECTION 11 . Authority to Administer Collateral

   20

SECTION 12 . Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral

   21

SECTION 13 . General Provisions Concerning the Collateral Agent

   21

SECTION 14 . Termination of Transaction Liens; Release of Collateral

   21

SECTION 15 . Additional Grantors

   24

SECTION 16 . Notices

   24

SECTION 17 . No Implied Waivers; Remedies Not Exclusive

   24

SECTION 18 . Successors and Assigns

   24

SECTION 19 . Amendments and Waivers

   24

SECTION 20 . Choice of Law

   25

SECTION 21 . Waiver of Jury Trial

   25

SECTION 22 . Severability

   25

SECTION 23 . Intercreditor Agreement Controlling

   25

SECTION 24 . Control by or Delivery to Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent or ABL Collateral Agent

   26

SECTION 25 . Agreement to be Bound by Indenture

   26


EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A Security Agreement Supplement

 

Exhibit B Perfection Certificate

 

ii


SECURITY AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT dated as of April 30, 2010 among LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as a Grantor and as Issuer, LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES, N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands (the “ Company ”) and the other Grantors party hereto, each as a Grantor and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, a New York banking corporation, as Collateral Agent (the “ Collateral Agent ”).

WHEREAS, the Issuer has entered into the Indenture described in Section 1 hereof, pursuant to which the Issuer intends to issue senior secured notes for the purposes set forth therein;

WHEREAS, the Issuer is willing to secure its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture by granting Liens on its assets to the Collateral Agent as provided in the Security Documents;

WHEREAS, each Guarantor is an affiliate of the Issuer, will derive substantial benefits from the purchase of the Notes, has guaranteed the foregoing obligations of the Issuer and, in order to induce the holders of Notes to purchase the Notes, is willing to secure its guarantee thereof by granting Liens on its assets to the Collateral Agent as provided in the Security Documents;

WHEREAS, concurrently herewith the Grantors are entering into certain other security agreements with respect to the Collateral to secure their obligations under the ABL Facility, the Senior Term Loan Facility and the Plan Roll-Up Notes and priority under each of these security agreements will be regulated by the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (collectively, the “ Intercreditor Agreements ”);

WHEREAS, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, upon any foreclosure or other enforcement of the Security Documents, the net proceeds of the relevant Collateral are to be received by or paid over to the Collateral Agent and applied as provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1 . Definitions.

(a) Terms Defined in Indenture . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section 1 have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for in the Indenture. The rules of construction specified in Sections 1.04 of the Indenture also apply to this Agreement.


(b) Terms Defined in UCC . As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning specified in the UCC:

 

Term

   UCC

Account

   9-102

Authenticate

   9-102

Certificated Security

   8-102

Certificate of Title

   9-102

Chattel Paper

   9-102

Deposit Account

   9-102

Document

   9-102

Entitlement Holder

   8-102

Equipment

   9-102

Financial Asset

   8-102 & 103

General Intangibles

   9-102

Instrument

   9-102

Inventory

   9-102

Investment Property

   9-102

Record

   9-102

Securities Account

   8-501

Securities Intermediary

   8-102

Security

   8-102 & 103

Security Entitlement

   8-102

Supporting Obligations

   9-102

Tangible Chattel Paper

   9-102

(c) Additional Definitions . The following additional terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

ABL Credit Agreement ” means the credit agreement dated as of April 8, 2010 among the Company, the borrowers party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as co-collateral agent and the other agents and parties thereto.

Collateral ” means the Non-Company Collateral (as defined in Section 2(a) hereof) and the Company Collateral (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof).

 

2


Control ” has the meaning specified in UCC Section 8-106, 9-104 or 9-106, as may be applicable to the relevant Collateral.

Copyright License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right to use, copy, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works, display or publish any records or other materials on which a Copyright is in existence or may come into existence.

Copyrights ” means all the following: (i) all copyright rights in any published or unpublished work of authorship, whether copyrightable or not, databases and other compilations of information, and user manuals and other training documentation related thereto, copyrights therein and thereto arising under the laws of the United States or any other country, (ii) all registrations and applications for copyrights under the laws of the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) all renewals of any of the foregoing, (iv) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing, and (v) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Excluded Collateral ” means (i) any fee-Owned Real Property with a value of less than $25 million and all Real Property leasehold interests (other than interest in ground leases agreed on the Issue Date), (ii) motor vehicles and other assets covered by a Certificate of Title, (iii) letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts, other than (x) the Restricted Accounts and (y) such letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts that constitute Proceeds or Supporting Obligations of any Collateral, (iv) the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or of any special purpose subsidiary whose material assets are comprised solely of the Equity Interests of such joint venture, where the pledge of such Equity Interests would be prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement pertaining to any such joint venture, (v) Equity Interests in each of (a) PO Offtake, LP and (b) POSM II Properties Partnership, L.P., in each case to the extent that and only for so long as the pledge of such Equity Interests is prohibited by the terms of the organizational documents of such entity or any joint venture agreement to which such entity is subject, (vi) any Equipment owned by a Grantor that is subject to a purchase money security interest (within the meaning of Section 9-103 of the UCC) so long as the contract or other agreement in which such security interest is granted prohibits the creation of any other security interest on such, (vii) any contract, lease, license, Intellectual Property or other document so long as (and only to the extent that) the grant of a

 

3


security interest therein would (a) violate a restriction in such contract, lease, license, Intellectual Property or documents or under any law, regulation, permit, order or decree of any Governmental Authority, unless and until all required consents shall have been obtained (for the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions described herein shall not include negative pledges or similar undertakings in favor of a lender or other financial counterparty), (b) invalidate or terminate such contract, lease, instrument, license, Intellectual Property, or other document or the rights therein or thereunder, or (c) give any other party in respect of any such Intellectual Property, or expressly give any other party in respect of any such contract, lease, instrument, license or other document, the right to invalidate or terminate such contract, lease, instrument, license, Intellectual Property, or other document or its obligations thereunder, (viii) any Equity Interests to the extent that, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests would violate law applicable thereto and (ix) any Equity Interests to the extent that, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests are subject to the 3-16 Exemption set forth in Section 11.04(c) of the Indenture; provided , however , that the limitations set forth in clause (vii) above shall not affect, limit, restrict or impair the grant by a Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in any such Collateral to the extent that an otherwise applicable prohibition or restriction on such grant is rendered ineffective by any applicable law, including the UCC

Grantors ” means the Issuer and the Guarantors.

Indenture ” means the Indenture dated as of April 8, 2010 among LBI Escrow Corporation (subsequently merged with and into the Issuer), the Guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust FSB, as Trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as U.S. Registrar and U.S. Paying Agent, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as Euro Paying Agent and Common Depositary, and Deutsche Bank Luxemburg S.A. as Euro Registrar.

Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual and industrial property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other confidential or proprietary intellectual property, software and all registrations, additions and improvements to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.

License ” means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement relating to Intellectual Property to which any Grantor is a party.

 

4


Notes Documents ” means the Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents.

Original Grantor ” means any Grantor that grants a Lien on any of its assets hereunder on the Issue Date or the Release Date.

own ” refers to the possession of sufficient rights in property to grant a security interest therein as contemplated by UCC Section 9-203, and “ acquire ” refers to the acquisition of any such rights.

Patent License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right with respect to any Patent or any invention now or hereafter in existence, whether patentable or not, whether a patent or application for patent is in existence on such invention or not, and whether a patent or application for patent on such invention may come into existence or not.

Patents ” means (i) inventions, patentable designs, all letters patent and design letters patent of the United States or any other country and all applications for letters patent or design letters patent of the United States or any other country, including applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, revisions and extensions of any of the foregoing, (ii) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit A.

Permitted Liens ” means (i) the Transaction Liens and (ii) any other Liens on the Collateral permitted to be created or assumed or to exist pursuant to Section 4.12 of the Indenture.

Personal Property Collateral ” means all property included in the Collateral except Real Property Collateral.

Pledged ”, when used in conjunction with any type of asset, means at any time an asset of such type that is included (or that creates rights that are included) in the Collateral at such time. For example, “Pledged Equity Interest” means an Equity Interest that is included in the Collateral at such time.

 

5


Post-Petition Interest ” means any interest that accrues after the commencement of any case, proceeding or other action, relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of any one or more of the Grantors (or would accrue but for the operation of applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws), whether or not such interest is allowed or allowable as a claim in any such proceeding.

Proceeds ” means all proceeds of, and all other profits, products, rents or receipts, in whatever form, arising from the collection, sale, lease, exchange, assignment, licensing or other disposition of, or other realization upon, any Collateral, including all claims of the relevant Grantor against third parties for loss of, damage to or destruction of, or for proceeds payable under, or unearned premiums with respect to, policies of insurance in respect of, any Collateral, and any condemnation or requisition payments with respect to any Collateral.

Real Property Collateral ” means all real property (including leasehold interests in real property) included in the Collateral.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employers, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Restricted Account ” has the meaning specified in the ABL Credit Agreement.

Secured Agreement ”, when used with respect to any Secured Obligation, refers collectively to each instrument, agreement or other document that sets forth obligations of the Issuer, obligations of a guarantor and/or rights of the holder with respect to such Secured Obligation.

Secured Guarantee ” means, with respect to each Guarantor, its guarantee of the Secured Obligations under Article XII of the Indenture (including any guarantee supplement delivered pursuant to Section 12.06 thereof).

Secured Obligations ” means the “Notes Obligations” under and as defined in the Indenture and shall include all interest and fees that accrue after commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding against any Grantor, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

Secured Parties ” means the holders from time to time of the Secured Obligations.

 

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Security Agreement Supplement ” means a Security Agreement Supplement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, signed and delivered to the Collateral Agent for the purpose of adding a Subsidiary as a party hereto pursuant to Section 15(c) and/or adding additional property to the Collateral.

Trademark License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right to use any Trademark.

Trademarks ” means (i) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, service marks, logos, brand names, trade dress, designs and all other source or business identifiers, and the rights in any of the foregoing which arise under applicable law, (ii) the goodwill of the business symbolized thereby or associated with each of them, (iii) all registrations and applications in connection therewith and all renewals of any of the foregoing, including registrations and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, including those described in Schedule 11(a) to the Perfection Certificate, (iv) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (v) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Transaction Liens ” means the Liens granted by the Grantors under the Security Documents.

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.

(d) References to Agreements . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, references to any agreements (including the Note Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, restructurings, renewals, restatements, refinancings or replacements in whole or in part, but only to the extent that such amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, restructurings, renewals, restatements, refinancings or replacements are permitted by the Note Documents.

 

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SECTION 2 . Grant of Transaction Liens .

(a) The Issuer, in order to secure its Secured Obligations, and each Guarantor listed on the signature pages hereof (other than the Company), in order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in all the following property of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and regardless of where located (the “ Non-Company Collateral ”):

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Chattel Paper;

(iii) the Restricted Accounts;

(iv) all Documents;

(v) all Equipment;

(vi) all General Intangibles (including (x) any Equity Interests in other Persons that do not constitute Investment Property and (y) any Intellectual Property);

(vii) all Instruments;

(viii) all Inventory;

(ix) all Investment Property;

(x) all Supporting Obligations;

(xi) all books and records (including customer lists, credit files, printouts and other computer generated materials and records) of such Grantor pertaining to any of its Collateral;

(xii) such Grantor’s ownership interest in all cash held in the Restricted Accounts from time to time and all other money in the possession of the administrative agent under the ABL Facility (subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

(xiii) all other personal property or assets of such Grantor; and

(xiv) all Proceeds of the Collateral described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xii);

 

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provided that the Excluded Collateral are excluded from the foregoing security interests; provided further that the Non-Company Collateral shall not include Equity Interests other than (i) any Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or a Guarantor of any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer or such Guarantor, respectively, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and (ii) 100% of the Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or a Guarantor of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer or such Guarantor, respectively, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; provided that the Non-Company Collateral shall not include voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent (but only to the extent) required to prevent the Non-Company Collateral from including more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary.

(b) The Company, in order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in (i) any Equity Interests directly owned by the Company of any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and (ii) 100% of the Equity Interests directly owned by the Company of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the “ Company Collateral ”); provided that the Company Collateral shall not include voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor, to the extent (but only to the extent) required to prevent the Company Collateral from including more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary.

(c) With respect to each right to payment or performance included in the Collateral from time to time, the Transaction Lien granted therein includes a continuing security interest in (i) any Supporting Obligation that supports such payment or performance and (ii) any Lien that (x) secures such right to payment or performance or (y) secures any such Supporting Obligation.

(d) The Transaction Liens are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to any of the Collateral or any transaction in connection therewith.

SECTION 3 . General Representations and Warranties . Each Grantor represents and warrants that:

(a) Such Grantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction identified as its jurisdiction of organization in the Perfection Certificate.

 

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(b) With respect to each Original Grantor, Schedule 9(a) to the Perfection Certificate lists all Equity Interests in direct Wholly Owned Subsidiaries owned by such Grantor as of the Release Date (other than Equity Interests of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant, inactive or otherwise immaterial). Such Grantor holds all such Equity Interests directly ( i.e. , not through a Subsidiary, a Securities Intermediary or any other Person).

(c) With respect to each Original Grantor, as of the Release Date, (i) Schedule 9(b) to the Perfection Certificate lists all Securities owned by such Grantor (except Securities evidencing Equity Interests in Subsidiaries and Affiliates) and (ii) Schedule 12 to the Perfection Certificate lists all Securities Accounts to which Financial Assets are credited in respect of which such Grantor owns Security Entitlements.

(d) All Pledged Equity Interests owned by such Grantor are owned by it free and clear of any Lien other than Permitted Liens. All shares of capital stock included in such Pledged Equity Interests (including shares of capital stock in respect of which such Grantor owns a Security Entitlement) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of such Pledged Equity Interests is subject to any option to purchase or similar right of any Person. Such Grantor is not and will not become a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement (except the Notes Documents) which restricts in any manner the rights of any present or future holder of any Pledged Equity Interest with respect thereto.

(e) Except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Notes Documents, Laws or securities laws generally, or any Permitted Liens, the Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, materially impair, materially delay or otherwise affect in any manner material and adverse to the Secured Parties the pledge of such Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto.

(f) Such Grantor has good and marketable title to all its Collateral (subject to exceptions that are, in the aggregate, not material), free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens. For purposes of clarification, in the event that any Collateral consisting of Patents now owned or hereafter acquired is successfully challenged, such successful challenge will not constitute a breach of this provision.

(g) Such Grantor has not performed any acts that might prevent the Collateral Agent from enforcing any of the provisions of the Security Documents

 

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or that would limit the Collateral Agent in any such enforcement. No financing statement, security agreement, mortgage or similar or equivalent document or instrument covering all or part of the Collateral owned by such Grantor is on file or of record in any jurisdiction in which such filing or recording would be effective to perfect or record a Lien on such Collateral, except financing statements, mortgages or other similar or equivalent documents with respect to Permitted Liens. After the Release Date, no Collateral owned by such Grantor will be in the possession or under the control of any other Person having a claim thereto or security interest therein, other than a Permitted Lien.

(h) The Transaction Liens on all Personal Property Collateral owned by such Grantor (i) have been validly granted, (ii) will attach to each item of such Collateral on or prior to the Release Date (or, if such Grantor first obtains rights thereto on a later date, on such later date) and (iii) when so attached, will secure all the Secured Obligations or such Grantor’s Secured Guarantee, as the case may be.

(i) When the relevant Mortgages have been duly executed and delivered, the Transaction Liens on all Real Property Collateral owned by such Grantor as of the Release Date will have been validly created and will secure all the Secured Obligations or such Grantor’s Secured Guarantee, as the case may be. When such Mortgages have been duly recorded, such Transaction Liens will rank prior to all other Liens (except Permitted Liens) on such Real Property Collateral.

(j) Such Grantor has delivered a counterpart to the Perfection Certificate to the Collateral Agent. With respect to each Original Grantor, information set forth in Schedule 1(a) to the Perfection Certificate is correct and complete in all respects, and all other information set forth therein is correct and complete in all material aspects as of the Release Date; provided that any such information that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language is correct and complete in all respects as of the Release Date.

(k) When UCC financing statements describing the Collateral as “all assets” have been filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Transaction Liens will constitute perfected security interests in the Personal Property Collateral owned by such Grantor to the extent that a security interest therein may be perfected by filing pursuant to the UCC, prior to all Liens and rights of others therein except Permitted Liens, to the extent such Liens have priority by operation of law.

(l) Such Grantor has taken, and will continue to take, all actions necessary under the UCC to perfect its interest in any Accounts or Chattel Paper purchased or otherwise acquired by it, as against its assignors and creditors of its assignors.

 

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(m) Such Grantor’s Collateral is insured as required by the Indenture.

(n) All of such Grantor’s Inventory has or will have been produced in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended.

(o) Other than a Restricted Account, there is no Deposit Account into which any collections or other payments or proceeds in respect of Pledged Inventory of any borrower under the ABL Facility or Receivables (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) of any borrower under the ABL Facility that have been Pledged are to be deposited. No funds other than ABL Facility Collateral or proceeds thereof will be deposited in any Lockbox Account (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) or the Cash Dominion Account (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement).

SECTION 4 . Further Assurances; General Covenants . Each Grantor covenants as follows:

(a) Such Grantor will at its own expense, from time to time, take any actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent and any other commercially reasonable actions necessary in order to:

(i) defend title to such Grantor’s Collateral, except that Grantor will only be obligated to defend title of the Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of its business as a whole and as currently conducted (it being understood that each Grantor shall have the right to dispose of Collateral to the extent permitted under the Indenture);

(ii) create, preserve, perfect, confirm or validate the Transaction Liens on such Grantor’s Collateral;

(iii) in the case of each Restricted Account, cause the administrative agent under the ABL Facility to have Control thereof (subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

(iv) enable the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties to obtain the full benefits of the Security Documents; or

(v) enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce any of its rights, powers and remedies with respect to any of such Grantor’s Collateral.

 

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Such Grantor shall execute and file such financing statements or continuation statements in such jurisdictions with such descriptions of collateral (including “all assets” or “all personal property” or other words to that effect) and other information set forth therein as necessary or desirable for the purposes set forth in the preceding sentence. Each Grantor authorizes the Collateral Agent to file any such financing statements or continuations statements, it being understood that the Collateral Agent shall have no responsibility for any such filings. For the avoidance of doubt, it is each Grantor’s primary responsibility to establish, maintain and preserve the perfection of the Transaction Liens under this Agreement.

(b) Such Grantor will not (i) change its name or organizational form or structure, (ii) change its location (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-307) or (iii) become bound, as provided in UCC Section 9-203(d) or otherwise, by a security agreement entered into by another Person, unless it shall have given the Collateral Agent 30 days’ prior notice thereof and taken all actions necessary to continue perfection of the security interests created by the Security Documents that may be required under Article XI of the Indenture.

(c) Such Grantor will not sell, lease, exchange, assign, license, terminate, abandon or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of its Collateral; provided that such Grantor may do any of the foregoing unless (i) doing so would violate a covenant in the Indenture or (ii) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either (A) the Collateral Agent shall have notified such Grantor that its right to do so is terminated, suspended or otherwise limited or (B) the maturity of any or all of the Secured Obligations shall have been accelerated. Concurrently with any sale, lease or other disposition (except a sale or disposition to another Grantor or a lease) permitted by the foregoing proviso , the Transaction Liens on the assets sold or disposed of (but not in any Proceeds arising from such sale or disposition) will cease immediately without any action by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. The Collateral Agent will, at such Grantor’s expense, execute and deliver to the relevant Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request and provide to evidence the fact that any asset so sold or disposed of is no longer subject to a Transaction Lien.

(d) Such Grantor will provide to the Collateral Agent all information and evidence concerning such Grantor’s Collateral necessary to enable it to enforce the provisions of the Security Documents.

 

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SECTION 5 . Investment Property. Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

(a) Certificated Securities . On the Release Date (in the case of an Original Grantor) or the date on which it signs and delivers its first Security Agreement Supplement (in the case of any other Grantor), such Grantor will deliver to the Collateral Agent as Collateral hereunder all certificates representing Pledged Certificated Securities and Tangible Chattel Paper then owned by such Grantor (other than any Pledged Certificated Security of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant or inactive). Thereafter, whenever such Grantor acquires any other certificate representing a Pledged Certificated Security (other than any Pledged Certificated Security of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant or inactive) or if any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary of which such Grantor owns a Pledged Certificated Security ceases to be dormant or inactive, such Grantor will immediately deliver such certificate to the Collateral Agent as Collateral hereunder. The provisions of this subsection are subject to the limitation in Section 5(d) in the case of voting Equity Interests in a Foreign Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor.

(b) Perfection as to Certificated Securities. When such Grantor delivers the certificate representing any Pledged Certificated Security owned by it to the Collateral Agent and complies with Section 5(c) in connection with such delivery, (i) the Transaction Lien on such Pledged Certificated Security will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others, (ii) the Collateral Agent will have Control of such Pledged Certificated Security and (iii) the Collateral Agent will be a protected purchaser (within the meaning of UCC Section 8-303) thereof.

(c) Delivery of Pledged Certificates . All certificates in respect of Pledged Certificated Securities, when delivered to the Collateral Agent, will be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank.

(d) Foreign Subsidiaries. A Grantor will not be obligated to comply with the provisions of this Section at any time with respect to any voting Equity Interest in a Foreign Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor if and to the extent (but only to the extent) that such voting Equity Interest is excluded from the Transaction Liens at such time pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 2(a) or the proviso at the end of Section 2(b) and/or the comparable provisions of one or more Security Agreement Supplements.

(e) Compliance with Applicable Foreign Laws. If and so long as the Collateral includes (i) any Equity Interest in, or other Investment Property issued by, a legal entity organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States or (ii) any Security Entitlement in respect of a Financial Asset issued by such a foreign legal entity, the relevant Grantor will upon reasonable request of the Collateral Agent take all such action as may be required under the laws of such foreign jurisdiction to ensure that the Transaction Lien on such Collateral ranks prior to all Liens and rights of others therein.

 

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(f) Certification of Limited Liability Company and Partnership Interests . Any limited liability company and any partnership controlled by any Grantor shall either (a) not include in its operative documents any provision that any Equity Interests in such limited liability company or such partnership be a “security” as defined under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or (b) certificate any Equity Interests in any such limited liability company or such partnership. To the extent an interest in any limited liability company or partnership controlled by any Grantor and pledged hereunder is certificated or becomes certificated, each such certificate shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 5(a) and such Grantor shall fulfill all other requirements under Section 5 applicable in respect thereof.

SECTION 6 . Restricted Accounts . Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

(a) All cash proceeds of ABL Facility Collateral will be deposited, upon or promptly after the receipt thereof, in a Restricted Account.

(b) In respect of each Restricted Account, the depositary bank’s jurisdiction (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-304) will at all times be a jurisdiction in which Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code is in effect.

(c) So long as the administrative agent under the ABL Facility has Control of a Restricted Account (subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), the Transaction Lien on such Restricted Account will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others (except the depositary bank’s right to deduct its normal operating charges and any uncollected funds previously credited thereto and any Permitted Lien.

SECTION 7 . Transfer Of Record Ownership . At any time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may upon five Business Days’ notice to the Issuer (and to the extent that action by it is required, the relevant Grantor, if directed to do so by the Collateral Agent, will as promptly as practicable) cause each of the Pledged Securities (or any portion thereof specified in such direction) to be transferred of record into the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee. Each Grantor will take any and all actions necessary to facilitate compliance with this Section. The Collateral Agent will promptly give to the relevant Grantor copies of any notices and other communications received by the Collateral Agent with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee.

 

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SECTION 8 . Right to Vote Securities . (a) Unless and until (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Issuer that the rights of the Grantors are being suspended under this Section 8:

(i) each Grantor will have the right, from time to time, to vote and to give consents, ratifications and waivers with respect to any Pledged Security owned by it and the Financial Asset underlying any Pledged Security Entitlement owned by it, and the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to such Grantor or as specified in such request such proxies, powers of attorney, consents, ratifications and waivers in respect of any such Pledged Security that is registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee or any such Pledged Security Entitlement as to which the Collateral Agent or its nominee is the Entitlement Holder, in each case as shall be specified in such request; and

(ii) each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Indenture and the other Security Documents and applicable Laws; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Equity Interests or Pledged Indebtedness, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and shall if certificated be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent).

(b) If (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Issuer that the rights of the Grantors are being suspended under this Section 8, the Collateral Agent will have the exclusive right to the extent permitted by law to vote, to give consents, ratifications and waivers and to take any other action with respect to the Pledged Investment Property, the other Pledged Equity Interests and the Financial Assets underlying the Pledged Security Entitlements, with the same force and effect as if the Collateral Agent were the absolute and sole owner thereof, and each Grantor will take all such action as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time to give effect to such right; provided that, the Collateral Agent, as directed

 

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by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, each Grantor shall have the exclusive right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor would otherwise be entitled to exercise, in each case pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a) of this Section 8.

SECTION 9 . Remedies upon Event of Default . (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, upon five Business Days’ notice to the Issuer, exercise (or cause its sub-agents to exercise) any or all of the remedies available to it (or to such sub-agents) under the Security Documents.

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, upon five Business Days’ notice to the Issuer, exercise on behalf of the Secured Parties all the rights of a secured party under the UCC (whether or not in effect in the jurisdiction where such rights are exercised) with respect to any Personal Property Collateral and, in addition, the Collateral Agent may, upon five Business Days’ notice (which notice shall state the time, date and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made) to the Issuer and subject to any mandatory provisions of law, sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange, broker’s board or at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such time or times and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable, irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral; provided that any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any Secured Party may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any such sale and (with the consent of the Collateral Agent) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, held at such time or times within ordinary business hours, to use and apply all or any part of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price of any Collateral payable at such sale.

(c) Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and

 

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such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay or appraisal that it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Collateral Agent shall not be obliged to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given.

(d) The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

(e) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby waives any claim against any Secured Party arising because the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. The Collateral Agent may disclaim any warranty, as to title or as to any other matter, in connection with such sale or other disposition, and its doing so shall not be considered adversely to affect the commercial reasonableness of such sale or other disposition.

(f) In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again, subject to the same rights and duties set forth herein.

(g) Notice of any such sale or other disposition shall be given to the relevant Grantor(s) as (and if) required by Section 11.

(h) For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, automatically upon the notice by the Collateral Agent of the exercise of remedies to the Grantors pursuant to Article VI of the Indenture after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, an irrevocable license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the Grantors), to use, license or sub-license any of the Collateral consisting of

 

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Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, except where the grant of such license will terminate or invalidate such Intellectual Property; provided that, anything in this Section 9(h) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Collateral Agent agrees that, on the date that the Collateral Agent receives written notice that the Grantors cure such Event of Default, such license to the Collateral Agent will immediately terminate upon the cure date, but any sub-licenses granted by the Collateral Agent will remain in full force and effect; provided further that such sub-licenses will have terms that are substantially similar to the Grantors’ prior Intellectual Property licenses, and further provided that such sub-licenses (whether exclusive or non-exclusive) shall explicitly reserve the Grantor’s right to use such sub-licensed Intellectual Property in its own business.

(i) The foregoing provisions of this Section shall apply to Real Property Collateral only to the extent permitted by applicable law and the provisions of any applicable Mortgage or other document.

SECTION 10 . Application of Proceeds . (a)  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may (i) after having given five Business Days’ notice to the Issuer apply any cash held in the Restricted Accounts and/or (ii) apply the proceeds of any sale or other disposition (notice of which sale or other disposition shall have been given by the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement and the other Notes Documents) of all or any part of the Collateral, in accordance with, and in the order of priorities specified in, the Intercreditor Agreements. Any and all such cash held by the Collateral Agent which the Collateral Agent is entitled, under the priority of payments set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements, to distribute to the Secured Parties for repayment of the Secured Obligations shall be made in the following order of priorities:

first , to pay the fees, expenses and indemnities of the Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the other Agents due and payable under the Notes Documents;

second, to pay ratably all interest (including Post-Petition Interest) on the Secured Obligations payable under the Notes and the Indenture, until payment in full of all such interest and fees shall have been made;

third , to pay the unpaid principal of the Secured Obligations ratably, until payment in full of the principal of all Secured Obligations shall have been made; and

 

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fourth , to pay all other Secured Obligations ratably, until payment in full of all such other Secured Obligations shall have been made.

The Collateral Agent may make such distributions hereunder in cash or in kind or, on a ratable basis, in any combination thereof.

(b) In making the payments and allocations required by this Section, the Collateral Agent may rely upon information supplied to it pursuant to Section 14(d). All distributions made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section shall be final (except in the event of manifest error) and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire as to the application by any Secured Party of any amount distributed to it.

SECTION 11 . Authority to Administer Collateral . Each Grantor irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent its true and lawful attorney, with full power of substitution, in the name of such Grantor, any Secured Party or otherwise, for the sole use and benefit of the Secured Parties, but at the Grantor’s expense, as reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, to the extent permitted by law to exercise, at any time from time to time while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all or any of the following powers with respect to all or any of such Grantor’s Collateral:

(a) to demand, sue for, collect, receive and give acquittance for any and all monies due or to become due upon or by virtue thereof,

(b) to settle, compromise, compound, prosecute or defend any action or proceeding with respect thereto,

(c) to sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of the same or the proceeds or avails thereof, as fully and effectually as if the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof, and

(d) to extend the time of payment of any or all thereof and to make any allowance or other adjustment with reference thereto;

provided that, except in the case of Personal Property Collateral that is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market, the Collateral Agent will give the relevant Grantor at least ten days’ prior written notice of the time and place of any public sale thereof or the time after which any private sale or other intended disposition thereof will be made. Any such notice shall (i) contain the information specified in UCC Section 9-613, (ii) be Authenticated, (iii) be sent to the parties required to be notified pursuant to UCC Section 9-611(c) and (iv) in the case of a public sale, shall state

 

20


the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange; provided that, if the Collateral Agent fails to comply with this sentence in any respect, its liability for such failure shall be limited to the liability (if any) imposed on it as a matter of law under the UCC.

SECTION 12 . Authority of Collateral Agent . By acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and any other Security Document, each Secured Party other than the Collateral Agent (whether or not a signatory hereto) shall be deemed irrevocably to agree that it shall not take any action (i) to enforce any provisions of this Agreement or any other Security Document against any Grantor or (ii) to exercise any remedy hereunder or thereunder, including the giving of any consents or approvals relating thereto, in each case except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Security Document. In furtherance of the foregoing provision of this Section 12, each Secured Party other than the Collateral Agent, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof and of the other Security Documents, agrees that it shall have no right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral hereunder or thereunder, it being understood and agreed by such Secured Party that all rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties.

SECTION 13 . Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral . Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody and preservation thereof, the Collateral Agent will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any sub-agent or bailee or any income therefrom or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. The Collateral Agent will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession or control if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and will not be liable or responsible for any loss or damage to any Collateral, or for any diminution in the value thereof, by reason of any act or omission of any sub-agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith, except to the extent that such liability arises from the Collateral Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 14 . General Provisions Concerning the Collateral Agent .

(a) The provisions of Article VII of the Indenture (including, but not limited to indemnification provisions) shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent, and shall be binding upon all Grantors and all Secured Parties, in connection with this Agreement and the other Security Documents. Without

 

21


limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Collateral Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Security Documents that the Collateral Agent is required in writing to exercise by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or such other number or percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in the Indenture), (iii) except as expressly set forth in the Notes Documents, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for any failure to disclose, any information relating to any Grantor that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity and (iv) the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Collateral Agent has been advised of the existence of such loss or damage and regardless of form of action. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Transaction Lien, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of their directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable as such for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under the Security Documents or in connection therewith (a) at the request or with the approval of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or, if otherwise specifically required hereunder, the consent of all the holders of Notes) or (b) in the absence of its or their own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Collateral Agent by the Issuer.

(b) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, whenever reference is made in this Agreement to any discretionary action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken or to be (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Collateral Agent or to any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment, expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Collateral Agent, it is understood that in all cases the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any such action under this Agreement if it shall not have received such written instruction, advice or concurrence of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes. This provision is intended solely for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and its

 

22


successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to and will not entitle the other parties hereto to any defense, claim or counterclaim, or confer any rights or benefits on any party hereto.

(c) Sub-Agents and Related Parties . The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers through one or more sub-agents appointed by it. The Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers through its Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of Section 12 and this Section shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent.

(d) Information as to Secured Obligations and Actions by Secured Parties . For all purposes of the Security Documents, including determining the amounts of the Secured Obligations, whether any action has been taken under any Secured Agreement, the Collateral Agent will be entitled to rely on information from (i) its own records for information as to the holders of Notes, the Collateral Agent, their Secured Obligations and actions taken by them, (ii) any Secured Party for information as to its Secured Obligations and actions taken by it, to the extent that the Collateral Agent has not obtained such information from its own records and (iii) the Issuer, to the extent that the Collateral Agent has not obtained information from the foregoing sources. Nothing in this Section 14(d) shall prevent any Grantor from contesting any amounts claimed by any Secured Party in any information so supplied. The Collateral Agent may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Collateral Agent need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(e) Refusal to Act . The Collateral Agent may refuse to act on any notice, consent, direction or instruction from any Secured Parties or any agent, trustee or similar representative thereof that, in the Collateral Agent’s opinion, (i) is contrary to law or the provisions of any Security Document, (ii) may expose the Collateral Agent to financial or personal liability (unless the Collateral Agent shall have received indemnity and security (including, but not limited to the indemnification for any environmental claims, liabilities or losses), to its reasonable satisfaction, for such liability by the Secured Parties that gave such notice, consent, direction or instruction) or (iii) is unduly prejudicial to Secured Parties not joining in such notice, consent, direction or instruction. Any and all notices, demands, directions, instructions and consents or any other similar communication delivered pursuant to their Agreement shall be in writing and delivered in accordance with Section 13.02 of the Indenture.

 

23


SECTION 15 . Termination of Transaction Liens; Release of Collateral . (a) The Transaction Liens granted by the Issuer and each Guarantor shall terminate in accordance with Sections 11.04 and 11.08 of the Indenture, as applicable.

(b) Upon any termination of a Transaction Lien or release of Collateral, the Collateral Agent will, at the expense of the relevant Grantor, execute and deliver to such Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request and provide to evidence the termination of such Transaction Lien or the release of such Collateral, as the case may be.

(c) Unless expressly agreed otherwise between a Grantor and the Collateral Agent, in the event that any security interest in the Collateral granted pursuant to Section 2 hereof is not required to be so granted pursuant to the Indenture, if no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from any release under this Section, such security interest in such Collateral shall be released automatically; provided that the applicable Grantor shall provide notification of such release to the Collateral Agent promptly.

SECTION 16 . Additional Grantors . Any Subsidiary of the Company may become a party hereto by signing and delivering to the Collateral Agent a Security Agreement Supplement, whereupon such Subsidiary shall become a “Grantor” as defined herein.

SECTION 17 . Notices . Each notice, request or other communication given to any party hereunder shall be given in accordance with Section 13.02 of the Indenture, and in the case of any such notice, request or other communication to a Grantor other than the Issuer, shall be given to it in care of the Issuer.

SECTION 18 . No Implied Waivers; Remedies Not Exclusive . No failure by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising and no course of dealing with respect to, any right or remedy under any Security Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any right or remedy under any Notes Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies specified in the Notes Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

SECTION 19 . Successors and Assigns . This Agreement is for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties. If all or any part of any Secured Party’s interest in any Secured Obligation is assigned or otherwise transferred, the transferor’s rights hereunder, to the extent applicable to the obligation so

 

24


transferred, shall be automatically transferred with such obligation. This Agreement shall be binding on the Grantors and their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 20 . Amendments and Waivers .

(a) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended, modified or terminated except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Collateral Agent, with the consent of such holders of Notes as are required to consent thereto under Section 9.02 of the Indenture. No such waiver, amendment or modification shall (i) be binding upon any Grantor, except with its written consent, or (ii) affect the rights of a Secured Party (other than a noteholder) hereunder more adversely than it affects the comparable rights of the holders of Notes hereunder, without the consent of such Secured Party.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (a), this Agreement and any provision hereof may be amended, modified or terminated without notice to or consent of any holder of Notes pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture.

SECTION 21 . Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law and except to the extent that remedies provided by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York are governed by the laws of such jurisdiction.

SECTION 22 . Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY SECURITY DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). 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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 23 . Severability . If any provision of any Security Document is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted

 

25


by law, (i) the other provisions of the Security Documents shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties in order to carry out the intentions of the parties thereto as nearly as may be possible and (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision in such jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 24 . Intercreditor Agreements Controlling . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder, in each case, with respect to the Collateral are subject to the limitations and provisions for the Intercreditor Agreements. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms or conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreements, the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreements shall control.

SECTION 25 . Control by or Delivery to Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent or ABL Collateral Agent . Any provision of this Agreement requiring delivery of Collateral to or control of Collateral by the Collateral Agent shall be deemed satisfied to the extent that such Collateral is delivered to or controlled by the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent or the ABL Collateral Agent under and as defined in the Intercreditor Agreements.

SECTION 26 . Agreement to be Bound by Indenture . By entry into this Agreement, each Guarantor agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Indenture (including, without limitation, the provisions of Article IV (Covenants) and all provisions that are expressed to be binding on the Issuer or any Guarantor) with the same force and effect as if it were a signatory thereto.

[SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]

 

26


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BASELL NORTH AMERICA INC.

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP

EQUISTAR GP, LLC

EQUISTAR LP, LLC

HOUSTON REFINING LP

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL F&F HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL FINANCE COMPANY

LYONDELLBASELL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL OVERSEAS SERVICES, INC.

LYONDELL CHIMIE FRANCE LLC

LYONDELL REFINING COMPANY LLC

By:

 

            /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Vice President

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Authorized Person


LYONDELL CHEMICAL DELAWARE COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY 1 INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, L.P.

LYONDELL EUROPE HOLDINGS INC.

LYONDELL REFINING I LLC

By:  

                         /s/ Francis P. McGrail

  Name:   Francis P. McGrail
  Title:   Authorized Person

[Signature page to Security Agreement (Senior Notes)]


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Collateral Agent

By:   Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
By:  

                /s/ Cynthia J. Powell

  Name:   Cynthia J. Powell
  Title:   Vice President
By:  

                /s/ David Contino

  Name:   David Contino
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature page to Security Agreement (Senior Notes)]


EXHIBIT A

to Security Agreement

SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT dated as of              ,          , between [NAME OF GRANTOR] (the “ Grantor ”) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, a New York Banking Corporation, as Collateral Agent (the “ Collateral Agent ”).

WHEREAS, LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as a Grantor and as Issuer, LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES, N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands and the other Grantors party hereto, each as a Grantor and the Collateral Agent, are parties to a Security Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 (as heretofore amended and/or supplemented, the “ Security Agreement ”) under which each Grantor secures certain of its obligations (the “ Secured Obligations ”);

WHEREAS, [ name of Grantor ] desires to become a party to the Security Agreement as a Grantor thereunder; and

WHEREAS, terms defined in the Security Agreement (or whose definitions are incorporated by reference in Section 1 of the Security Agreement) and not otherwise defined herein have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for therein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Grant of Transaction Liens . (a) In order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, the Grantor grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in all the following property of the Grantor, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and regardless of where located (the “ New Collateral ”):

[describe property being added to the Collateral] 1

 

1 If the Grantor is not already a party to the Security Agreement, clauses (i) through (xiv) of, and the proviso to, Section 2(a) of the Security Agreement may be appropriate.

 

A-1


(b) With respect to each right to payment or performance included in the Collateral from time to time, the Transaction Lien granted therein includes a continuing security interest in (i) any Supporting Obligation that supports such payment or performance and (ii) any Lien that (x) secures such right to payment or performance or (y) secures any such Supporting Obligation.

(c) The foregoing Transaction Liens are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation or liability of the Grantor with respect to any of the New Collateral or any transaction in connection therewith.

2. Delivery of Collateral . Concurrently with delivering this Security Agreement Supplement to the Collateral Agent, the Grantor is complying with the provisions of Section 5 of the Security Agreement with respect to Investment Property, in each case if and to the extent included in the New Collateral at such time.

3. Party to Security Agreement . Upon delivering this Security Agreement Supplement to the Collateral Agent, the Grantor will, if not already a party, become a party to the Security Agreement and will thereafter have all the rights and obligations of a Grantor thereunder and be bound by all the provisions thereof as fully as if the Grantor were one of the original parties thereto. References in the Security Agreement to a “Grantor” shall be deemed to refer to the Grantor, references to Schedules to the Perfection Certificate shall be deemed to include the corresponding Schedules to the Perfection Certificate delivered in connection with this Security Agreement Supplement and references to “Collateral” shall be deemed to include the New Collateral.

4. Representations and Warranties . (a) The Grantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of [ jurisdiction of organization ].

(b) The Grantor has delivered a Perfection Certificate to the Collateral Agent. The information set forth therein is correct and complete as of the date hereof.

(c) The execution and delivery of this Security Agreement Supplement by the Grantor and the performance by it of its obligations under the Security Agreement as supplemented hereby are within its corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of its organizational documents, or of any agreement, judgment,

 

A-2


injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon it or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except a Transaction Lien) on any of its assets.

(d) The Security Agreement as supplemented hereby constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Grantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity.

(e) Each of the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3, 5 and 6 of the Security Agreement is true on and as of the date hereof as applied to the Grantor and the New Collateral. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, references in said Sections to a “Grantor” shall be deemed to refer to the Grantor, references to Schedules to the Perfection Certificate shall be deemed to refer to the corresponding Schedules to the Perfection Certificate delivered in connection with this Security Agreement Supplement, references to “Collateral” shall be deemed to refer to the New Collateral, and references to the “Effective Date” shall be deemed to refer to the date on which the Grantor signs and delivers this Security Agreement Supplement.

5. Governing Law . This Security Agreement Supplement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Security Agreement Supplement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF GRANTOR]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Collateral Agent

By:   Deutsche Bank National Trust Company
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

A-4


EXHIBIT B

to Security Agreement

PERFECTION CERTIFICATE

[Attached under separate cover.]

 

B-1

EXHIBIT 4.10

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

as Issuer

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

as Company

11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of April 30, 2010

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   
SECTION 1.01.    Definitions    1
SECTION 1.02.    Other Definitions    41
SECTION 1.03.    Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    42
SECTION 1.04.    Rules of Construction    42
ARTICLE II   
THE NOTES   
SECTION 2.01.    Amount of Notes; Terms    43
SECTION 2.02.    Form and Dating    44
SECTION 2.03.    Execution and Authentication    44
SECTION 2.04.    Registrar and Paying Agent    45
SECTION 2.05.    Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust    46
SECTION 2.06.    Holder Lists    46
SECTION 2.07.    Transfer and Exchange    46
SECTION 2.08.    Replacement Notes    51
SECTION 2.09.    Outstanding Notes    51
SECTION 2.10.    [Intentionally Omitted]    51
SECTION 2.11.    Cancellation    51
SECTION 2.12.    Defaulted Interest    52
SECTION 2.13.    CUSIP Numbers, Etc.    52
SECTION 2.14.    Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes    52
ARTICLE III   
REDEMPTION   
SECTION 3.01.    Optional Redemption    52
SECTION 3.02.    Applicability of Article    52
SECTION 3.03.    Notices to Trustee    52
SECTION 3.04.    Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed    53
SECTION 3.05.    Notice of Optional Redemption    53
SECTION 3.06.    Effect of Notice of Redemption    54
SECTION 3.07.    Deposit of Redemption Price    54
SECTION 3.08.    Notes Redeemed in Part    54
ARTICLE IV   
COVENANTS   
SECTION 4.01.    Payment of Notes    54
SECTION 4.02.    Reports and Other Information    55

 

-i-


          Page
SECTION 4.03.    Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock    56
SECTION 4.04.    Limitation on Restricted Payments    63
SECTION 4.05.    Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries    70
SECTION 4.06.    Asset Sales    71
SECTION 4.07.    Transactions with Affiliates    75
SECTION 4.08.    Change of Control    77
SECTION 4.09.    Compliance Certificate    79
SECTION 4.10.    Further Instruments and Acts    80
SECTION 4.11.    Future Subsidiary Guarantors    80
SECTION 4.12.    Liens    80
SECTION 4.13.    After-Acquired Property    80
SECTION 4.14.    Maintenance of Office or Agency    81
SECTION 4.15.    Maintenance of Insurance    81
SECTION 4.16.    Covenant Suspension    81
SECTION 4.17.    Withholding Taxes.    82
ARTICLE V   
SUCCESSOR COMPANY   
SECTION 5.01.    When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets    83
ARTICLE VI   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   
SECTION 6.01.    Events of Default    86
SECTION 6.02.    Acceleration    87
SECTION 6.03.    Other Remedies    88
SECTION 6.04.    Waiver of Past Defaults    88
SECTION 6.05.    Control by Majority    88
SECTION 6.06.    Limitation on Suits    89
SECTION 6.07.    Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment    89
SECTION 6.08.    Collection Suit by Trustee    89
SECTION 6.09.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    89
SECTION 6.10.    Priorities    89
SECTION 6.11.    Undertaking for Costs    90
SECTION 6.12.    Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws    90
ARTICLE VII   
TRUSTEE   
SECTION 7.01.    Duties of Trustee    90
SECTION 7.02.    Rights of Trustee    92
SECTION 7.03.    Individual Rights of Trustee    93
SECTION 7.04.    Trustee’s Disclaimer    93
SECTION 7.05.    Notice of Defaults    94
SECTION 7.06.    Reports by Trustee to the Holders    94

 

-ii-


          Page
SECTION 7.07.    Compensation and Indemnity    94
SECTION 7.08.    Replacement of Trustee    95
SECTION 7.09.    Successor Trustee by Merger    96
SECTION 7.10.    Eligibility; Disqualification    97
SECTION 7.11.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer    97
SECTION 7.12.    [Intentionally Omitted]    97
SECTION 7.13.    Payment of Parallel Debt Pursuant to Dutch Law    97
ARTICLE VIII   
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE   
SECTION 8.01.    Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance    98
SECTION 8.02.    Conditions to Defeasance    99
SECTION 8.03.    Application of Trust Money    100
SECTION 8.04.    Repayment to Issuer    100
SECTION 8.05.    Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations    100
SECTION 8.06.    Reinstatement    100
ARTICLE IX   
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS   
SECTION 9.01.    Without Consent of the Holders    101
SECTION 9.02.    With Consent of the Holders    102
SECTION 9.03.    Compliance with Trust Indenture Act    103
SECTION 9.04.    Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers    103
SECTION 9.05.    Notation on or Exchange of Notes    104
SECTION 9.06.    Trustee to Sign Amendments    104
SECTION 9.07.    Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount    104
ARTICLE X   
RANKING OF NOTE LIENS   
SECTION 10.01.    Relative Rights    104
ARTICLE XI   
COLLATERAL   
SECTION 11.01.    Security Documents    105
SECTION 11.02.    Collateral Agent    106
SECTION 11.03.    Authorization of Actions to Be Taken    107
SECTION 11.04.    Release of Collateral    108
SECTION 11.05.    Filing, Recording and Opinions    110
SECTION 11.06.    [Intentionally Omitted.]    111
SECTION 11.07.    Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee    111
SECTION 11.08.    Release upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations    111
SECTION 11.09.    Designations    111

 

-iii-


            Page
ARTICLE XII   
GUARANTEE   
SECTION 12.01.    Guarantee    112
SECTION 12.02.    Limitation on Liability    114
SECTION 12.03.    Successors and Assigns    115
SECTION 12.04.    No Waiver    115
SECTION 12.05.    Modification    115
SECTION 12.06.    Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors    115
SECTION 12.07.    Non-Impairment    115
ARTICLE XIII   
MISCELLANEOUS   
SECTION 13.01.    Trust Indenture Act Controls    115
SECTION 13.02.    Notices    115
SECTION 13.03.    Communication by the Holders with Other Holders    116
SECTION 13.04.    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent    116
SECTION 13.05.    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion    116
SECTION 13.06.    When Notes Disregarded    117
SECTION 13.07.    Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar    117
SECTION 13.08.    Legal Holidays    117
SECTION 13.09.    GOVERNING LAW    117
SECTION 13.10.    No Recourse Against Others    117
SECTION 13.11.    Successors    117
SECTION 13.12.    Multiple Originals    117
SECTION 13.13.    Table of Contents; Headings    118
SECTION 13.14.    Indenture Controls    118
SECTION 13.15.    Severability    118
SECTION 13.16.    Intercreditor Agreements    118
SECTION 13.17.    U.S.A. Patriot Act    117
SECTION 13.18.    Force Majeure    117

SCHEDULE AND EXHIBIT INDEX

Schedule 4.10 Post-Closing Matters

Exhibit A Form of Note

Exhibit B Form of Supplemental Indenture Related to Subsidiary Guarantors

 

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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section

   Indenture
Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   N.A.

(a)(4)

   N.A.

(b)

   7.08; 7.10

(c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

(c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.06

(b)

   13.03

(c)

   13.03

313(a)

   7.06

(b)(1)

   N.A.

(b)(2)

   7.06

(c)

   7.06

(d)

   4.02; 4.09

314(a)

   4.02; 4.09

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   13.04

(c)(2)

   13.04

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   13.05

(f)

   4.10

315(a)

   7.01

(b)

   7.05

(c)

   7.01

(d)

   7.01

(e)

   6.11

316(a)(last sentence)

   13.06

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

317(a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.09

(b)

   2.05

318(a)

   13.01

N.A. Means Not Applicable.

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.


INDENTURE dated as of April 30, 2010 among LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “ Issuer ”), LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V., a public limited liability company formed under the laws of The Netherlands, as the ultimate parent company of the Issuer and as the parent guarantor (the “ Company ”), each of the other Guarantors named herein, as guarantors, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) and as Registrar and Paying Agent (the “ Paying Agent ”).

The Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of $3,240,225,105 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 issued on the date hereof (the “ Initial Notes ”).

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions .

ABL Collateral Agent ” means the representative(s) from time to time administering the collateral on behalf of the lenders under the ABL Facility.

ABL Facility ” means the asset based revolving credit agreement dated as of its effective date among the Issuer, Equistar Chemicals, L.P., Houston Refining L.P., LyondellBasell Acetyls LLC and each other Subsidiary of the Issuer from time to time designated as a “Borrower” thereunder, the lenders and agents party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

ABL Facility Collateral ” will consist of all present and after-acquired inventory, accounts receivable, related contracts and other rights, deposit accounts into which proceeds of the foregoing are credited and books and records related thereto, together with all proceeds of the foregoing, in each case to the extent of the rights, title and interest therein of any “Borrower” under the ABL Facility.

ABL Obligations ” means all Indebtedness and other Obligations under the ABL Facility.

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset at the time such asset is acquired by such specified Person.

Additional First Lien Secured Party ” means the holders of any Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, including the holders of the First Lien Notes, and any collateral agent with respect to any Additional First Priority Lien Obligations or Authorized Representative with respect thereto, including the First Lien Trustee.

Additional First Priority Lien Obligations ” means any First Priority Lien Obligations that are Incurred after the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness Incurred under the Senior Term Loan Facility) and secured by the Common Collateral on a first priority basis pursuant to the First Lien Security Documents.


Additional Interest ” means all additional interest then owing in respect of a Transfer Restricted Note pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Additional Junior Lien Obligations ” means any Junior Lien Obligations that are Incurred after the Issue Date and secured on a basis equal to the Liens securing the Notes, provided such Lien is permitted to be Incurred under the First Lien Indenture, the Senior Term Loan Facility, the ABL Facility and the Indenture.

Additional Notes ” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.

Additional Second Lien Secured Party ” means the holders of any Additional Second Priority Lien Obligation, and any collateral agent with respect to any Additional Second Priority Lien Obligation or Authorized Representative with respect thereto.

Additional Second Priority Lien Obligations ” means any Second Priority Lien Obligations that are Incurred after the Issue Date and secured by the Collateral pursuant to the Second Lien Security Documents.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “ control ” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent, Collateral Agent or Co-Registrar, including any permitted successors or assigns thereto.

Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to any Note on any redemption date, the greater of:

(1) 1.00% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Note; and

(2) the excess of: (a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note at May 1, 2013 plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through May 2, 2013 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest but including Additional Interest, if any), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the then outstanding principal amount of the Note.

Applicable Procedures ” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange.

 

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Asset Acquisition ” means:

(1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or shall be merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or

(2) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course of business.

Asset Backed Credit Facility ” means (i) the ABL Facility; (ii) any credit facility provided on the basis of the value of inventory, accounts receivable or other current assets (and related documents and intangibles) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or similar instrument; and (iii) any similar credit support agreements or guarantees Incurred from time to time, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time;  provided that any credit facility that refinances or replaces an Asset Backed Credit Facility must comply with clause (ii) of this definition in order to be an Asset Backed Credit Facility; and provided , further , that, if at the time any such refinancing or replacement is necessary or advisable in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, and an Asset Backed Credit Facility that complies with clause (ii) of this definition is not available on terms considered commercially reasonable for facilities of this nature (as determined in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company), then the ABL Facility may be refinanced with or replaced by any Credit Facility and such Credit Facility shall be an Asset Backed Credit Facility for purposes hereof.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) outside the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (each referred to in this definition as a “ disposition ”) or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or redundant, surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04;

 

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(d) any sale, conveyance or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions), including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction, or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued have an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $75.0 million;

(e) any disposition of property or assets, or the issuance of securities, by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(f) (i) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company and (ii) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company;

(g) any foreclosure or any similar action with respect to any property or other asset of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(h) any sale of Equity Interests in, or other ownership interests in or assets or property, including Indebtedness, or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) any lease, assignment, license or sublease which does not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(j) any grant of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property which does not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(k) any transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) in a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(l) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including any Sale/Leaseback Transaction or asset securitization permitted by this Indenture;

(m) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

(n) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

 

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(o) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

(p) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(q) pursuant to buy-sell arrangements or similar agreements between Lyondell China Holdings Limited of Ningbo ZRCC and Lyondell Chemical Company Ltd.; and

(r) any sale, conveyance or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) in connection with the Emergence Transactions.

Authorized Representative ” means (i) in the case of any Obligations under the Senior Term Loan Facility or the secured parties under the Senior Term Loan Facility, the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, (ii) in the case of the Obligations under the First Lien Notes or the holders of the First Lien Notes, the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent, (iii) in the case of the ABL Facility, the ABL Collateral Agent and (iv) in the case of any Series of Additional First Priority Lien Obligations that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Authorized Representative named for such Series in the applicable joinder agreement.

Bankruptcy Code ” means the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq ., as amended from time to time.

Bankruptcy Court ” means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Basell GmbH ” means Basell Germany Holdings GmbH and any successor in interest thereto.

Berre Facility ” means any receivables-backed credit or factoring facility entered into by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries (other than Basell GmbH) related to receivables of the refinery located in Berre, France, and any permitted refinancings thereof.

Board of Directors ” means, as to any Person, the board of directors, supervisory board of such Person, or equivalent governing body (or, if such Person is a partnership or limited liability company, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person or manager) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Business Acquisition ” means the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person.

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City, London or The Netherlands.

Capital Stock ” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;

 

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(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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Cases ” means the proceedings of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. and certain of its Subsidiaries and affiliates, as debtors and debtors-in-possession under Chapter 11.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) U.S. Dollars, pounds sterling, Euros, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union (other than Greece or Portugal) or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank or trust company having capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations and reverse repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision 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 ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

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(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Sponsors or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(8) U.S. Dollar-denominated money market funds as defined in Rule 2a-7 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(9) tax-exempt floating-rate option tender bonds backed by letters of credit issued by a national or state bank whose long-term unsecured debt has a rating of AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or the equivalent rating by any other internationally recognized rating agency; and

(10) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (9) above.

Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means a Sale/Leaseback Transaction that relates to a catalyst containing one or more precious metals used by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder; or

(2) the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer, conveyance or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company.

Chapter 11 ” means Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

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

Collateral ” means all property subject or purported to be subject, from time to time, to a Lien under any Security Documents.

Collateral Agent ” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as collateral agent under the Security Documents, together with its successors in such capacity.

Common Collateral ” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of two or more Series of First Priority Lien Obligations (or their respective Authorized Representatives) hold a valid and perfected security interest at such time. If more than two Series of First Priority Lien Obligations are outstanding at any time and the holders of less than all Series of First Priority Lien Obligations hold a valid

 

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and perfected security interest in any Collateral at such time, then such Collateral shall constitute Common Collateral for those Series of First Priority Lien Obligations that hold a valid security interest in such Collateral at such time and shall not constitute Common Collateral for any Series which does not have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral at such time.

Company ” means LyondellBasell Industries N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (public limited liability corporation) formed under the laws of The Netherlands, and any successor in interest thereto.

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:

(1) Consolidated Net Income;

(2) to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby;

(a) taxes of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise, property and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations), or such equivalent items in any foreign jurisdiction;

(b) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(c) Consolidated Non-cash Charges;

(d) the amount of net loss resulting from the payment of any premiums, fees or similar amounts that are required to be paid under the terms of the instrument(s) governing any Indebtedness upon the repayment, prepayment or other extinguishment of such Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of such Indebtedness;

(e) any expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Non-cash Charges) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, any Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or Incurrence, repayment, amendment or modification of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred or repaid pursuant to this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (in each case, whether or not successful), including, without limitation, (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Notes and the Credit Facility Indebtedness and other Exit Financing, (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes or other Indebtedness, (iii) any Additional Interest in respect of the Notes and (iv) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Financing; and

(f) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, facility consolidations, retention, headcount reductions, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); and

(3) the amount of net cost savings projected by such Person in good faith to be realized by specified actions taken or to be taken prior to or during such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of such period);

 

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pro vided that (x) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and (y) such actions have been taken or are to be taken within twelve months of the date of determination to take such action and the benefit is expected to be realized within twelve months of taking such action; minus

(4) any non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (excluding (i) the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period, (ii) items referenced in clause (e) of “Consolidated Net Income” and (iii) gains which have been offset against losses in determining Consolidated Net Income but for which the loss has not been added back as a Consolidated Non-cash Charge pursuant to the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”);

all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Consolidated EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarter ending (i) June 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $551.0 million, (ii) September 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $757.0 million and (iii) December 31, 2009 shall be deemed to be $578.0 million, before giving pro forma effect to any transaction occurring after the Issue Date, as permitted under the definitions of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” and “Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio.”

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income for such period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation:

(1) amortization of original issue discount,

(2) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued,

(3) net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations,

(4) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, and

(5) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation,

but excluding, in each case, any amortization of fees, debt issuance costs and commissions incurred in connection with the Credit Facilities, any Receivables Financing, the issuance of the First Lien Notes, the Notes, the Euro Securitization and any other debt issuance.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period:

(1) the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis; plus

 

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(2) cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person by any other Person (the “ Payor ”) other than a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income, which have not been derived from Indebtedness of the Payor to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such referent Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such referent Person;

provided that there shall be excluded therefrom, without duplication (but only to the extent included in the calculation of the foregoing):

(a) (i) any net after-tax income or loss from operating results of discontinued operations as defined by GAAP, and (ii) any net after-tax gains or losses from sales of discontinued operations;

(b) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto or expenses or charges, any severance expenses, relocation expenses, curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, any expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses and fees, expenses or charges relating to facilities closing costs, acquisition integration costs, facilities opening costs, project start-up costs, business optimization costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or issuance, repayment, refinancing, amendment or modification of Indebtedness (in each case, whether or not successful), and all costs and expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred in connection with the Cases and the Exit Financings);

(c) the Net Income of any Payor, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or Net Income of such Payor that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or to a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person by such Payor (or to the extent converted into cash);

(d) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not a guarantor to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is restricted; provided , however , that the Net Income of Restricted Subsidiaries shall only be excluded in any calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Company as a result of application of this clause (d) if the restriction on dividends or similar distributions results from consensual restrictions other than any restriction contained in clauses (1), (2) and (4) and, to the extent related to clauses (1), (2) and (4), clause (15) under Section 4.05;

(e)(i) any restoration to income of any contingency reserve, except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made out of Consolidated Net Income accrued at any time following the Issue Date; and (ii) any restoration to or deduction from income for changes in estimates related to the post-emergence settlement of pre-petition claims obligations in relation with Chapter 11 following the Issue Date;

(f) in the case of a successor to such Person by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of such Person’s assets, any gains or losses of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets;

(g) any charges or credits relating to any purchase accounting adjustments or to the adoption of fresh start accounting principles;

 

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(h) any (i) one-time non-cash compensation charges, and (ii) non-cash costs or expenses resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans, compensation charges or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or awards of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, Preferred Stock or other rights;

(i) Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(j) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by management of the Company) or reserves relating thereto;

(k) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered in relation with the Indebtedness extinguished;

(l) any gain or loss for such period from currency translation gains or losses or net gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk entered in relation with Indebtedness); and

(m) any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.04(a) pursuant to clause (3)(iv) or (3)(v).

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the Total Assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries less goodwill and intangibles (other than intangibles arising from, or relating to, intellectual property, licenses or permits (including, but not limited to, emissions rights) of such Person), in each case calculated in accordance with GAAP, provided that in the event that such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries assumes or acquires any assets in connection with the acquisition by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries of another Person subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is made, then the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such assumption or acquisition of assets, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable period.

Consolidated Non-cash Charges ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the consolidated depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits) (including any lower-of-cost-or-market adjustments of inventory) reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period.

 

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Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Credit Facilities ” means:

(1) the Senior Term Loan Facility,

(2) any Asset Backed Credit Facility;

(3) any debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other Indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted by Section 4.03) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders; and

(4) any such agreements, instruments or guarantees governing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance any Indebtedness or commitments referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above whether by the same or any other lender or group of lenders.

Credit Facility Indebtedness ” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Facilities as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Senior Term Loan Facility), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement Obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

 

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Currency Agreement ” means, with respect to any Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency futures contract, currency option contract, currency derivative or other similar agreement to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.

Default ” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.07(c) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

Depositary ” means any Person specified in Section 2.04 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock ” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on the issue date thereof.

Discharge of First and Second Priority Lien Obligations ” means except to the extent otherwise provided in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with respect to the reinstatement or continuation of any First Priority Lien Obligation or Second Priority Lien Obligation under certain circumstances, payment in full in cash (except for contingent indemnities and cost and reimbursement Obligations to the extent no claim has been made) of all First and Second Priority Lien Obligations and, with respect to any letters of credit or letter of credit guaranties outstanding under the First Lien Documents or Second Lien Documents, delivery of cash collateral or backstop letters of credit in respect thereof in a manner consistent with such First Lien Documents or Second Lien Documents, in each case after or concurrently with the termination of all commitments to extend credit thereunder, and the termination of all commitments of the First Lien Secured Parties or Second Lien Secured Parties under the First Lien Documents or Second Lien Documents, as the case may be; provided that the Discharge of First and Second Priority Lien Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred if such payments are made with the proceeds of other First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations that constitute an exchange or replacement for or a refinancing of such Obligations, First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations. In the event the First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations are modified and the Obligations are paid over time or otherwise modified pursuant to Section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, the First Priority Lien Obligations and Second Priority Lien Obligations shall be deemed to be discharged when the final payment is made, in cash, in respect of such Indebtedness and any Obligations pursuant to such modified Indebtedness shall have been satisfied.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund Obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

 

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(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

in each case prior to 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided , further , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and successors.

Emergence Transactions ” means all transactions arising out of the Reorganization Plan and emergence from Chapter 11, including, but not limited to, Exit Financing.

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).

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale after April 8, 2010 of common stock or Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (to the extent the proceeds thereof are contributed to the Company), as applicable, on a primary basis, other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or such direct or indirect parent entity’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company; and

(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

Euro Securitization ” means the transaction dated as of its effective date entered into in connection with the €450 million revolving securitization facility of trade accounts receivable with Basell Sales and Marketing Company B.V. and Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., as sellers, and Basell Polyolefins Collections Ltd., as receivables purchaser, as such facility may be amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

 

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Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Offer ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Excluded Assets ” has the meaning set forth in the First Lien Security Documents.

Excluded Contributions ” means the aggregate net cash proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after the Issue Date from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (i) any Receivables Subsidiary, (ii) any Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (iii) any Special Purpose Subsidiary, (iv) any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary that is a subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary and (v) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Company as of the Issue Date or at any time thereafter meeting any one of the following conditions that has been designated by the Issuer as an Excluded Subsidiary in a writing to the Trustee (which designation may be rescinded by granting a Guarantee in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture): (a) the Total Assets of such Domestic Subsidiary determined as of the end of the fiscal year of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements are required to be delivered under this Indenture does not exceed $25.0 million, or (b) the Consolidated EBITDA of such Domestic Subsidiary does not exceed $25.0 million, for the period of four consecutive quarters of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to this Indenture; provided that, at any time or from time to time after the Issue Date, Domestic Subsidiaries (other than a Special Purpose Subsidiary) shall not be designated as Excluded Subsidiaries to the extent that such Domestic Subsidiaries under this clause (v) would represent, in the aggregate, (a) 5.0% or more of Total Assets of the Company at the end of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Company or (b) 5.0% or more of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the most recently ended fiscal year, in each case, based upon the most recent financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Indenture; provided , further , that, if the most recent financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Indenture for any fiscal quarter occurring after the Issue Date indicate that, by reason of subsequent changes following the designation of any one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as an Excluded Subsidiary or Excluded Subsidiaries, the foregoing requirements of this definition would not be complied with (other than as a result of an impairment charge), individually or in the aggregate, then the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly (but in any event within 180 days after the date the financial statements are required), rescind such designations as are necessary, and provide such Guarantees as are necessary, so as to comply with the requirements of this Indenture. Any uncured Default shall not occur until the expiration of such 180 days provided such efforts are used.

 

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Exit Financing ” means that certain financing to finance the Reorganization Plan expected to be comprised of the Senior Term Loan Facility, the ABL Facility, the Euro Securitization, the Notes and the First Lien Notes.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction; provided that, other than as expressly set forth in this Indenture, for purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of any property or assets, such Fair Market Value shall be determined by (x) the Company in good faith with respect to property or assets with a Fair Market Value not in excess of $250.0 million, (y) an opinion as to the Fair Market Value issued by a qualified accounting, appraisal, financial advisory or investment banking firm or (z) the Board of Directors of the Company, as evidenced by a certificate of an officer of the Company, with respect to property or assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of $250.0 million.

First and Second Priority Lien Obligations ” means First Priority Lien Obligations and Second Priority Lien Obligations.

First Lien Collateral Agreement ” means the collateral agreement entered into by the Company, the Issuer, the Pledgors, the First Lien Trustee and the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

First Lien Documents ” means the credit, guarantee and security documents governing the First Priority Lien Obligations (and any Additional First Priority Lien Obligations), including, without limitation, the First Lien Indenture and the First Lien Security Documents.

First Lien Facilities ” means the First Lien Notes issued under the First Lien Indenture and any First Lien Note Obligations in connection therewith.

First Lien Indenture ” means the indenture dated as of April 8, 2010 among LBI Escrow Corporation, as predecessor to the Issuer, the Company and the First Lien Trustee, under which the First Lien Notes are issued, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed or restated in whole or in part from time to time, in accordance with the terms thereof.

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date by and among the First Lien Trustee, the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent and the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, with respect to the Common Collateral, which may be amended from time to time without the consent of the holders of the Notes to add other parties holding First Priority Lien Obligations permitted to be Incurred under the First Lien Indenture, the Senior Term Loan Facility and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

First Lien Notes ” means the 8% notes due on November 1, 2017, issued under the First Lien Indenture by LBI Escrow Corporation, as predecessor to the Issuer, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced, defeased or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

First Lien Notes Collateral Agent ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as collateral agent under the First Lien Notes.

First Lien Notes Obligations ” means Obligations in respect of the First Lien Notes (including other first lien notes Incurred pursuant to clause (b)(i) of Section 4.03 hereof), the First Lien Indenture and the First Lien Security Documents, including, for the avoidance of doubt, Obligations in respect of exchange notes and guarantees thereof.

 

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First Lien Secured Parties ” means (a) the “Secured Parties,” as defined in the Senior Term Loan Facility, (b) the “Secured Parties,” as defined in the First Lien Collateral Agreement, and (c) any Additional First Lien Secured Parties.

First Lien Security Documents ” means the security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, collateral agreements, intercreditor agreements, mortgages and related agreements, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted securing First Priority Lien Obligations, and any Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed, in each case to the extent relating to the Collateral securing the First Priority Lien Obligations.

First Lien Trustee ” means the party named as the trustee in the First Lien Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

First or Second Priority After-Acquired Property ” means either First Priority After-Acquired Property or Second Priority After-Acquired Property.

First Priority After-Acquired Property ” means (x) at any time the outstanding principal amount of loans under the Senior Term Loan Facility is greater than $500.0 million, any property of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor that secures any First Priority Lien Obligations and Other First Lien Obligations other than the First Lien Notes that is not already subject to the Lien under the First Lien Security Documents, other than any Excluded Assets, and (y) if clause (x) is not applicable, then any property of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor that constitutes Notes Collateral (other than Excluded Assets).

First Priority Lien Obligations ” means (i) all Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities (other than the Asset Backed Credit Facility and any other Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to clause (iii)(B) of Section 4.03(b)), (ii) the First Lien Notes Obligations and the Obligations in respect of any refunding, refinancing or defeasement of the First Lien Notes, (iii) all other Obligations of the Company, the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services in each case owing to a Person that is a holder of Credit Facility Indebtedness or an Affiliate of such holder at the time of entry into such Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services, (iv) Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, if any, permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.03 and (v) Indebtedness under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to clause (iii)(C) of Section 4.03(b).

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of revolving credit borrowings or revolving advances under any Receivables Financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

 

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For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and operational changes (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and (2) all adjustments of the nature set forth as “Reorganization Adjustments” under “Unaudited Consolidated Pro Forma Financial Information” as set forth in the Offering Memorandum for the Company to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

For the purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. Dollars will be converted to U.S. Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement.

 

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Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, and

(2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States 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 have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Issue Date as adopted by the Company. For the purposes of this Indenture, the term “ consolidated ” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.07(g)(ii) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

Global Notes ” means, individually and collectively, the Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.07(b) or 2.07(d) hereof, and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary.

Government Obligations ” means securities that are:

(1) direct Obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or

(2) Obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit Obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided , however , that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

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Hedging Obligations ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, emission rights, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

holder ” or “ noteholder ” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Incur ” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except any such balance that constitutes (i) a trade payable or similar Obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out Obligations until such Obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (iii) liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any Obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the Obligations referred to in clause (1) of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) 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); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed

 

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money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed Obligations of the respective seller; or (4) Obligations under or in respect of a Qualified Receivables Financing or a Qualified Joint Venture Transaction.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness, and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.

Indenture ” means this Indenture as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed or restated in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with the terms herein.

Independent Financial Advisor ” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Indirect Participant ” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

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 an equivalent rating by any other 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 a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Company and its Subsidiaries,

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4) 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.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees (other than guarantees of performance made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Joint Venture)), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary

 

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course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

Issue Date ” means April 30, 2010.

Issuer ” means Lyondell Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto in accordance with this Indenture.

Issuer Order ” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.

Joint Venture ” means any joint venture entity, whether a company, unincorporated firm, association, partnership or any other entity which, in each case, is not a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries but in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has a direct or indirect equity or similar interest.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, entered on the Issue Date by and among the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties under the First Lien Indenture, the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of the First Lien Secured Parties under the Senior Term Loan Facility, the ABL Collateral Agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of the administrative agent and lenders under the ABL Facility and the Collateral Agent (together with the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent, the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent and the ABL Collateral Agent, the “ Applicable Collateral Agents ”), on its own behalf and on behalf of the holders of the Obligations under the Notes, the Company, the Issuer and the Pledgors that sets forth the relative priority of the Liens securing any First Priority Lien Obligations, the Liens securing the ABL Obligations and the Liens securing any Junior Lien Obligations, including the Notes (collectively, the “ Applicable Obligations ”).

 

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Junior Lien Obligations ” means (i) the Notes, (ii) the Notes Obligations and the Obligations in respect of any refunding, refinancing or defeasement of the Notes, and (iii) Additional Junior Lien Obligations.

LCC Assumption ” means the consummation of the transactions on the Issue Date whereby (a) the Issuer will assume all of the obligations of LBI Escrow Corporation under the First Lien Indenture, (b) each of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Excluded Subsidiaries) will guarantee the First Lien Notes and (c) to the extent the Issuer assumes the obligations of LBI Escrow Corporation other than by merger, LBI Escrow Corporation is released from the obligations under the First Lien Indenture.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or similar encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest; provided that in no event shall an operating lease, rights of set-off or netting arrangements in the ordinary course of business be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Recourse Stock Pledge ” means the pledge of the Equity Interests in any Joint Venture (that is not a Restricted Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary to secure non-recourse debt of such Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary, which pledge is made by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the activities of which are limited to making and managing Investments, and owning Equity Interests, in such Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only for so long as its activities are so limited.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Mortgaged Property ” means each parcel of Real Property owned, leased or otherwise held by the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor intended to be encumbered by a Mortgage to secure any Third Priority Lien Obligations as set forth on Annex A of Schedule 4.10 and each Real Property, if any, which shall be subject to a Mortgage delivered after the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.13.

Mortgages ” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Negromex Receivables Dispositions ” means any disposition of accounts receivable arising from transactions with Industrias Negromex, S.A. de C.V.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, 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, 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 costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such

 

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Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, 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 (other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(i)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

Notes ” means the Initial Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include any Additional Notes that may be issued under a supplemental indenture. For purposes of this Indenture, all references to Notes to be issued or authenticated upon transfer, replacement or exchange shall be deemed to refer to Notes of the applicable series.

Notes Collateral ” has the meaning set forth in the First Lien Security Documents.

Notes Obligations ” means Obligations in respect of the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, including, for the avoidance of doubt, Obligations in respect of guarantees thereof.

Obligations ” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the holders of the Notes.

Offering Memorandum ” means the confidential offering memorandum, dated March 24, 2010, relating to the initial issuance of the First Lien Notes under the First Lien Indenture.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of any Person.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of any Person by an Officer of such Person, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Person, which meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Oil Indexed Credit Facility ” means a working capital facility for which availability is conditioned upon the price per barrel of crude oil that is not less than $125.0 and the proceeds of which are utilized for working capital purposes and related fees and expenses; provided that the First Lien Notes and any other First Priority Lien Obligations are secured by a Lien ranking at least pari passu with any Lien on assets securing any Oil Indexed Credit Facility and the collateral agent under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall have been made party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall be subject to the terms thereof.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Issuer or to the Trustee. Counsel giving any Opinion of Counsel shall be entitled to rely on an Officer’s Certificate as to any factual matters relevant to such opinion.

 

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Other First Lien Obligations ” means other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is equally and ratably secured with the First Lien Notes as permitted by the First Lien Indenture and is designated by the Company as an Other First Lien Obligation.

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means:

(1) with respect to the Issuer, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to the Notes; and

(2) with respect to any Pledgor, its Obligations in respect of the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Pledgor’s Obligations in respect of the Guarantees of the Notes.

Participants ” means with respect to the Notes, institutions that have accounts with DTC or its nominee.

PBGC Settlement ” means the settlement agreement between the Issuer and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor in interest thereto) as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Permitted Holder Group ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “Permitted Holders.”

Permitted Holders ” means, at any time, each of (i) the Sponsor, (ii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the Company and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof and (iii) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above and that, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company (a “ Permitted Holder Group ”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member relative to the other members of the Permitted Holder Group with respect to voting in the election of Directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries generally and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than the Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

 

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(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (x) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date or (y) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(6) loans and advances to officers, directors or employees (a) for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, including as part of a recruitment or retention plan, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company, (b) required by applicable employment laws loans and (c) other loans and advances not to exceed $25.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(7) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(xi);

(9) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business or in Joint Ventures having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000.0 million and (y) 4.50% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (9);  provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $350.0 million and (y) 1.50% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment

 

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(with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (10); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(11) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable; provided , however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3)(ii) or (iii) under Section 4.04(a);

(12) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(13) Investments consisting of or to finance purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, services or equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property;

(14) any Investment in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments in a Receivables Subsidiary, of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness and, to the extent constituting an Investment, the acquisition of accounts receivable that have been sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a Receivables Financing, including the repurchase of accounts receivable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or other payment obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(15) any Investment in an entity or purchase of a business or assets in each case owned (or previously owned) by a customer of a Restricted Subsidiary as a condition or in connection with such customer (or any member of such customer’s group) contracting with a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(16) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(17) any Investment in any Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;

(18) Investments through the licensing contribution in a Person that is or will be as a result of such Investment a Joint Venture or Investments through the licensing, contribution or transactions that economically result in a contribution in kind of intellectual property pursuant to Joint Venture arrangements, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(19) purchase of shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG required to satisfy Basell B.V.’s obligations under its stock option plans as such plans and stock appreciation rights were in effect on the Issue Date;

(20) a transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with clauses (xii) and (xiii) of Section 4.04(b);

(21) any Investment in connection with a Structured Financing Transaction;

(22) a transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with clause (38) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(23) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 4.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (iv), (v), (ix)(B), (xv) and (xix) of such Section); and

(24) any Qualified Joint Venture Transaction.

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith pledges, deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance bonds, surety bonds, bid bonds, letters of credit or similar instruments issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business or with respect to statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements;

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

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(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03, (B) Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clauses (i), (iii)(A) and (iii)(C) of Section 4.03(b) and (y) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness that, as of the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of proceeds therefrom on such date, would not cause the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company to exceed 2.25 to 1.00, (C) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clause (iii)(B), (v)(A), (v)(B), (xiii), (xxi) or (xxv) of Section 4.03(b) ( provided that (1) in the case of clause (v)(A), such Lien extends only to the assets and/or Capital Stock, the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of which is financed thereby and any proceeds or products thereof, (2) in the case of clause (xxi), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of any Subsidiary of the Company other than a Foreign Subsidiary, (3) in the case of clause (v)(B) such Lien applies solely to acquired property or asset of the acquired entity, as the case may be, and (4) in the case of clause (xxv), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than Australia) and (D) Liens securing the First Lien Notes Obligations;

(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens in favor of the lenders under the Senior Term Loan Facility and under the ABL Facility);

(8) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided , further , however , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided , further that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other Obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not Incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Lien extends only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s Obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, tender, bid, judgment, appeal, performance or governmental contract bonds and completion guarantees, surety, standby letters of credit and warranty and contractual service obligations of a like nature, trade letters of credit and documentary letters of credit and similar bonds or guarantees provided by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

 

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(13) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or other precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings;

(15) Liens in favor of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor;

(16) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing to the extent permitted by Section 4.03;

(17) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided , however , that such Lien is limited to the applicable insurance carriers;

(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15); provided , however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien ( plus improvements on such property), (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, (including tender premiums) and original issue discount, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement and (z) Junior Lien Obligations shall not be refinanced with First Priority Lien Obligations; provided , further , however , that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (6)(B) or (C) above, the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (6)(B) or (C) and not this clause (20) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (6)(B) or (C) above and for purposes of the definition of “Secured Credit Facility Indebtedness”;

(21) Liens on equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

(22) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

 

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(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens Incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(25) other Liens on assets not constituting Collateral securing Obligations that do not exceed $75.0 million in aggregate at any time;

(26) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any Joint Venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any Joint Venture or similar agreement;

(27) any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(28) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution;

(29) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts Incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking institution 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 industry;

(30) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Indenture;

(31) any netting or set-off arrangements entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash pooling arrangements) for the purposes of netting debit and credit balances of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, including pursuant to any Treasury Services Agreement;

(32) 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 in the ordinary course of business;

(33) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 4.03; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreements;

(34) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in or monies placed in escrow pursuant to an Investment permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, (ii) over assets being acquired pursuant to Investments permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” pending payment in full of the purchase price, (iii) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a disposition permitted pursuant to the definition of “Asset Sale” and (iv) consisting of intellectual property licenses permitted by clause (18) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

 

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(35) Liens arising by reason of deposits necessary to qualify the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to conduct business, maintain self insurance or comply with any law and Liens securing the PBGC Settlement;

(36) any Lien arising as a result of a sale, transfer or other disposal which is an Asset Sale in compliance with Section 4.06;

(37) Liens relating to a Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(38) Liens relating to any Limited Recourse Stock Pledge;

(39) Liens relating to any Treasury Services Agreement, Qualified Joint Venture Transaction or Structured Financing Transaction;

(40) Liens securing (i) the Notes and the Notes Obligations, and (ii) any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing subclause (i); and

(41) Liens that are junior in priority to the Liens securing the Notes pursuant to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Pledgor ” means any Guarantor other than the Company; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Subsidiary from its Obligations to pledge its assets and property to secure the Notes in accordance with this Indenture or the Security Documents, such Subsidiary ceases to be a Pledgor.

Preferred Stock ” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Primary Offering ” means an Equity Offering on any investment exchange or any other sale or issue by way of flotation or public offering or any equivalent circumstances with aggregate net cash proceeds to the Company or contributed to the Company of at least $500.0 million.

Project Financings ” means, with respect to any project, the Incurrence of Indebtedness relating to the development, expansion, renovation, upgrade or other modification or construction of such project pursuant to which the providers of such Indebtedness or any trustee or other intermediary on their behalf or beneficiaries designated by any such provider, trustee or other intermediary are granted security over one or more assets relating to such project for repayment of principal, premium and interest or any other amount in respect of such Indebtedness, including Indebtedness to finance working capital requirements with respect to any project; provided that any working capital financing shall not be secured by any assets or property included in calculating the Borrowing Base for purposes of Section 4.03(b)(iii)(B).

Qualified Joint Venture Transaction ” means any transaction in which (i) Indebtedness is owed or incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary whose activities are limited to holding shares in Joint Ventures

 

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(but only to the extent that (a) the creditors under the relevant agreement have no recourse to the Company other than to such Restricted Subsidiary; and (b) the recourse those creditors have to such Restricted Subsidiary is limited to the proceeds (if any) of dividends received by such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Restricted Subsidiary’s investment in such Joint Ventures) or (ii) involving guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of a customer or a third party guarantor of such customer’s Indebtedness that are made to a governmental export credit agency, a state development bank or like governmental agency or organization to the extent that such guarantees are conditioned on a failure to perform by any of the Company, such Restricted Subsidiary or a joint venture under an engineering procurement or construction contract entered into with such customer or third party guarantor; provided that the aggregate amount of any Indebtedness referenced in this clause (ii) shall not at any time exceed 1.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.

Qualified Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness that (1) is (a) Incurred by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of property or the Equity Interests of any person owning such property and whether in a single acquisition or a series of related acquisitions) or (b) assumed by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (2) is non-recourse to the Company, the Issuer and any Pledgor and (3) is non-recourse to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary ” means (1) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Pledgor and that is formed or created after the Issue Date in order to finance an acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property or equipment (directly or through one of its Subsidiaries) that secures Qualified Non-Recourse Debt and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary of a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

Qualified Receivables Financing ” means any Receivables Financing that meets the following conditions (including, without limitation, the Euro Securitization, the Berre Facility and the Negromex Receivables Dispositions):

(1) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have 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 the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets are made at Fair Market Value; and

(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure the ABL Facility, any Credit Facility Indebtedness or any Indebtedness in respect of the Notes shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

Rating Agency ” means (1) S&P, (2) Moody’s, or (3) if either or both of S&P and Moody’s shall not then exist, a nationally recognized securities rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company, which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.

 

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Real Property ” means, collectively, all right, title and interests (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned, leased or operated by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all buildings, structures, parking areas and improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Receivables Fees ” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Financing.

Receivables Financing ” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to any other Person including to a Receivables Subsidiary, or may grant a security interest in, bank accounts, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, 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 Hedging Obligations entered into by the Company or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation ” means any Obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising 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, offset 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 Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Receivables Financing with the Company in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes an Investment and to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Company and its 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 the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other Obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (excluding guarantees of Obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(b) with which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company; and

 

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(c) to which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company 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 the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Record Date ” for the interest or Additional Interest, if any, payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means January 15 and July 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the Issue Date relating to the Transfer Restricted Notes.

Reorganization Plan ” means a plan of reorganization in any of the Cases.

Responsible Officer ” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, trust officer, assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Issuer shall at all times constitute a Restricted Subsidiary.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency or commission.

Second Lien Documents ” means the credit, guarantee and security documents governing the Second Priority Lien Obligations, including, without limitation, the ABL Facility and the Second Lien Security Documents.

Second Lien Secured Parties ” means (a) the “Secured Parties,” as defined in the ABL Facility and (b) any Additional Second Lien Secured Parties.

 

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Second Lien Security Documents ” means the security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, collateral agreements, intercreditor agreements, mortgages and related agreements, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted securing Second Priority Lien Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed, in each case to the extent relating to the collateral securing the Second Priority Lien Obligations.

Second Priority After-Acquired Property ” means any property of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor that constitutes ABL Facility Collateral (other than Excluded Assets).

Second Priority Lien Obligations ” means (i) all Indebtedness under the Asset Backed Credit Facility and any other Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to clause (b)(iii)(B) of Section 4.03 and (ii) Additional Second Priority Lien Obligations.

Secured Credit Facility Indebtedness ” means any Credit Facility Indebtedness that is secured by a Permitted Lien Incurred or deemed Incurred pursuant to clause (6)(B) of the definition of “Permitted Liens.”

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date of such calculation. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Secured Leverage Calculation Date ”), then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the Issuer may elect pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Leverage Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated Indebtedness and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Secured Indebtedness

 

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Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and (2) all adjustments of the nature set forth as “Restructuring Adjustments” under “Unaudited Consolidated Pro Forma Financial Information” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

For the purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. Dollars will be converted to U.S. Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Security Documents ” means the security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, collateral agreements, intercreditor agreements, mortgages and related agreements, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time, creating the security interests in the Collateral as contemplated by this Indenture.

Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent ” means UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as the collateral agent under the Senior Term Loan Facility, or its successors.

Senior Term Loan Facility ” means the senior secured term loan facility of the Issuer dated as of its effective date, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Series ” means (a) with respect to the First Lien Secured Parties, each of (i) the secured parties under the Senior Term Loan Facility (in their capacities as such), (ii) the holders of the First Lien Notes, the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent and the First Lien Trustee (each in its capacity as such) and (iii) the Additional First Lien Secured Parties that become subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement after the date hereof that are represented by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Lien Secured Parties); (b) with respect to any First Priority Lien Obligations, each of (i) the Obligations under the Senior Term Loan Facility, (ii) the First Lien Notes Obligations and (iii) the Additional First Priority Lien Obligations Incurred pursuant to any applicable agreement, which pursuant to any joinder agreement, are to be represented under the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement by a common Authorized Representative (in its capacity as such for such Additional First Priority Lien Obligations); and (c) with respect to any Junior Lien Obligations, each of (i) the Notes Obligations and the Obligations in respect of any refunding, refinancing or defeasement of the Notes and (ii) the Junior Lien Obligations Incurred after the Issue Date pursuant to any applicable agreement.

 

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Shelf Registration Statement ” means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision).

Similar Business ” means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date or any business or activity that is reasonably similar or complementary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.

Special Purpose Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company whose material assets are comprised solely of the Capital Stock of a Joint Venture, where the pledge of such Capital Stock would be prohibited by any contractual requirement pertaining to such Joint Venture.

Specified ABL Facility Assets ” means any ABL Facility Collateral, the net proceeds of an Asset Sale of which are required to be applied as a prepayment of any Asset Backed Credit Facility.

Sponsor ” means Apollo Global Management, LLC and any of its successors in interest or Affiliates.

Standard Securitization Undertakings ” means representations, warranties, undertakings, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

Structured Financing Transaction ” means a sale of preferred shares of a Restricted Subsidiary, depositing the proceeds of such sale with a bank and pledging such deposit to guarantee a put and call with respect to such preferred shares.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means (a) with respect to the Issuer, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to Obligations in respect of the Notes.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by

 

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such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity; or (3) with respect to the Company, for so long as the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, has at least a 50% ownership interest in Lyondell Bayer Manufacturing Maasvlakle VOF, Lyondell Bayer Manufacturing Maasvlakle VOF. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

Third Priority Lien Obligations ” means (i) all Indebtedness under the Notes, (ii) the Notes Obligations and the Obligations in respect of any refunding, refinancing or defeasement of the Notes, and (iii) Third Priority Lien Obligations that are Incurred after the Issue Date and secured by the Collateral on a third priority basis pursuant to the Security Documents.

TIA ” or “ Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

Total Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, without giving effect to any amortization of the amount of intangible assets since the Issue Date, (x) as shown on the most recent balance sheet of such Person, or (y) in regards to the Company only, as shown on the most recent balance sheet required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.02.

Transfer Restricted Note ” means any Transfer Restricted Security as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Treasury Rate ” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury Securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to May 1, 2013; provided , however , that if the period from such redemption date to May 1, 2013 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury Securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Treasury Services Agreement ” means any agreement between the Issuer, any Guarantor or Restricted Subsidiary and any commercial bank or other financial institution relating to treasury, depository, and cash management services, employee credit card arrangements or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds.

Trustee ” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

 

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(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided , however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except as permitted under Section 4.03); provided , further , however , that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.

The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 4.03 or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

U.S. Dollar Equivalent ” means, with respect to any monetary amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars, at any time for the determination thereof, the amount of U.S. dollars obtained by converting such foreign currency involved in such computation into U.S. dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars with the applicable foreign currency as quoted by Reuters at approximately 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such date of determination (or if no such quote is available on such date, on the immediately preceding Business Day for which such a quote is available).

U.S. Legal Tender ” means such coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

 

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Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required to be held by Foreign Subsidiaries) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

  

Defined in
Section

“3-16 Exemption”

   11.04(c)

“Additional Guarantee”

   4.11(a)

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.07(a)

“Applicable Collateral Agents”

   1.01

“Applicable Obligations”

   1.01

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(b)

“Authentication Order”

   2.03

“Bankruptcy Law”

   6.01

“Borrowing Base”

   4.03(b)(iii)(B)

“Calculation Date”

   1.01

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.08(c)

“Collateral Agreement”

   11.01

“Collateral Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(b)

“Collateral Excess Proceeds”

   4.06(b)

“covenant defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Covenant Suspension Event”

   4.16

“Custodian”

   6.01

“Dutch Security Documents”

   7.13(a)

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.06(b)

“Guarantee”

   12.01(a)

“Guaranteed Obligations”

   12.01(a)

“Guarantor”

   12.01(a)

“incorporated provision”

   13.01

“Initial Notes”

   Preamble

“Investment Grade Status Period”

   4.16

“legal defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Master Agreement”

   1.01

“Mortgage Policies”

   Schedule 4.10

“Notice of Default”

   6.01

“Offer Period”

   4.06(d)

“Parallel Debt”

   7.13(b)(i)

“Paying Agent”

   2.04

 

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Term

  

Defined in
Section

“Payor”

   4.17(a)

“primary obligations”

   1.01

“primary obligor”

   1.01

“Principal Obligations”

   7.13(a)

“protected purchaser”

   2.08

“Reference Period”

   4.04(a)(3)(i)

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.03(b)(xvi)

“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)(ii)(A)

“Registrar”

   2.04

“Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”

   4.17(a)

“Restricted Payments”

   4.04(a)

“Retired Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)(ii)(A)

“Reversion Date”

   4.16

“Second Commitment”

   4.06(b)

“Secured Leverage Calculation Date”

   1.01

“Successor Company”

   5.01(a)(i)

“Successor Issuer”

   5.01(c)(i)

“Successor Pledgor”

   5.01(e)(i)

“Suspended Covenants”

   4.16

“Suspension Period”

   4.16

“Taxes”

   4.17(a)

“Transfer”

   5.01

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . This Indenture incorporates by reference certain provisions of the TIA. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

Commission ” means the SEC.

indenture securities ” means the Notes and any Guarantee.

indenture security holder ” means a holder.

indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture.

indenture trustee ” or “ institutional trustee ” means the Trustee.

obligor ” on the indenture securities means the Issuer and each Guarantor and any other obligor on the Notes.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

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(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(c) “ or ” is not exclusive;

(d) “ including ” means including without limitation;

(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

(g) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(h) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;

(i) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(j) “ $ ” and “ U.S. dollars ” each refer to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;

(k) “ euro ” or “ ” means the currency introduced at the start of the third stage of economic and monetary union pursuant to the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Community, as amended by the Treaty on European Union, signed at Maastricht on February 7, 1992; and

(l) whenever in this Indenture or the Notes there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Interest, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, were or would be payable in respect thereof.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes; Terms . The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $ 3,240,225,105.

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuer pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer as provided in Section 4.06 hereof or a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.08 hereof. The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article III.

 

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The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee and Agents by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued under this Indenture from time to time by the Issuer without notice to or consent of the holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Initial Notes, other than the initial payment date; provided that the Issuer’s ability to issue Additional Notes shall be subject to the Issuer and the Company’s compliance with Sections 4.03 and 4.12 hereof. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under this Indenture may not, unless the Issuer so elects, be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture will be not treated as fungible with the Initial Notes of the relevant series for United States federal income tax purposes or under the laws of any other jurisdiction, unless the Issuer so elects. Unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture, references to the Notes include any Additional Notes actually issued.

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating .

(a) The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, and the CUSIP applicable to the Notes as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1 in excess thereof.

(b) Global Notes . Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Registrar or the Custodian, at the direction of the Registrar, in accordance with instructions given by the holder thereof as required by Section 2.07 hereof.

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication . One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Notes in accordance with this Section 2.03. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

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On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order (an “ Authentication Order ”) and an Opinion of Counsel conforming with Section 314(c) of the TIA, authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Authentication Order authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued hereunder.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with holders or an Affiliate of the Issuer. The Trustee hereby appoints Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as authenticating agent for the Notes.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in Section 9.02, all Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote or consent) as one class and no series of Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent . The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency, where (a) Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”), (b) Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Paying Agent shall not be the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer, upon notice to the Trustee, may have one or more Co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent, and the term “Registrar” includes any Co-Registrar. The Issuer may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any holder.

The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture, which agreement shall incorporate the provisions of the TIA and implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee, in advance, of the name and address of any such Agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.

The Issuer initially appoints Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as the Registrar and Paying Agent with respect to the Notes and initially appoints DTC as Depositary in each case until such time as such entity has resigned or a successor has been appointed.

The Issuer may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided , however , that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign upon 30 days prior written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee; provided , however , that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.

 

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SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require the Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require the Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists . The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list delivered to it of the names and addresses of holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of holders.

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.07, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor thereto. A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note of the same series unless (A) the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 120 days, or (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default with respect to the Notes. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (A) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note of the same series or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 2.08 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note of the same series or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.07 or Section 2.08 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the preceding events in (A) or (B) above and pursuant to Section 2.07(c) hereof. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.07(a); provided , however , beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.07(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.07(b)(i).

 

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(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.07(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the applicable Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing such Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the applicable Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing such Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note of the same series in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the applicable Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, and as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, the Registrar shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.07(h) hereof.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes .

(i) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(ii) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(iii) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(iv) Beneficial Interests in Global Notes to Definitive Notes . If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in subsection (A) or (B) of Section 2.07(a) hereof and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.07(b)(ii) hereof, the Registrar shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.07(h) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.07(c)(iv) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from or through the applicable Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Registrar shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests .

(i) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(ii) [Intentionally Omitted] .

 

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(iii) Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . A holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Registrar shall cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraph (iii) above at a time when a Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes . Upon request by a holder of Definitive Notes and such holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.07(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.07(e):

(i) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(ii) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(iii) Definitive Notes to Definitive Notes . A holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the holder thereof.

(f) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(g) Legends . The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture:

(i) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(ii) Global Note Legend . Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY 11 U.S.C. §1145 UNDER AN ORDER CONFIRMING THE PLAN OF REORGANIZATION IN THE CASE ENTITLED IN RE LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, ET AL., CASE NO. 09-10023, IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE IS ALSO REFERRED TO 11 U.S.C. §1145(b) AND (c) FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE AS TO THE SALE OF THESE SECURITIES.

 

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THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(iii) [Intentionally Omitted] .

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Registrar or by the Depositary at the direction of the Registrar to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Registrar or by the Depositary at the direction of the Registrar to reflect such increase.

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

 

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(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.08, 3.08, 4.06, 4.08 and 9.05 hereof).

(iii) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(v) The Issuer shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.04 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

(vi) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(vii) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section 4.14 hereof, the Issuer shall execute, and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate and the Registrar shall mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

(viii) At the option of the holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and the Registrar shall mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.03 hereof.

(ix) All certifications, certificates, Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 2.07 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

(x) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Notes) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

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(xi) Any request to the Trustee shall be in writing and may be transmitted electronically.

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes . If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the holder (a) satisfies the Issuer and the Trustee within a reasonable time after such holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer and the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “ protected purchaser ”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss or liability that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer.

The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes . Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by the Registrar, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Subject to Section 13.06, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10. [ Intentionally Omitted ].

SECTION 2.11. Cancellation . The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Registrar for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes

 

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in accordance with its customary procedures. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall give written notice to the Trustee of any Notes delivered to them and cancelled. Subject to Section 2.08, the Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. However, if the Company shall acquire any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to this Section 2.11.

SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest . If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuer shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes ( plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, Etc . The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

SECTION 2.14. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes . The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the holders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09, Section 9.02 and Section 13.06 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Optional Redemption . The Notes may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Section 5 of the form of Note set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

SECTION 3.02. Applicability of Article . Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuer or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.

SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee . If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 5 of the Note, it shall notify the Trustee, the Registrar and each Paying Agent in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall

 

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occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuer shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Section 5 of the Note, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Issuer to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein, as well as such notice required to be delivered under Section 3.05 below. If fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Issuer and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

SECTION 3.04. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed . Selection of Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis by lot or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary to the extent practicable; provided that no Notes of $100,000 principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part.

If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed at any time in connection with an optional redemption, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption as follows:

(i) if the Notes to be redeemed are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed; or

(ii) if the Notes to be redeemed are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption .

(a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Section 5 of the Note, the Issuer shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.

Any such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;

(iii) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest;

(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

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(vii) the CUSIP number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed; and

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

(b) At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee and each Paying Agent with the information required by this Section at least ten Business Days prior to the date such notice is to be provided to holders in the final form such notice is to be delivered to holders, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee, and such notice may not be canceled.

SECTION 3.06. Effect of Notice of Redemption . Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.05, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice, except as provided in the final sentence of Section 5 of the form of Note set forth in Exhibit A hereto. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice (including any premium, if any), plus accrued interest, to, but not including, the redemption date; provided , however , that if the redemption date is after a regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant Record Date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other holder.

SECTION 3.07. Deposit of Redemption Price On or before the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent U.S. Legal Tender funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus premium (if any) on and unpaid interest including Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any U.S. Legal Tender so deposited that is not required for that purpose, except with respect to monies owed as Obligations to the Trustee pursuant to Article VII.

Unless the Issuer fails to comply with the preceding paragraph and defaults in the payment of such redemption price, interest on the Notes to be redeemed will cease to accrue on and after the applicable redemption date, whether or not such Notes are presented for payment.

SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part . Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate for the holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes to be redeemed.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes . The Issuer shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds as of 12:00 p.m. Eastern time money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

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The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information

(a) For the periods commencing with the period ending on December 31, 2010 and notwithstanding that the Issuer or the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Company shall file with the SEC (and provide the Trustee and holders with copies thereof, without cost to each holder, within 15 days after it files them with the SEC),

(i) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filers, annual reports on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form),

(ii) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filers, reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form),

(iii) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported (and in any event within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations), such other reports on Form 8-K (or any successor or comparable form), and

(iv) any other information, documents and other reports which the Issuer would be required to file with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

provided , however , that the Company shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event, the Company will make available such information to prospective purchasers of Notes in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the holders, in each case within 15 days after the time the Issuer would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to furnish any information, certificates or reports required by Items 307 or 308 of Regulation S-K prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement.

(b) In the event that the rules and regulations of the SEC permit the Company to report at such parent entity’s level on a consolidated basis and such parent entity is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the capital stock of the Issuer, or consolidating reporting at the parent entity’s level in a manner consistent with that described in this Section 4.02.

(c) The Issuer will make such information available to prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Issuer has agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or otherwise permitted to furnish the SEC with certain information pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) of the Exchange Act, it will furnish to the holders of the Notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee if the Issuer has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available. In addition, the requirements of this Section 4.02 shall be deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offers contemplated by the registration rights agreement relating to the First Lien Notes or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement by (1) the filing with the SEC of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and/or Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement, and any amendments thereto, if such registration statement and/or amendments thereto are filed at times that otherwise satisfy the time requirements set forth in Section 4.02(a) and/or (2) the posting of reports that would be required to be provided to the Trustee and the holders on the Issuer’s website (or that of any of its parent companies).

Reports by the Company or Guarantors delivered to the Trustee should be considered for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock .

(a) (i) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the Issuer or any Guarantor) to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided , however , that the Issuer and any Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and, subject to Section 4.03(c), any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 1.75 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net cash proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to:

(i) (A) Indebtedness under the First Lien Notes outstanding on the Issue Date, and the guarantees thereof, and (B) an aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding in the form of any other series of notes representing First Priority Lien Obligations (“ other first lien notes ”) issued in one or more tranches under the First Lien Indenture, and the guarantees by the Guarantors thereof, if on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto (including a pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.25 to 1.00;

(ii) Indebtedness under the Notes outstanding on the Issue Date;

 

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(iii) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Credit Facilities, as follows:

(A) Indebtedness under any Credit Facilities (other than Asset Backed Credit Facilities) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,500 million plus an aggregate additional principal amount of Indebtedness secured by a Lien outstanding at any one time such that on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the proceeds therefrom) the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.25 to 1.00; provided that the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this subclause (A) shall be reduced by the amount of any (x) prepayments of term loans under Credit Facilities or (y) permanent reductions of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility (other than any such prepayments of the ABL Facility), in the case of each of (x) and (y) with the proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than any Asset Sale in respect of Specified ABL Facility Assets);

(B) Indebtedness under Asset Backed Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $2,250 million and (ii) the sum of 90% of the net book value of the accounts receivable of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and 70% of the net book value of the inventory of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (the “ Borrowing Base ”) less (x) in the case of the calculation of the Borrowing Base under this subclause (B)(ii), the amount of the Borrowing Base that is the subject of an on-balance sheet Qualified Receivables Financing (it being understood that any of the Borrowing Base that is subject to arrangements for disposition or transfer in connection with an off-balance sheet Qualified Receivables Financing shall not be included in the Borrowing Base) and (y) in the case of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this subclause (B)(ii), the amount of any Indebtedness Incurred under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility; provided that any assets or property securing any Project Financing Incurred pursuant to clause (v)(B) below shall be excluded when determining the Borrowing Base; provided further that Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this subclause (B) shall be reduced by the amount of any permanent reductions of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility (other than any such prepayments of revolving credit facilities Incurred pursuant to subclause (A) above) with the proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than any Asset Sale in respect of Specified ABL Facility Assets); provided further that, in the event of an Asset Acquisition, Indebtedness may be Incurred against the Borrowing Base pursuant to the foregoing in anticipation of the completion of such Asset Acquisition on the assumption that the Borrowing Base of the subject of the Asset Acquisition has been acquired; and

(C) Indebtedness under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $750.0 million; provided that amounts Incurred pursuant to an Oil Indexed Credit Facility will be required to reduce the amount of Indebtedness Incurred under the Borrowing Base to the extent Indebtedness in such amount as would no longer be permitted to be Incurred under subclause (B) above (without duplication for the requirements of subclause (B) above);

(iv) Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date (other than the First Lien Notes and Indebtedness described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $600.0 million, after giving effect to the consummation of the Reorganization Plan, which shall have the obligors, collateral, maturity and amortization features summarized under “Description of Certain Indebtedness” in the Offering Memorandum, and guarantees of Indebtedness of Joint Ventures outstanding on the Issue Date, and operating leases of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Issue Date to the extent characterized as a Capitalized Lease Obligation after the Issue Date;

 

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(v) (A) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, Disqualified Stock issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets); provided that Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (v)(A) is not Incurred to finance a Business Acquisition, (B) Indebtedness Incurred in connection with any Project Financing or (C) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to a Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(vi) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement Obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or similar requirements, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental or other permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type Obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(vii) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with any acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(viii) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries) any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations of the Company under the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (viii);

(ix) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (ix);

(x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the Issuer or a Guarantor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor (except in respect of intercompany current

 

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liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, in respect of the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (x);

(xi) Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred for speculative purposes but for the purpose of (1) fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (2) fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; (3) fixing or hedging commodity price risk, including the price or cost of raw materials, emission rights, manufactured products or related commodities, with respect to any commodity purchases or sales; or (4) hedging the potential exposure in respect of certain executives’ and employees’ options over, or stock appreciation rights in relation to, shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG;

(xii) (A) obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, tender, bid, judgment, appeal, performance or governmental contract bonds and completion guarantees, surety, standby letters of credit and warranty and contractual service obligations of a like nature, trade letters of credit and documentary letters of credit and similar bonds or guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or (B) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to any of the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(xiii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or, subject to Section 4.03(c), Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii), does not exceed the greater of $1,000.0 million and 4.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xiii) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xiii));

(xiv) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor and Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any Pledgor not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference not greater than 200% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (which proceeds are contributed to the Company) or cash contributed to the capital of the Company (in each case other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to, or contributions received from, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (ii) and (iii) of Section 4.04(a)(iv)(3) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash has not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof);

 

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(xv) any guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other Obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that (i) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Notes, as applicable, any such guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Restricted Subsidiary’s Obligations with respect to the Notes substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Notes, as applicable, or (ii) if such guarantee is of Indebtedness of the Company under the First Lien Notes or the Senior Term Loan Facility, such guarantee is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.11, solely to the extent such covenant is applicable;

(xvi) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.03(a) and clauses (i), (ii), (iv), (v), (xiv) and (xvii) of this paragraph or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums) and original issue discount, expenses, defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith; provided that any such Indebtedness until reclassified in accordance with this Indenture shall remain Incurred pursuant to clauses (i), (iv), (v), (xiv) and (xvii), as applicable (subject to the following proviso, “ Refinancing Indebtedness ”), prior to its maturity; provided , however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or the Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Notes, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or such Obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, to at least the same extent or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same issuer; and

(3) shall not include (a) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor, or (b) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

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provided , further that subclause (1) of this clause (xvi) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations;

(xvii) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Company or, subject to Section 4.03(c), any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (A) Incurred to finance an Asset Acquisition or (B) Incurred by a Person in connection with or anticipation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of an Asset Acquisition or to finance an Asset Acquisition or (y) a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of an Asset Acquisition or assumed in connection with an Asset Acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and, in any such case under this subclause (y), not Incurred in connection with or in anticipation of such Asset Acquisition; provided that, in the case of clause (y), the holders of any such Indebtedness do not, at any time, have direct or indirect recourse to any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property or assets that are the subject of such Asset Acquisition; provided that after giving effect to such Asset Acquisition, either:

(1) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than immediately prior to such Asset Acquisition;

(xviii) Indebtedness Incurred in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is without recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

(xix) 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; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

(xx) Indebtedness under any Treasury Services Agreement or any Structured Financing Transaction;

(xxi) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xxi), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xxi), does not exceed the greater of $525.0 million and 4.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xxi) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xxi) but shall be deemed Incurred for the purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which such Foreign Subsidiary could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xxi));

(xxii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (1) the financing of insurance premiums or (2) take-or-pay Obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(xxiii) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any

 

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direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company to the extent described in Section 4.04(b)(iv);

(xxiv) Indebtedness Incurred on behalf of, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness of, Joint Ventures of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of $375.0 million and 1.50% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company; and

(xxv) Indebtedness Incurred by Lyondell Basell Australia Pty Ltd. and its successors in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $80.0 million; provided that such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than Australia.

(c) Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not Incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under Section 4.03(a) or clause (xiii) or (xvii)(x) (or clause (xv) to the extent constituting a guarantee of Indebtedness Incurred under Section 4.03(a) or clause (xiii) or (xvii)(x)) of Section 4.03(b) if, after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net cash proceeds therefrom), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) and clauses (xiii) and (xvii)(x) (or clause (xv) to the extent constituting a guarantee of Indebtedness Incurred under Section 4.03(a) or clause (xiii) or (xvii)(x)) of Section 4.03(b), collectively, would exceed the greater of $600.0 million and 5.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03:

(i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xxv) of Section 4.03(b) or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Company, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03; provided that Indebtedness Incurred, or committed for, under the Credit Facilities on or before the Issue Date or pursuant to an Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall at all times be deemed to be Incurred under clause (iii) of Section 4.03(b); and

(ii) at the time of Incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Sections 4.03(a) and (b) without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b) when calculating the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a).

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of liquidation preference 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 or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or Obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall 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 4.03.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. 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 U.S. Dollar Equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. Dollar-denominated restriction shall 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.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.03, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness, solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments .

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company;

(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (viii) or (x) of Section 4.03(b)); or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

 

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(all of the payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above are collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); and

(3) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made after the Issue Date (including the Fair Market Value of non-cash amounts constituting Restricted Payments and Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (ii) (vi)(B), (viii), (xii)(B) and (xvi) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)) shall not exceed the sum of, without duplication.

(i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period, the “ Reference Period ”) from March 31, 2012 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after March 31, 2012 (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiv) from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(iii) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company received in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash after March 31, 2012 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock and Disqualified Stock and other than contributions to the extent such contributions have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiv)), plus

(iv) 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof issued after March 31, 2012 (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof) or 100% of the principal amount of any debt securities of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof that are convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock issued after the Issue Date (other than debt securities issued to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof) which, in any such case, have been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company ( provided in the case of any parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished) after March 31, 2012, plus

 

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(v) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after March 31, 2012 from:

(A) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b) below) or

(B) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(vi) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in each case subsequent to March 31, 2012, the Fair Market Value of the Investment of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable), after deducting any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or combined or any Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred or conveyed (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (vii) of Section 4.04(b) below or constituted a Permitted Investment).

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“ Retired Capital Stock ”) of the Company or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company) (collectively, including any such contributions, “ Refunding Capital Stock ”),

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of Refunding Capital Stock, and

(C) if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (vi) of this Section 4.04(b) and not made pursuant to clause (ii)(B), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which are used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Company)

 

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in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(iii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, the Issuer or any Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Company, the Issuer or any Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value ( plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired, any tender premiums, plus any defeasance costs, fees and expenses Incurred in connection therewith),

(B) such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Obligations in respect of the Notes, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value,

(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and (y) 91 days following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding, and

(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Subordinated Indebtedness being redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date that is 91 days following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided , however , that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (iv) do not exceed $35.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $70.0 million in any calendar year); provided , further , however , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company and its

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company that occurs after the Issue Date ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(iii) or be used as the basis for the Incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 4.03(b)(xiv)), plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity (to the extent contributed to the Company) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

provided that the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A) and (B) above in any calendar year; and provided , further , that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.04 or any other provision of this Indenture;

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(vi) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; and

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(ii);

provided , however , in the case of each of (A) and (B) above of this clause (vi), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Company would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.75 to 1.00;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $375 million and 1.50% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (vii);

(viii)(x) Restricted Payments by the Company in an amount not to exceed $75.0 million per annum, and (y) following a Primary Offering only, the payment of dividends on the listed Equity Interests at a rate not to exceed 6% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by the Company or the Issuer in connection with such a Primary Offering or any subsequent Primary Offering;

 

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(ix) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $450.0 million and 2.00% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time made;

(xi) the payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that files a consolidated tax return that includes the Issuer and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, by virtue of such parent being the common parent of a consolidated or combined tax group of which the Issuer and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries are members) in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes (as the case may be) if the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid such taxes as a standalone taxpayer (or standalone group);

(xii) the payment of Restricted Payments, if applicable:

(A) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer to pay fees and expenses (including legal, audit and tax, including franchise tax, expenses) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer and general corporate operating and overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer in each case to the extent such fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries;

(B) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and that has been guaranteed by and treated as Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 (it being agreed that (i) all interest expense shall be included in the calculation of the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” of the Company and (ii) no contribution of such proceeds may be included in the calculation of Restricted Payments capacity or in the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred based on contributions to the Company); and

(C) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company to pay fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Company, related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent that has been undertaken to finance the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(xiii) repurchases of Equity Interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries 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;

(xiv) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;

 

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(xv) Restricted Payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(xvi) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.06 and 4.08; provided that all Notes tendered by holders of the Notes in connection with a Change of Control Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value in accordance with the provisions hereof;

(xvii) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 5.01; provided that as a result of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets, the Issuer shall have made a Change of Control Offer (if required by this Indenture) and that all Notes tendered by holders in connection with such Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

(xviii) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Emergence Transactions;

(xix) distributions by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture of chemicals to a holder of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture if such distributions are made pursuant to a provision in a Joint Venture agreement or other arrangement entered into in connection with the establishment of such Joint Venture or Restricted Subsidiary that requires such holder to pay a price for such chemicals equal to that which would be paid in a comparable transaction negotiated on an arm’s length basis (or pursuant to a provision that imposes a substantially equivalent requirement); and

(xx) any Restricted Payments under any Treasury Services Agreement or any Structured Financing Transaction;

provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (iii), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x) and (xii)(B) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding Section 4.04(b)(x), prior to March 31, 2012 the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay any cash dividend or make any cash distribution on, or in respect of, the Company’s Capital Stock or purchase for cash or otherwise acquire for cash any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company for the purpose of paying any cash dividend or making any cash distribution to, or acquiring Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent of the Company for cash from, the Sponsors, or guarantee any Indebtedness of any Affiliate of the Company for the purpose of paying such dividend, making such distribution or so acquiring such Capital

 

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Stock to or from the Sponsors, in each case by means of the exception provided by clause (x) of Section 4.04(b) if at the time and after giving effect to such payment, the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than 2.25 to 1.00.

SECTION 4.05. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements existing and contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Senior Term Loan Facility, the ABL Facility, the Euro Securitization and the other Credit Facilities;

(2) the First Lien Indenture, the First Lien Notes or the other first lien notes permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i);

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(4) any agreement or other instrument (including those governing Capital Stock) of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 4.03 and 4.12 that limit the right of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(8) customary provisions in Joint Venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, subleases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) any encumbrance or restriction in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided that such restrictions only apply to the applicable receivables and related intangibles;

(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (a) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary, (b) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary so long as such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Company) or (c) of any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in connection with any Project Financing, provided that in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.03;

(13) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 4.04 and any Permitted Investment;

(14) customary provisions in Hedging Obligations permitted under this Indenture and entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

(15) the Indenture or the Notes; or

(16) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or Obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (15) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, as determined good faith by the Company, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

SECTION 4.06. Asset Sales .

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or such Restricted Subsidiary’s Obligations in respect of the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

 

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(ii) any notes or other Obligations or other securities or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 4.06(a)(iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of 3.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and $750.0 million at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (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),

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

(b) Within 15 months after the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s receipt of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

(i) to repay and/or repurchase (A) Indebtedness constituting First and Second Priority Lien Obligations; (B) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Pledgor, (C) Notes Obligations or (D) other Pari Passu Indebtedness ( provided that if the Issuer or any Pledgor shall so reduce other Pari Passu Indebtedness, the Issuer will equally and ratably reduce Notes Obligations through open-market purchases (provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the pro rata principal amount of Notes), in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer; or

(ii) to make an Investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such Investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), assets or property, in each case (a) used or useful in a Similar Business or (b) that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale; provided, however , that with respect to any Asset Sale of Collateral only, the assets or property subject to such Investment (other than to the extent it would constitute Excluded Assets) shall be pledged as Collateral.

In the case of Section 4.06(b)(ii), a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment; provided that in the event such binding commitment is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are so applied,

 

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the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another binding commitment (a “ Second Commitment ”) within six months of such cancellation or termination of the prior binding commitment; provided , further , that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may only enter into a Second Commitment under the foregoing provision one time with respect to each Asset Sale and to the extent such Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as applicable. Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.

Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale of Collateral (other than Specified ABL Facility Assets and other than to the extent required to be used in any accepted offer or otherwise to repay any First Priority Lien Obligations as required under the First Lien Notes and the First Lien Indenture or Senior Term Loan Facility or other agreement governing First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations) that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to purchase or make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in clause 4.06(b)(i) above, shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “ Collateral Excess Proceeds .” The Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of the Notes and, if required by the terms of any First Priority Lien Obligations, Second Priority Lien Obligations or Third Priority Lien Obligations secured by a Lien permitted under the Indenture, to the holders of such First Priority Lien Obligations, Second Priority Lien Obligations or such other Third Priority Lien Obligations (including any mandatory prepayment required by the Senior Term Loan Facility) (a “ Collateral Asset Sale Offer ”), to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes that is a minimum of $100,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Collateral Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Notes or other Third Priority Lien Obligations were issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, (or, in respect of other Third Priority Lien Obligations, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such other Third Priority Lien Obligations) to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture; provided, that with respect to any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales of Collateral realized or received by any Foreign Subsidiary, the aggregate amount of such Net Proceeds required to be applied shall be further subject to reduction to the extent the expatriation of such Net Proceeds (1) would result in adverse tax or legal consequences, (2) would be reasonably likely to result in adverse personal liability of any director of the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary or (3) would result in the insolvency of a Foreign Subsidiary. The Issuer will commence a Collateral Asset Sale Offer with respect to Collateral Excess Proceeds within ten (10) Business Days after the date that Collateral Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale of non-Collateral (other than Specified ABL Facility Assets and other than to the extent required to be used in any accepted offer or otherwise to repay any First Priority Lien Obligations as required under the First Lien Notes and related indenture, or Senior Term Loan Facility or other agreement governing First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations) that are not invested or applied as provided and within the time period set forth in Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to purchase or make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $200.0 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Company, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) that is at least $100,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Pari Passu

 

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Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.06; provided that with respect to any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales of non-Collateral realized or received by any Foreign Subsidiary, the aggregate amount of such Net Proceeds required to be applied shall be subject to reduction to the extent the expatriation of such Net Proceeds (1) would result in adverse tax or legal consequences, (2) would be reasonably likely to result in adverse personal liability of any director of the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary or (3) would result in the insolvency of the Foreign Subsidiary. The Issuer will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten (10) Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $200.0 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of Section 4.06(f), with a copy to the Trustee.

To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and such other Third Priority Lien Obligations tendered pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer is less than the Collateral Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Collateral Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes or other Third Party Lien Obligations surrendered by such holders thereof exceeds the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Third Priority Lien Obligations to be purchased in the manner described below. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.06(f). Upon completion of any such Collateral Asset Sale Offer or Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Collateral Excess Proceeds or Excess Proceeds, as the case may be, shall be reset at zero.

(c) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its Obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(d) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “ Offer Period ”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering holder in the amount of the purchase price as so specified in the Officer’s Certificate. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

 

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(e) Not later than the date upon which written notice of a Collateral Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Collateral Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Collateral Asset Sales pursuant to which such Collateral Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Collateral Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Collateral Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering holder in the amount of the purchase price as instructed in the Officer’s Certificate. In the event that the Collateral Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer reasonably promptly following a Responsible Officer’s actual knowledge of the expiration of the Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(f) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered by the holder for purchase and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period or Collateral Asset Sale Offer Period, as the case may be, more Notes (and such Third Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer than the Issuer is required to purchase, Notes tendered will be repurchased on a pro rata basis; provided that no Notes of $100,000 or less shall be purchased in part. Selection of such Third Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable shall be made pursuant to the terms of such Third Priority Lien Obligations or Pari Passu Indebtedness.

(g) Notices of an Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each holder of Notes at such holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

SECTION 4.07. Transactions with Affiliates .

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

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(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $100.0 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (a) above.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i) transactions between or among the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) and any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Issuer and any direct parent of the Issuer;

(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04 and Permitted Investments;

(iii) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, managers, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company;

(iv) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of Section 4.07(a);

(v) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to officers, directors, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith;

(vi) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by the Company;

(vii) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any registration rights agreement to which it is a party as of the Issue Date, and any amendment thereto or similar agreements or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (vii) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(viii) the Emergence Transactions, including the payment of fees and expenses paid in connection therewith;

(ix) (A) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this

 

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Indenture, which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (B) transactions with Joint Ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry norm;

(x) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(xi) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Person;

(xii) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as appropriate, in good faith;

(xiii) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement that complies with Section 4.04(b)(xii);

(xiv) any contribution to the capital of the Company;

(xv) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries solely because a director of such Person is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(xvi) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xvii) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(xviii) any employment agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xix) transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company in an Officer’s Certificate) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any provision set forth in this Indenture; and

(xx) transactions entered into by a Person prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary ( provided such transaction is not entered into in contemplation of such event).

SECTION 4.08. Change of Control .

(a) Upon a Change of Control after the Issue Date, each holder shall have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to

 

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the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in this Section 4.08; provided , however , that notwithstanding the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuer shall not be obligated to purchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08 in the event that it has exercised its right to redeem such Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture.

(b) In the event that at the time of such Change of Control the terms of any First Priority Lien Obligation or Second Priority Lien Obligation restrict or prohibit the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this covenant, then prior to the mailing of the notice to holders provided for in the immediately following paragraph but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuer shall:

(1) repay in full all such Indebtedness under the First Priority Lien Obligation or Second Priority Lien Obligation, as applicable, containing all such restrictions or prohibitions or, if doing so will allow the purchase of Notes, offer to repay in full all such Credit Facility Indebtedness and repay such Credit Facility Indebtedness owed to each lender and/or noteholder who has accepted such offer; or

(2) obtain the requisite consent under the agreements governing such First Priority Lien Obligation or Second Priority Lien Obligation, as applicable, to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided for in the immediately following clause (c);

it being understood that failure to repay in full all such Indebtedness under the First Priority Lien Obligation or Second Priority Lien Obligation, as applicable, or obtain such requisite consent, shall not release the Issuer of its obligation to make a Change of Control Offer (as defined below) and repurchase the Notes as required hereunder.

(c) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture, the Issuer shall mail a notice (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date);

(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

(iv) the instructions determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.08, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

(d) holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered for purchase by the holder and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

 

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(e) On the repurchase date, all Notes purchased by the Issuer under this Section shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the holders entitled thereto.

(f) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the consummation of a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.08 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(h) Notes repurchased by the Issuer pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Issuer. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding clause (g) will have the status of Notes issued and outstanding.

(i) At the time the Issuer delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Issuer shall also deliver an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Issuer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering holder.

(j) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Issuer to make such offer have been complied with.

(k) The Issuer shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.09. Compliance Certificate . The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer, beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2010, an Officer’s Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an Officer of the Issuer he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default that occurred during such period. If he or she does, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Issuer also shall comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA. Except with respect to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes and any Default or Event of Default information contained in the Officer’s Certificate delivered to it pursuant to this Section 4.09, the Trustee shall have no duty to review, ascertain or confirm the Issuer’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts .

(a) The Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

(b) Within the time period set forth on Schedule 4.10, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall deliver, furnish and/or cause to be delivered or furnished, all of the documents as set forth on Schedule 4.10.

SECTION 4.11. Future Subsidiary Guarantors .

(a) The Company shall cause each (i) Domestic Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Issuer) that is Wholly Owned other than, at the election of the Issuer, an Excluded Subsidiary and (ii) Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than the Issuer), in each case, that guarantees the First Lien Notes or the Senior Term Loan Facility to execute and deliver to the Trustee (a) a supplemental indenture joining each such Subsidiary of the Company to this Indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto; and (b) Security Documents and intercreditor agreements providing for Junior Lien Obligations, pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes on the same terms and subject to the same conditions and limitations as those in Article XII in this Indenture (each such guarantee of the Notes, an “ Additional Guarantee ”).

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing and the other provisions of this Indenture, any Additional Guarantee of the Notes by a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company that is a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary shall provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged pursuant to Section 12.02 hereof. Any Additional Guarantee shall be considered a “Guarantee” pursuant to Section 12.01 and any such Domestic Subsidiary of the Company providing such Additional Guarantee shall be considered a “Guarantor” pursuant to Section 12.01.

SECTION 4.12. Liens . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness secured by a Lien (except Permitted Liens) on any asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, now owned or hereafter acquired, without making effective provision whereby any and all Notes then or thereafter outstanding will be secured by a Lien equally and ratably with (or, if the Obligation to be secured by such Lien is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, prior to) any and all other Obligations thereby secured for so long as any such Obligations shall be so secured.

Any Lien created for the benefit of the holders pursuant to this covenant will provide by its terms that such Lien will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged (a) upon the release and discharge of the Lien that gave rise to the Obligation to secure the Notes under this covenant (the “Initial Lien”), (b) upon the sale or other disposition of the assets subject to such Initial Lien (or the sale or other disposition of the Person that owns such assets) in compliance with the terms of the Indenture, (c) upon the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary whose property or assets secure such Initial Lien as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or (d) upon the effectiveness of any defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the Notes specified in the Indenture.

SECTION 4.13. After-Acquired Property . Subject to Permitted Liens and the 3-16 Exemption and the Excluded Assets limitations, if any of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor acquires any First or Second Priority After-Acquired Property, the Company, the Issuer or such Pledgor shall execute and deliver such mortgages, deeds of trust, security instruments, financing statements and certificates and opinions of counsel as shall be reasonably necessary to vest in the Collateral Agent a perfected third priority security interest, subject only to Permitted Liens, in such First or Second Priority After-Acquired

 

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Property and to have such First or Second Priority After-Acquired Property added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such First or Second Priority After-Acquired Property to the same extent and with the same force and effect. In addition, if granting a security interest in such property requires the consent of a third party, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consent (i) with respect to the first priority security interest for the benefit of the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent on behalf of the holders of the First Lien Notes and for the benefit of the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent on behalf of the lenders under the Senior Term Loan Facility, (ii) with respect to the second priority security interest for the benefit of the ABL Collateral Agents on behalf of lenders under ABL Facility (or a first priority security interest with respect to the ABL Facility Collateral) and (iii) with respect to the third priority security interest for the benefit of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the holders of the Notes. If such third party does not consent to the granting of the first priority security interest after the use of such commercially reasonable efforts, the applicable entity will not be required to provide such first, second and third priority security interest. The Issuer, the Company and the Pledgors will also ensure that third priority security interests are maintained as security for the Notes in any property or assets pledged to secure the First Lien Notes, the Senior Term Loan Facility or the ABL Facility.

SECTION 4.14. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

(a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 13.02.

(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

(c) The Issuer hereby designates the corporate trust office of the Trustee or its agent as such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.04.

SECTION 4.15. Maintenance of Insurance . The Company shall maintain with reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its assets, properties and business against loss or damage to the extent available on commercially reasonable terms of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons of similar size engaged in the same or similar industry, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance (including captive industry insurance) reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons of similar size engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Company, the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances (including flood insurance) by such other Persons to the extent available to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on commercially reasonable terms.

SECTION 4.16. Covenant Suspension . If on any date following the Issue Date, (i) the Notes have achieved and continue to maintain Investment Grade Ratings from two Rating Agencies and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing (such period is referred to herein as an “ Investment Grade

 

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Status Period ”), then beginning on that date and continuing until the Reversion Date (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “ Covenant Suspension Event ”), Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07 and 5.01(c)(iv) (the “ Suspended Covenants ”) will not be applicable to the Notes.

If on any date subsequent to a Covenant Suspension Event (the “ Reversion Date ”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events. The period of time between the Covenant Suspension Event and the Reversion Date is referred to as the “ Suspension Period .”

On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified as having been Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or 4.03(b) (to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would be permitted to be Incurred or issued thereunder as of the Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness Incurred or issued prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reversion Date). To the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would not be so permitted to be Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or 4.03(b) such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.03(b)(iv). Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04 will be made as though Section 4.04 had been in effect since the Issue Date and throughout the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a). As described above, however, no Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred on the Reversion Date as a result of any actions taken by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period. For purposes of Section 4.06, on the Reversion Date, the unutilized Collateral Excess Proceeds and Excess Proceeds amount will be reset to zero.

SECTION 4.17. Withholding Taxes .

(a) All payments made under or with respect to the Notes and Guarantees by the Issuer, the Company, or any successors or assignees thereof (each such person, a “ Payor ”) will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge (including, without limitation, penalties, interest and other similar liabilities related thereto) of whatever nature (collectively, “ Taxes ”) imposed or levied by or on behalf of any jurisdiction in which any Payor is organized, resident or doing business for tax purposes or from or through which any Payor makes any payment on the Notes or its Guarantee or any department or political subdivision thereof (each, a “ Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction ”), unless such Payor is required to withhold or deduct Taxes by law. If any Payor is required by law to withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of Taxes of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction from any payment made under or with respect to the Notes or such Guarantee, the Payor, shall make all such deductions and withholdings in respect of Taxes, and shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld in respect of Taxes to the relevant taxation authority or other governmental authority in accordance with the applicable requirements of law. If any Payor is so required by law to withhold or deduct, such Payor shall not be obligated to pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding or deduction on account of Taxes to the holders of the Notes.

The foregoing obligations of this Section 4.17 will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this Indenture and the removal or resignation of the Trustee and the Agents and will apply mutatis mutandis to any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to any Payor and to any jurisdiction in which such successor is organized or is otherwise resident or doing business for tax purposes or any jurisdiction from or through which payment is made by such successor or its respective agents.

 

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ARTICLE V

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

SECTION 5.01. When Issuer May Merge or Transfer Assets .

(a) The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Company is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, Canada or any province thereof or any state which was a member of the European Union on December 31, 2003 (other than Greece) (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Company ”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(ii) the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the Obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form required by this Indenture and in compliance with the intercreditor agreements;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an Obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an Obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

 

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(v) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

(b) The Successor Company (if other than the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, and in such event the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this covenant, without complying with the foregoing clause (iv), the Company may (A) merge with an Affiliate that has no material assets or liabilities and that is incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Issuer in any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Canada or any province thereof or any state which was a member state of the European Union on December 31, 2003 (other than Greece) and (B) may otherwise convert its legal form under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.

(c) The Issuer may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (the Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Issuer ”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(ii) the Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) expressly assumes all the Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form required by this Indenture and in compliance with the intercreditor agreements;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an Obligation of the Successor Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an Obligation of the Successor Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either (a) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(v) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

 

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(d) The Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, and in such event the Issuer will automatically be released and discharged from its Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this covenant, without complying with the foregoing clause (4), the Issuer may (A) merge with an Affiliate that has no material assets or liabilities and that is incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Issuer, as the case may be, in any state of the U.S. or the District of Columbia and (B) may otherwise convert its legal form under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization so long as there remains a corporate co-obligor. This Section 5.01 shall not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the LCC Assumption or the Emergence Transactions.

(e) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04 (which govern the release of assets and property securing the Notes upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Pledgor), no Pledgor shall, and the Company shall not permit any Pledgor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Pledgor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) either (A) such Pledgor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Pledgor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Pledgor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Pledgor ”) and the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) expressly assumes all the Obligations of such Pledgor under this Indenture, the Security Documents and such Pledgor’s Obligations in respect of the Notes pursuant to documents or instruments in form required by this Indenture and in compliance with the intercreditor agreements, or (B) such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 4.06; and

(ii) the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Pledgor under this Indenture and such Pledgor’s Obligations in respect of the Notes, and such Pledgor will automatically be released and discharged from its Obligations under this Indenture and such Pledgor’s Obligations in respect of the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing such Pledgor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Pledgor is not increased thereby and (2) a Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Pledgor or the Company or may convert its legal form under the laws of reorganization in its jurisdiction.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Pledgor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (collectively, a “Transfer”) to the Company or any Pledgor.

 

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ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default . An “ Event of Default ” occurs with respect to Notes if:

(a) there is a default in any payment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

(b) there is a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise,

(c) the failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture,

(d) the failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $100.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent,

(e) either the Company, the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences a voluntary case;

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency,

(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of either the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

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or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days,

(g) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $100.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days,

(h) the Guarantee of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or the Company denies or disaffirms its Obligations under this Indenture and such Default continues for 10 days,

(i) unless all of the Collateral has been released from the third priority Liens in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture or the Security Documents, the third priority Liens on all or substantially all of the Notes Collateral cease to be valid or enforceable and such Default continues for 30 days, or the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and, in the case of any such Person that is a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company fails to cause such Subsidiary to rescind such assertions within 30 days after the Company has actual knowledge of such assertions, or

(j) the failure by the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Security Documents except for a failure that would not be material to the holders of the Notes and would not materially affect the value of the Collateral taken as a whole.

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

The term “ Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “ Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

However, a default under clauses (c) or (j) above shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 30% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes notify the Issuer of the default and the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (c) or (j) hereof after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “ Notice of Default .” The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officer’s Certificate of any event which is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration . If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) hereof with respect to the Company or the Issuer) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes by notice to the Issuer may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and

 

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payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Company or the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes, this Indenture or the Security Documents.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. To the extent required by law, all available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults . Provided the Notes are not then due and payable by reason of a declaration of acceleration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes by written notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except (a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Note, (b) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Note when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (c) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured and the Issuer, the Trustee and the holders will be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority . The holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense for which it is not adequately indemnified, or subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable indemnification and security satisfactory to it in its reasonable discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

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SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits .

(a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

(ii) holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

(iii) such holders have offered the Trustee security and reasonable indemnity against any loss, liability or expense acceptable to the Trustee in its sole discretion,

(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security and indemnity, and

(v) the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

(b) A holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another holder.

SECTION 6.07. Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Notes) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee may file such proofs of claim, statements of interest and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or the Company, any Pledgor, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities . Subject to the terms of the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, any money or property collected

 

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by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI and any other money or property distributable in respect of the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee, its agents, professionals and counsel and the Agents for amounts due under this Indenture;

SECOND: to the holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Issuer or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to the such Guarantor.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the holders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs . In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes.

SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws . Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE AND AGENTS

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee and Agents .

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in them by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

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(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee and Agents undertake to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee and Agents (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee and Agents to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee and Agents may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and Agents and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee and Agents shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee and Agents shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee or Agents may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee or Agents shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or Agent unless it is proved that the Trustee or Agent was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee or Agents to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur financial or personal liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section and paragraph (b) and (c) with respect to the Agents.

(e) The Trustee and Agents shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee and Agents may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee and Agents shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the TIA.

 

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SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee and Agents .

(a) The Trustee and Agents may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee and Agents need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee or Agents acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee and Agents shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee and Agents may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible or liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided , however , that the Trustee’s and Agents’ conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e) The Trustee and Agents may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee and Agents shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, but the Trustee and Agents, in their discretion, may (but shall not be obligated to) make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee or Agents shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, they shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuer and shall Incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation. Any and all notices, instructions, demands, requests, consents, appraisals, correspondence or other communications shall be in writing and delivered in accordance with Section 13.02.

(g) The Trustee or Agents shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee or Agents security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee or Agents against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be Incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee and Agents, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee and Agents in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(i) The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee and Agents or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

 

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(j) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee and Agents in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon future holders of Notes and upon Notes executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

(k) The Trustee and Agents shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee or Agents at the Corporate Office of the Trustee or Agents, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(l) The Trustee and Agents may request that the Issuer deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(m) The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee and Agents have been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of actions.

(n) The Trustee and Agents shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

(o) The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee . The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s and Agents’ Disclaimer . The Trustee and Agents shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Notes, Liens, Collateral or Security Documents, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s or Agents’ certificate of authentication. The Trustee and Agents shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c)-(j) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee or Agents shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof from the Issuer, the Company or any Pledgor or any holder. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee and Agents acts solely as Trustee and Agents for the holders of the Notes and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the holders of Notes and the Issuer having any claim against the Trustee and Agents arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee and Agents hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein.

 

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Any action by, consent, designation, specification, requirement or approval of, notice, request or other communication from, or other direction given or action to be undertaken or to be (or not to be) suffered or omitted by the Trustee or any Agent under this Indenture, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Document or any election, decision, opinion, acceptance, use of judgment, expression of satisfaction or other exercise of discretion, rights or remedies to be made (or not to be made) by the Trustee or any Agent shall be as directed by the requisite holders in accordance with this Indenture, Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the relevant Security Document. This provision is intended solely for the benefit of the Trustee and the Collateral Agent and their successors and permitted assigns and is not intended to and will not entitle any other parties hereto to any defense, claim or counterclaim under or in relation to this Indenture, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other Security Document, or confer any rights or benefits on any party hereto, and any rights, indemnifications and protections given to the Trustee under this Article XII shall also apply to the Collateral Agent and their successors and permitted assigns.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each holder notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the holders. The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee, annually, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year. The Issuer also is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to the Holders . As promptly as practicable after each March 31 beginning with the March 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to March 31 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each holder a brief report dated as of such March 31 that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee shall also comply with Section 313(b) of the TIA.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed. The Issuer agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity . The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee and Agents from time to time such compensation, as the Issuer and the Trustee and Agents shall from time to time agree in writing, for the Trustee’s and Agent’s acceptance of this Indenture and its applicable services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee or Agents upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses Incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s or Agents’ applicable agents and counsel. The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and any predecessor Trustee or Collateral Agent and their respective directors, employees and agents or Agents against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses except for such actions to the extent caused by any negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on their part) Incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder or in connection with any Security Document, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, Guarantee or any Security Document against the Issuer, the

 

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Company or any Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Guarantor, any holder or any other Person). The obligation to pay such amounts shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Notes or the removal or resignation of the Trustee or Agents or the termination of this Indenture. The Trustee and Agents shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided , however , that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. Upon receipt of such notice from the indemnified party, the Issuer or Guarantor, as applicable, shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and, to the extent that it shall so desire and provided no conflict of interest exists as specified in subparagraph (b) below or there are no other defenses available to the indemnified party as specified in subparagraph (d) below, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (in which case all attorney’s fees and expenses shall be borne by the Issuer or the Guarantor and the Issuer or Guarantor shall in good faith defend the indemnified party). The indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the indemnified party unless (a) the Issuer or Guarantor agrees in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (b) the indemnified party shall have reasonably and in good faith concluded that there is a conflict of interest between the Issuer or Guarantor and the indemnified party in the conduct of the defense of such action, (c) the Issuer or the Guarantor fails, within ten (10) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is required to be made in such Proceeding, to assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (d) there are legal defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or are in addition to those available to the Issuer or the Guarantor.

To secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee and Agents shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee and Agents other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.

The Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment and indemnity obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the satisfaction, discharge or termination of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee or Agents. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee and Agents under applicable law, when the Trustee and Agents Incur expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee or Agents to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur any financial or personal liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity and security against such risk or liability is not assured to its satisfaction.

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee and Agents .

(a) The Trustee or Agents may resign by so notifying the Issuer in writing at least 30 days in advance. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee or Agents by so notifying the Issuer and the applicable Trustee or Agent in writing at least 30 days in advance and may appoint a successor Trustee or Agent with the Issuer’s consent. A resignation or removal of a Trustee or Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or Agent shall become effective only with the successor Trustee’s or Agent’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee or Agent if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

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(ii) the Trustee or Agent is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee or Agent otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee or any Agent resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Agent, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or an Agent for any reason (the Trustee or Agent in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee or retiring Agent), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Agent.

(c) The successor Trustee or Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or retiring Agent and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or Agent shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or Agent under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or Agent shall mail a notice of its succession to the holders. The retiring Trustee or retiring Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Agent to the successor Trustee or Agent, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(d) If a successor Trustee or Agent does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee or retiring Agent resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or retiring Agent or the holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or Agent.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Agent.

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee or Agent by Merger . If the Trustee or Agent consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or Agent; provided , however , that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VII.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee or Agent shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee or Agent may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or agent, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee or Agent may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee or Agent; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee or Agent shall have.

 

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SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification . The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided , however , that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuer are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer . The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

SECTION 7.12. [Intentionally Omitted] .

SECTION 7.13. Payment of Parallel Debt Pursuant to Dutch Law .

(a) In this Section 7.13:

Dutch Security Documents ” means any Security Documents governed by the laws of The Netherlands; and

Principal Obligations ” means all present and future Obligations to the extent for the payment of money (whether actual or contingent and whether owed jointly or severally) by the Issuer under this Indenture.

(b) With respect to Dutch Security Documents, and solely for purposes of the laws of The Netherlands:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Trustee an amount equal to the aggregate of all Principal Obligations due and payable but unpaid (the “ Parallel Debt ”);

(ii) the Parallel Debt constitutes Obligations and liabilities of the Issuer to the Trustee which are separate and independent from, and without prejudice to, the Principal Obligations and the Parallel Debt represents the Trustee’s own independent right to receive payment of the Parallel Debt from the Issuer;

(iii) notwithstanding Section 7.13(b)(ii), if the Trustee receives or recovers any amount in respect of (A) the Parallel Debt, the Principal Obligations decrease by that amount as if that amount was received or recovered directly in payment of the Principal Obligations and, for the avoidance of doubt, (B) the Principal Obligations, the Parallel Debt decreases by that amount as if that amount had been received or recovered directly in payment of the Parallel Debt;

(iv) the parties acknowledge and confirm that the provisions contained in this Section 7.13 shall not be interpreted so as to increase the maximum total amount of the Principal Obligations under this Indenture; and

 

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(v) the Issuer shall not repay or prepay Parallel Debt if and as long as it owes Principal Obligations, unless directed to do so by the Trustee and the Issuer is otherwise required to repay or prepay the Principal Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE VIII

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance .

(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when:

(i) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the Notes (1) have become due and payable, (2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (3) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(ii) the Issuer and/or the Company has paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all of its Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to the holders of the Notes) (“ legal defeasance option ”) or (ii) its Obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 and 4.15 and the operation of Section 5.01 for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, and Sections 6.01(c), 6.01(d) and Sections 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) and 6.01(j) (“ covenant defeasance option ”). The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its Obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to such Notes) by exercising its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the Obligations of each Guarantor with respect to the Notes and the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such Obligations.

If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e) and 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries), 6.01(g), 6.01(h), 6.01(i) or 6.01(j) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.01.

 

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Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those Obligations that the Issuer terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 4.14, 7.07, 7.08 and in this Article VIII shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance .

(a) The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient or U.S. Government Obligations, the principal of and the interest on which will be sufficient, or a combination thereof sufficient, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date;

(ii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(iii) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Issuer occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Issuer and is not prohibited by Article X;

(v) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer;

 

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(vi) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes;

(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and

(viii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article VIII have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article III.

SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money . The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article VIII. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

SECTION 8.04. Repayment to Issuer . Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article which, in the written opinion of nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if U.S. Government Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations . The Issuer shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement . If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII; provided , however , that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, or interest on, any such Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of the Holders .

(a) The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Notes without notice to or consent of any holder:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or to make any other provisions as may be necessary or desirable, including the making of any modifications in the form of the Note, provided that such actions shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Notes in any material respect;

(ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes;

(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the Obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Pledgor of the Obligations of a Pledgor under this Indenture and the Security Documents;

(iv) to add a Guarantor with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11;

(v) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes; provided , however , that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

(vi) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement to any provision of the “Description of Third Lien Notes” contained in the Plan Supplement filed with the Bankruptcy Court on April 5, 2010 to the extent that such provision in the “Description of Third Lien Notes” was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(vii) to evidence and provide acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent or Transfer Agent under this Indenture;

(viii) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository;

(ix) to add a Pledgor with respect to the Notes or to add Collateral to secure the Notes;

(x) to release Collateral in compliance with this Indenture or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

 

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(xi) to add additional secured creditors holding Other First Lien Obligations, other Junior Lien Obligations or any other secured Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred so long as such Obligations are in compliance with this Indenture, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents;

(xii) to add to the covenants of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(xiii) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA;

(xiv) to make any change that would provide any additional benefit or rights to the holders or that does not adversely affect in any material respect the legal rights of any holder;

(xv) to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary;

(xvi) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes under this Indenture in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture; or

(xvii) to provide for the consummation of the LCC Assumption and the Emergence Transactions.

(b) The Trustee shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel that such amendment under this Section 9.01(a) is permitted under this Indenture and that all conditions have been complied with. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered to the Trustee in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon (i) execution and delivery by such Guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto, and (ii) delivery of an Officer’s Certificate.

(c) After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, provided that in the case of an amendment pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(xiv), no such notice shall be required. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of the Holders .

(a) The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture and the Security Documents with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes). However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected, an amendment may not:

(1) reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,

(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(3) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

 

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(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed in accordance with Article III,

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note,

(6) expressly subordinate the Notes to any other Indebtedness of the Company, the Issuer or any Pledgor,

(7) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes,

(8) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions,

(9) make any change in the provisions in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture dealing with the application of proceeds of Collateral that would adversely affect the holders of the Notes, or

(10) except as expressly provided by this Indenture, modify or release the Guarantee of any Significant Subsidiary in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes.

In addition, without the consent of the holders of at least 66% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents with respect to the Notes.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act . From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, every amendment, waiver or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers .

(a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a holder of a Note shall bind the holder and every subsequent holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such holder or subsequent holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of consents by the holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer and the Trustee.

 

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(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes . If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Issuer may require the holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments . The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and for executing any amendment pursuant to Article IX, the Trustee (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Company, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03).

SECTION 9.07. Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount . All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote) as one class and no Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter only if the Issuer so elects pursuant to Section 2.01 of this Indenture. Determinations as to whether holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article IX and Section 2.14.

ARTICLE X

RANKING OF NOTE LIENS

SECTION 10.01. Relative Rights . The Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement defines the relative rights, as lienholders, of holders of first priority Liens, holders of Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations and Second Priority Lien Obligations and holders of Liens securing Junior Lien Obligations. Nothing in this Indenture or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement will:

(a) impair, as between the Issuer and holders of Notes, the Obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, premium and interest on Notes in accordance with their terms or to perform any other obligation of the Issuer or any other obligor under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guarantees and the Security Documents;

(b) restrict the right of any holder to sue for payments that are then due and owing, in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

 

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(c) prevent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder from exercising against the Issuer or any other obligor any of its other available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default (other than its rights as a secured party, which are subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement); or

(d) restrict the right of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder:

(1) to file and prosecute a petition seeking an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case as to any obligor or otherwise to commence, or seek relief commencing, any insolvency or liquidation proceeding involuntarily against any obligor;

(2) to make, support or oppose any request for an order for dismissal, abstention or conversion in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding;

(3) to make, support or oppose, in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, any request for an order extending or terminating any period during which the debtor (or any other Person) has the exclusive right to propose a plan of reorganization or other dispositive restructuring or liquidation plan therein;

(4) to seek the creation of, or appointment to, any official committee representing creditors (or certain of the creditors) in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings and, if appointed, to serve and act as a member of such committee without being in any respect restricted or bound by, or liable for, any of the obligations under this Article X;

(5) to seek or object to the appointment of any professional person to serve in any capacity in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding or to support or object to any request for compensation made by any professional person or others therein;

(6) to make, support or oppose any request for order appointing a trustee or examiner in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings; or

(7) otherwise to make, support or oppose any request for relief in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding that it is permitted by law to make, support or oppose:

if it were a holder of unsecured claims; or

(x) as to any matter relating to any plan of reorganization or other

(y) restructuring or liquidation plan or as to any matter relating to the administration of the estate or the disposition of the case or proceeding (in each case except as set forth in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

ARTICLE XI

COLLATERAL

SECTION 11.01. Security Documents .

The Company, the Issuer, the Pledgors, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall enter into one or more collateral agreements (as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time, the “ Collateral Agreement ”)

 

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establishing the terms of the security interests and Liens that secure the Notes. These security interests will secure the payment and performance when due of all of the Obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture and the Guarantors under the Guarantee, as provided in the Security Documents.

The Company shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, and each Restricted Subsidiary shall, make all filings (including filings of continuation statements and amendments to UCC financing statements that may be necessary to continue the effectiveness of such UCC financing statements) and all other actions as are necessary or required by the Security Documents to maintain (at the sole cost and expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries) the security interest created by the Security Documents in the Collateral (other than with respect to any Collateral the security interest in which is not required to be perfected under the Security Documents or this Indenture) as a perfected third priority security interest subject only to Permitted Liens.

SECTION 11.02. Collateral Agent .

(a) The Collateral Agent shall have all the rights and protections provided in the Security Documents.

(b) Subject to Section 7.01, neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys or agents will be responsible or liable for the existence, genuineness, value or protection of any Collateral, for the legality, enforceability, effectiveness or sufficiency of the Security Documents, for the creation, perfection, priority, sufficiency or protection of any third priority Lien, or any defect or deficiency as to any such matters.

(c) Subject to the Security Documents and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (i) the Trustee shall direct the Collateral Agent and (ii) except as directed by the Trustee as required or permitted by this Indenture and any other representatives or pursuant to the Security Documents, the holders acknowledge that the Collateral Agent will not be obligated:

(1) to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any other Person;

(2) to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any third priority Lien; or

(3) to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the third priority Liens, Security Documents or Collateral.

(d) The holders of Notes agree that the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to the rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities and benefits provided to the Collateral Agent by the Security Documents. Furthermore, each holder of a Note, by accepting such Note, consents to the terms of and authorizes and directs the Trustee (in each of its capacities) and hereby appoints, authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into and perform the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and Security Documents in each of its capacities thereunder.

(e) If the Issuer (i) Incurs First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations at any time when the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement is not in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing intercreditor agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) directs the Trustee to request that the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in effect on the Issue Date) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations so Incurred, the holders acknowledge that the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized and directed to enter into such intercreditor agreement, bind the holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

 

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SECTION 11.03. Authorization of Actions to Be Taken .

(a) Each holder, by its acceptance of the Notes, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms, authorizes and directs the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to bind the holders of Notes and other holders of Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

(b) The Trustee is authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the holders of Notes any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the holders of Notes according to the provisions of this Indenture.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 hereof, and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Trustee may (but shall not be obligated to), in its sole discretion and without the consent of the holders, direct, on behalf of the holders, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(1) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the third priority Liens;

(2) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(3) collect and receive payment of any and all Obligations.

Subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the third priority Liens or the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the holders of Notes in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

 

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SECTION 11.04. Release of Collateral .

(a) Subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Liens on Collateral securing the Notes will be automatically and unconditionally released:

(1) as to any property or asset (including Capital Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company), to enable the Company, the Issuer and the Pledgors to consummate the disposition of such property or asset to the extent not prohibited by clause (5) below or Sections 4.04 or 4.06;

(2) upon the release of all Liens on such property or assets securing First and Second Priority Lien Obligations (including all commitments and letters of credit thereunder); provided, however, that if the Issuer or the Company subsequently incurs (i) First Priority Lien Obligations that are secured by Liens on property or assets of the Issuer or the Company of the type constituting the Collateral and the related Liens are incurred in reliance on clauses (6)(B) or (6)(D) of the definition of Permitted Liens or (ii) Second Priority Lien Obligations that are secured by Liens on property or assets of the Issuer or the Company of the type constituting the Collateral and the related Liens are incurred in reliance on clause (6)(C) of the definition of Permitted Liens, then the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to reinstitute the security arrangements with respect to the Collateral in favor of the Notes, which, in the case of any such subsequent First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations, will be junior priority Liens on the Collateral securing such First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations to the same extent provided by the Security Documents and on the terms and conditions of the security documents relating to such First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations, with the junior priority Lien held either by the administrative agent, collateral agent or other representative for such First Priority Lien Obligations or Second Priority Lien Obligations and subject to an intercreditor agreement that provides the administrative agent or collateral agent substantially the same rights and powers as afforded under the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

(3) in respect of the property and assets of a Pledgor, upon the designation of such Pledgor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(4) in respect of the property and assets of a Guarantor upon release of the Guarantee with respect to the Notes of such Guarantor;

(5) in the case of the property and assets of a specific Pledgor, upon such Pledgor making a Transfer of such assets to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Pledgor; provided that (i) such Transfer is not subject to Section 5.01 and (ii) the aggregate net book value of the assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are at any time Notes Collateral (excluding cash proceeds of accounts receivable, inventory and related assets) that are so transferred pursuant to this clause (5) subsequent to the Issue Date shall not exceed 5% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries per year and shall not be in an amount that will result in an Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to qualify as an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with the definition thereof; provided , further , that Liens on all property and assets of any Subsidiary of Lyondell Europe Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be automatically and unconditionally released upon any transfer of such Subsidiary;

(6) as described under Article IX; or

(7) as to the pledge of Capital Stock of first-tier Foreign Subsidiaries, in connection with a reorganization, change or modification of the direct or indirect ownership of Foreign

 

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Subsidiaries by the Company, the Issuer or a Pledgor, as applicable, in compliance with the First Lien Indenture, a release may be obtained as to such Capital Stock in connection with the substitution of pledge of 65% of the voting Capital Stock and 100% of the non-voting Capital Stock of any one or more new or replacement first-tier Foreign Subsidiaries pursuant to valid Security Documents.

Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (2), if an Event of Default exists on the date of Discharge of First and Second Priority Lien Obligations, the Junior Priority Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes will not be released, except to the extent that the Collateral or any portion thereof was disposed of in order to repay the First and Second Priority Lien Obligations secured by the Collateral, and thereafter the Trustee (or another designated representative acting at the direction of holders of a majority of outstanding principal amount of the Notes and other Junior Lien Obligations) will have the right to direct the Agent to foreclose upon the Collateral (but in such event, the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes will be released when such Event of Default and all other Events of Default cease to exist).

In addition, the security interests granted pursuant to the Security Documents securing the Notes Obligations shall automatically terminate and/or be released all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the applicable Pledgors (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), as of the date upon (i) the payment in full of principal of, premium (if any), on, and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) on the Notes and all the Obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities not then due) have been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds; (ii) a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance or discharge under Article VIII; or (iii) the holders of at least 66% in aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued under this Indenture consent to the termination of the Security Documents.

In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section 11.04(a), the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor (as defined in the Collateral Agreement), at such Pledgor’s expense, all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence and provide such termination or release (including, without limitation, UCC termination statements), and will duly assign and transfer to such Pledgor, such of the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) that may be in the possession of the Collateral Agent and has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 11.04(a) shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent. In connection with any release pursuant to this Section 11.04(a), the Pledgors shall be permitted to take any action in connection therewith consistent with such release including, without limitation, the filing of UCC termination statements.

Upon the receipt of an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer, as described in Section 11.04(b) below, if applicable, and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Issuer, the Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in connection with (x) any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 11.04(a)(1), (5), (6) or (7) above, such Collateral may not be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents and (y) any release of Collateral pursuant to Section 11.04(a)(2), (3) and (4), the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute, deliver or acknowledge any instruments of termination, satisfaction or release unless, in each case, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all conditions precedent, including, without

 

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limitation, this Section 11.04, have been met and stating under which of the circumstances set forth in Section 11.04(a) above the Collateral is being released have been delivered to the Collateral Agent on or prior to the date of such release or, in the case of clause (y) above, the date on which the Collateral Agent executes any such instrument.

(c) To the extent that Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act requires or would require (or is replaced with another rule or regulation, or any other law, rule or regulation is adopted, that would require) the filing with the SEC (or any other governmental agency) of separate financial statements of any Subsidiary of the Company due to the fact that such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock secures the Notes or any First Priority Lien Obligation, Second Priority Lien Obligation or Third Priority Lien Obligation, then the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary will automatically be deemed not to be part of the Collateral securing the Notes but only to the extent necessary to not be subject to such requirement and only for so long as required to not be subject to such requirement (such requirement, the “ 3-16 Exemption ”); provided that the 3-16 Exemption will not apply to the capital stock of the Issuer and LyondellBasell Subholdings, B.V. In such event, the Security Documents may be amended or modified, without the consent of any holder of such Notes, to the extent necessary to release the security interests in favor of the Collateral Agent on the shares of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary that are so deemed to no longer constitute part of the Collateral. In the event that Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act is amended, modified or interpreted by the SEC to permit (or is replaced with another rule or regulation, or any other law, rule or regulation is adopted, that would permit) such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to secure the Notes in excess of the amount then pledged without the filing with the SEC (or any other governmental agency) of separate financial statements of such Subsidiary, then the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary will automatically be deemed to be a part of the Collateral.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at any time when a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the maturity of the Notes has been accelerated (whether by declaration or otherwise), no release of Collateral pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Security Documents will be effective as against the holders, except as otherwise provided in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 11.05. Filing, Recording and Opinions .

(a) The Issuer will comply with the provisions of TIA Sections 314(b), 314(c) and 314(d), in each case following qualification of this Indenture pursuant to the TIA and except to the extent not required as set forth in any SEC regulation or interpretation (including any no-action letter issued by the Staff of the SEC, whether issued to the Issuer or any other Person). Following such qualification, to the extent the Issuer is required to furnish to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel pursuant to TIA Section 314(b)(2), the Issuer will furnish such opinion within 120 days of each December 31.

Any release of Collateral permitted by Section 11.04 hereof will be deemed not to impair the Liens under this Indenture and the Security Documents in contravention thereof and any person that is required to deliver an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 314(d) of the TIA, shall be entitled to rely upon the foregoing as a basis for delivery of such certificate and opinion. The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents, Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

(b) If any Collateral is released in accordance with this Indenture and if the Issuer has delivered the certificates and documents required by the Security Documents and Section 11.04, and the Trustee has received all documentation required by TIA Section 314(d) in connection with such release along with an Officer’s Certificate and the Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 11.04, the Trustee will, upon request, execute an appropriate certificate confirming receipt of such items,

 

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(c) Any certificate or opinion required by Section 314(d) of the TIA may be made by an Officer of the Issuer, except in cases where Section 314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries will not be required to comply with all or any portion of Section 314(d) of the TIA if they determine, in good faith based on advice of counsel, that under the terms of that section and/or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of Section 314(d) of the TIA is inapplicable to the released Collateral.

(e) Upon the request of the Trustee, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel in respect of any matter in furtherance of the foregoing transactions contemplated by this Section 11.05.

SECTION 11.06. [ Intentionally Omitted .]

SECTION 11.07. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee . In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article XI upon the Issuer or the Company with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuer or the Company or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article XI; and if the Trustee or the Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture or the Security Documents, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

SECTION 11.08. Release upon Termination of the Issuer’s Obligations . In the event (i) that the Issuer delivers to the Trustee, in form and substance acceptable to it, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying that all the obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the Security Documents, and all such obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a discharge, legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of this Indenture occurs under Article VIII, the Trustee at the expense and direction of the Issuer shall deliver to the Issuer and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall (or shall direct the Collateral Agent to) do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

SECTION 11.09. Designations . For purposes of any provisions hereof or the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement requiring the Issuer to designate Indebtedness for the purposes of the terms Junior Lien Obligations or any other such designations hereunder or under the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any such designation shall be sufficient if the relevant designation provides in writing that such Junior Priority Lien Obligations or any other such designation are permitted under this Indenture and is signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent in an Officer’s Certificate.

 

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ARTICLE XII

GUARANTEE

SECTION 12.01. Guarantee .

(a) The Company, each existing and subsequently acquired or organized direct or indirect Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company and each other entity, if any, that guarantees the First Lien Notes or the Senior Term Loan Facility (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) (each such entity, a “ Guarantor ”) will, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee on a senior third-priority secured basis, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee and the Agents) and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, on and interest and Additional Interest, if any, in respect of the Notes (the “ Guarantee ”) and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing, including the Guarantee, being hereinafter collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from any Guarantor, and that each Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article XII notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

(b) To the extent applicable, each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or each Guarantor; (v) the failure of any holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of each Guarantor, except as provided in Section 12.02(b) or Section 12.02(c). Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its Obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed.

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(e) The Guarantee of each Guarantor, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Article XII, will be the senior third-priority secured Obligations of the Guarantors equal in right of payment

 

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to all existing and future Pari Passu Indebtedness, equal in right of payment to all existing and future unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Guarantors and subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all Secured Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor and is made subject to such provisions of this Indenture.

(f) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 12.02 and 12.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(g) Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise.

(h) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the holders, Trustee and Agents.

(i) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of the Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article VI, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Company for the purposes of this Section 12.01.

(j) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee, the Agents or any holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 12.01.

(k) Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 12.02. Limitation on Liability .

(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by each Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(b) The Obligations of any Guarantor, including the Company, under its Guaranteed Obligations will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all Obligations under this Article XII when any of the following occurs:

(i) upon the full and final payment by or on behalf of the Issuer of all of its Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

(ii) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company (in accordance with Section 5.01) any issuance, sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition (including, without limitation, by way of acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer, conveyance or otherwise), directly or indirectly, of Capital Stock of such Guarantor (or any parent of such Guarantor) to any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that results in such Guarantor ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such issuance, sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition is made in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company, the designation of such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iv) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company (in accordance with Section 5.01), upon the liquidation or dissolution of such Guarantor; provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing or would be caused thereby;

(v) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company, the occurrence of legal defeasance or covenant defeasance in accordance with this Indenture;

(vi) except with respect to the Guarantee of the Company and for those limitations described in the following paragraph, in the event that the continued Obligation of such Guarantor under its Guarantee or the continued existence of such Guarantee will result in a violation of applicable law that cannot be avoided or otherwise prevented through measures reasonably available to the Company or such Guarantor; provided that all guarantees, if any, of all First Priority Lien Obligations by such Guarantor are also released; or

(vii) upon such Guarantor being designated as an Excluded Subsidiary in compliance with this Indenture and the Company gives written notice of such release to the Trustee.

In addition to the initial Guarantors, other Domestic Subsidiaries may become Guarantors after the Issue Date, as provided under Section 4.11 and Section 12.06. The Guaranteed Obligations of the Guarantors will be limited as necessary to recognize certain defenses generally available to guarantors (including those that relate to fraudulent conveyance or transfer, voidable preference, financial assistance, corporate purpose, capital maintenance or similar laws, regulations or defenses affecting the rights of creditors generally) or other considerations under applicable law.

 

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SECTION 12.03. Successors and Assigns . This Article XII shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee, the Agents and the holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any holder, the Agents, or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.04. No Waiver . Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee, the Agents or the holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article XII shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee, the Agents and the holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article XII at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 12.05. Modification . No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article XII, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle any Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 12.06. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors . Each Subsidiary and other Person which is required to become a Guarantor of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit B hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary or other Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article XII and shall guarantee the Notes. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary or other Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a valid and binding obligation of such guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms and/or to such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

SECTION 12.07. Non-Impairment . The failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Note shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “ incorporated provision ”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318 of the TIA, inclusive, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

 

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SECTION 13.02. Notices .

(a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile or electronic mail or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer, the Company or a Guarantor:

Lyondell Chemical Company

1221 McKinney St

Suite 700

Houston, TX 77010

Facsimile: (713) 652-7312

Attention: Craig B. Glidden, Esq.

if to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

45 Broadway, 14th floor

New York, New York 10006

Facsimile: 212-515-1589

Attention: Corporate Trust Services — Administrator for Lyondell Chemical Company

The Issuer or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a holder shall be mailed, first class mail, to the holder at the holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

(c) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

SECTION 13.03. Communication by the Holders with Other Holders . The holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and other Persons shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

SECTION 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(a) an Officer’s Certificate in form satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

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(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided , however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 13.06. When Notes Disregarded . In determining whether the holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 13.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 13.08. Legal Holidays . If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular Record Date is not a Business Day, the Record Date shall not be affected.

SECTION 13.09. GOVERNING LAW . THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

SECTION 13.10. No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Company, Issuer or any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any Obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor under the Notes or this Indenture 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.

SECTION 13.11. Successors . All agreements of the Issuer and the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 13.12. Multiple Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 13.13. Table of Contents; Headings . The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 13.14. Indenture Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

SECTION 13.15. Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 13.16. Intercreditor Agreements . The terms of this Indenture are subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 13.17. U.S.A. Patriot Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee and the Agents, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account. The parties to this agreement agree that they will provide to the Trustee and the Agents with such information as it may request in order to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

SECTION 13.18. Force Majeure . In no event shall the Trustee or any Agent be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond the Trustee’s or the Agents’ control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot or embargo, which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Indenture.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

BASELL NORTH AMERICA INC.

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP

EQUISTAR GP, LLC

EQUISTAR LP, LLC

HOUSTON REFINING LP

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL F&F HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL FINANCE COMPANY

LYONDELLBASELL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL OVERSEAS SERVICES, INC.

LYONDELL CHIMIE FRANCE LLC

LYONDELL REFINING COMPANY LLC

By:  

/s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Vice President

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Authorized Person


LYONDELL CHEMICAL DELAWARE COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY 1 INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, L.P.

LYONDELL EUROPE HOLDINGS INC.

LYONDELL REFINING I LLC

By:  

/s/ Francis P. McGrail

  Name:   Francis P. McGrail
  Title:   Authorized Person


Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Raymond Delli Colli

  Name:   Raymond Delli Colli
  Title:   Vice President


Schedule 4.10

Post-Closing Matters

(a) Within ninety (90) days after the Issue Date, to the extent not previously delivered, the Trustee and the Collateral Agent shall have received each of the following documents:

 

  (i) Title Insurance. With respect to each Mortgage encumbering Mortgaged Property, a ALTA policy of title insurance (or commitment to issue such a policy having the effect of a loan policy of title insurance) insuring (or committing to insure) the lien of such Mortgage (either on a per-property basis or on a collective basis) as a valid and enforceable first-priority mortgage or deed of trust lien on each Mortgaged Property (other than pipeline easements) described therein, in an amount equal to not less than the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property (such policies collectively, the “Mortgage Policies”) issued by the title insurance company, which reasonably assures the Collateral Agent that the Mortgages on such Mortgaged Properties are valid and enforceable mortgage liens on the respective Mortgaged Properties, free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except Permitted Collateral Liens (as defined in the Mortgages) and such Mortgage Policies shall otherwise be in customary form and substance and shall bear such title endorsement as are necessary and advisable in connection with the creation of the security interest evidenced by such Mortgage.

 

  (ii) Survey. The Company shall deliver to the applicable title insurance company any and all surveys and any and all affidavits as may be reasonably necessary to cause such title insurance company to issue the title insurance required pursuant to clause (i) above.

 

  (iii) Consent s. With respect to the applicable Mortgaged Property, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to acquire such consents, approvals or tenant subordination agreements, as are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions or as shall be necessary and advisable in order for the owner or holder of such Mortgaged Property to grant the lien contemplated by the Mortgage.

 

  (iv) Mortgaged Property Indemnification. With respect to each Mortgaged Property, such affidavits, certificates, instruments of indemnification and other items (including a so-called “gap” indemnification) as shall be reasonably required to induce the title insurance company to issue the Mortgage Polices and endorsements contemplated above.

 

  (v) Collateral Fees and Expenses. Evidence of payment by the Company of all Mortgage Policy premiums, search and examination charges and issuance of the Mortgage Policies referred to above.

 

  (vi) Amendments . If necessary (or advisable in connection with the creation of the security interest evidenced by Mortgages) amendments to the Mortgages duly authorized, executed and acknowledged, in recordable form with respect to each Mortgaged Property sufficient for the owner of such Mortgaged Property to (x) grant to the Collateral Agent and/or confirm the Collateral Agent’s Mortgage lien on and security interests in such Mortgaged Property, (y) confirm such owner’s right and indefeasible title thereto and (z) confirm the Mortgaged Property to be encumbered thereby.


ANNEX A

MORTGAGED PROPERTY

 

   

Bayport Choate Plant, 10801 Choate Road, Pasadena, Texas 77507

 

   

Channelview Chemical Complex (South) 2502 Sheldon Road, Channelview, Texas 77530

 

   

Bayport Underwood Plant, 5761 Underwood Drive, Pasadena, Texas 77507

 

   

Equistar Chemicals (North) 8280 Sheldon Road, Channelview, Texas 77530

 

   

3400 Anamosa Road, Clinton, Iowa 52732

 

   

1501 McKinzie Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78410

 

   

1515 Miller Cut-Off Road, La Porte, Texas 77571

 

   

US Highway 60, 13 miles south of Bay City, Bay City, Texas 77414

 

   

8805 N. Tabler Road, Morris, Illinois 60450

 

   

Old Bloomington Highway, Victoria, Texas 77902 – Leasehold Mortgage

 

   

11530 Northlake Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249

 

   

12000 Lawndale, Houston, Texas 77017

 

   

Bayport Plant, 12001 Bay Area Blvd., Pasadena, TX 77507

 

   

Lake Charles Plant, 14101 Highway 108 South, Westlake, Louisiana 70669

 

   

601 Crestwood, Jacksonville, Florida 32208

 

   

2 miles West of FM 2917 on FM 2004, Alvin, Texas 77512

 

   

625 East U.S. Highway 36, Tuscola, Douglas County, Illinois 61953

 

   

1350 Miller Cut-Off Road, La Porte, Texas 77571

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Neuces County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in San Patricio County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Refugio County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Calhoun County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Victoria County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Jackson County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Matagorda County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Brazoria County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Harris County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Galveston County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Chambers County, TX

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Calcasieu Parish, LA

 

   

Those certain pipeline easements located in Orange County, TX


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF NOTE

[Face of Note]

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-1


CUSIP: 552078 BB2

ISIN: US552078BB29

GLOBAL NOTE

representing up to

$[                      ]

11% Senior Secured Note due 2018

 

No.         [$                      ]

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Note attached hereto on May 1, 2018.

Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1

Record Dates: January 15 and July 15

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated: April 30, 2010

 

A-3


This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee
By:  

 

Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


[Back of Note]

11% Senior Secured Note Due 2018

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

1. LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, (the “ Issuer ,”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 11% per annum from April 30, 2010 until maturity and shall pay the Additional Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Issuer will pay interest and Additional Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be August 1, 2010. The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Interest, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Notes. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Issuer will pay interest on the Notes, if any, and Additional Interest, if any (with respect to Transfer Restricted Notes, if applicable), to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 15 and July 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Payment of interest and Additional Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the holders at their addresses set forth in the register of holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest premium and Additional Interest, if any, on all Global Notes and all other Notes the holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

3. TRUSTEE; PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association will be the Trustee (the “ Trustee ”) under the Indenture and will be the Collateral Agent under the Indenture and has been appointed by the Issuer as Registrar and Paying Agent with regard to the Notes (the “ Paying Agent ”).

4. INDENTURE. The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture, dated as of April 30, 2010 (the “ Indenture ”), among Lyondell Chemical Company, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “ Company ”), the other Guarantors signatory thereto, and the Trustee. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as its 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018. The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

A-5


5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

(a) On or after May 1, 2013, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the Notes (including any Additional Notes) upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

(b) In addition, prior to May 1, 2013, the Issuer may redeem the Notes (including any Additional Notes) at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

(c) [ Intentionally Omitted .]

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to May 1, 2013, the Issuer may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (including any additional Notes), at a redemption price of 111.000% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the applicable redemption date, with the net proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided that:

(1) at least 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture (together with any additional Notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and

(2) the redemption must occur within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

6. [Intentionally Omitted]

7. MANDATORY REDEMPTION. The Issuer shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

8. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee). In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable; provided that no Notes of $100,000, as applicable, principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $100,000. Notes and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $100,000 (and integral multiples of $1). The notice of redemption relating to such Note selected to be redeemed shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

A-6


If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed at any time in connection with an optional redemption, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption as follows:

(1) if the Notes to be redeemed are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed; or

(2) if the Notes to be redeemed are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

9. OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

(b) In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuer will be required to offer to purchase Notes upon the occurrence of certain events.

10. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in fully registered form only, without coupons, in denominations of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1. A holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer or exchange of any Notes during a period beginning 15 days before the mailing of a redemption notice for any Notes or portions thereof selected for redemption.

11. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

12. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

13. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer) and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, in each case, by notice to the Issuer, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

 

A-7


If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity and security against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless (i) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the holders of at least 30% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security and indemnity against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security and indemnity and (v) the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to reasonable indemnification and security satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

14. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

15. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to holders of Notes under the Indenture, holders of Transfer Restricted Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, including the right to receive Additional Interest (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

16. GOVERNING LAW. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

17. CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

A-8


The Issuer will furnish to any holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

Lyondell Chemical Company

1221 McKinney St

Suite 700

Houston, TX 77010

Facsimile: (713) 652-7312

Attention: Gerald A. O’Brien

 

A-9


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:   

 

   (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s Soc. Sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint   

 

to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:                     

 

   Your Signature:  

 

     (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                              

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-10


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

[    ] Section 4.06                [    ] Section 4.08

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or Section 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$                     

Date:                     

   Your Signature:   

 

      (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
   Tax Identification No.:  

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                              

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-11


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $              . The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of
Exchange

   Amount of
decrease

in  Principal
Amount
   Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this
Global Note
   Principal Amount
of

this Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase
   Signature  of
authorized
signatory
of Trustee or
Note Custodian

 

 

 

* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-12


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE RELATED TO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”) dated as of [            ], among [GUARANTOR] (the “ New Guarantor ”), a subsidiary of LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V., a public limited liability company formed under the laws of The Netherlands (or its successor) (the “ Company ”), LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, (the “ Issuer ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, 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 Issuer and the Company and the other Guarantors signatory thereto have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Indenture ”) dated as of April 30, 2010[, as supplemented,] providing for the issuance of the Issuer’s $3,240,225,105 aggregate principal amount of 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuer is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 and subject to the provisions of Article IX of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer, the Company and other existing Guarantors, if any, are 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 New Guarantor, the Company, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “ holders ” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “ holders ” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders. The words “ herein ,” “ hereof ” and “ hereby ” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuer’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article XII of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a guarantor under the Indenture.

3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 13.02 of the Indenture.

 

C-1


4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

 

C-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

[NEW GUARANTOR]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

C-3

EXHIBIT 4.11

EXECUTION COPY

SECURITY AGREEMENT

for 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2018

dated as of

April 30, 2010

among

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY,

as a Grantor and as Issuer

and

THE OTHER GRANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Grantors

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

          P AGE

SECTION 1.

   Definitions    1

SECTION 2.

   Grant of Transaction Liens    6

SECTION 3.

   General Representations and Warranties    8

SECTION 4.

   Further Assurances; General Covenants    10

SECTION 5.

   Investment Property    12

SECTION 6.

   Restricted Accounts    13

SECTION 7.

   Transfer Of Record Ownership    13

SECTION 8.

   Right to Vote Securities    14

SECTION 9.

   Remedies upon Event of Default    15

SECTION 10.

   Application of Proceeds    17

SECTION 11.

   Authority to Administer Collateral    17

SECTION 12.

   Authority of Collateral Agent    18

SECTION 13.

   Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral    18

SECTION 14.

   General Provisions Concerning the Collateral Agent    19

SECTION 15.

   Termination of Transaction Liens; Release of Collateral    20

SECTION 16.

   Additional Grantors    20

SECTION 17.

   Notices    20

SECTION 18.

   No Implied Waivers; Remedies Not Exclusive    20

SECTION 19.

   Successors and Assigns    21

SECTION 20.

   Amendments and Waivers    21

SECTION 21.

   Choice of Law    21

SECTION 22.

   Waiver of Jury Trial    21

SECTION 23.

   Severability    22

SECTION 24.

   Intercreditor Agreement Controlling    22

SECTION 25.

   Control by or Delivery to Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, First Lien Notes Collateral Agent or ABL Collateral Agent    22

SECTION 26.

   Agreement to be Bound by Indenture    22


EXHIBITS :

 

Exhibit A Security Agreement Supplement

 

Exhibit B Perfection Certificate

 

ii


SECURITY AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT dated as of April 30, 2010 among LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as a Grantor and as Issuer, LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES, N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands (the “ Company ”) and the other Grantors party hereto, each as a Grantor and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as collateral agent (the “ Collateral Agent ”).

WHEREAS, the Issuer has entered into the Indenture described in Section 1 hereof, pursuant to which the Issuer intends to issue senior secured notes for the purposes set forth therein;

WHEREAS, the Issuer is willing to secure its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture by granting Liens on its assets to the Collateral Agent as provided in the Security Documents;

WHEREAS, each Guarantor is an affiliate of the Issuer, will derive substantial benefits from the issuance of the Notes, has guaranteed the foregoing obligations of the Issuer and, in order to induce the holders of Notes to accept the Notes, is willing to secure its guarantee thereof by granting Liens on its assets to the Collateral Agent as provided in the Security Documents;

WHEREAS, concurrently herewith the Grantors are entering into certain other security agreements with respect to the Collateral to secure their obligations under the ABL Facility, the Senior Term Loan Facility and the First Lien Notes and priority under each of these security agreements will be regulated by the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, upon any foreclosure or other enforcement of the Security Documents, the net proceeds of the relevant Collateral are to be received by or paid over to the Collateral Agent and applied as provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1 . Definitions.

(a) Terms Defined in Indenture . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section 1 have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for in the Indenture. The rules of construction specified in Sections 1.04 of the Indenture also apply to this Agreement.


(b) Terms Defined in UCC . As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning specified in the UCC:

 

Term

   UCC

Account

   9-102

Authenticate

   9-102

Certificated Security

   8-102

Certificate of Title

   9-102

Chattel Paper

   9-102

Deposit Account

   9-102

Document

   9-102

Entitlement Holder

   8-102

Equipment

   9-102

Financial Asset

   8-102 & 103

General Intangibles

   9-102

Instrument

   9-102

Inventory

   9-102

Investment Property

   9-102

Record

   9-102

Securities Account

   8-501

Securities Intermediary

   8-102

Security

   8-102 & 103

Security Entitlement

   8-102

Supporting Obligations

   9-102

Tangible Chattel Paper

   9-102

(c) Additional Definitions . The following additional terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

ABL Credit Agreement ” means the credit agreement dated as of April 8, 2010 among the Company, the borrowers party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as co-collateral agent and the other agents and parties thereto.

Collateral ” means the Non-Company Collateral (as defined in Section 2(a) hereof) and the Company Collateral (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof).

Control ” has the meaning specified in UCC Section 8-106, 9-104 or 9-106, as may be applicable to the relevant Collateral.

Copyright License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right to use, copy, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works, display or publish any records or other materials on which a Copyright is in existence or may come into existence.

Copyrights ” means all the following: (i) all copyright rights in any published or unpublished work of authorship, whether copyrightable or not, databases and other compilations of information, and user manuals and other training documentation related thereto, copyrights therein and thereto arising under the laws of the United States or any

 

2


other country, (ii) all registrations and applications for copyrights under the laws of the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) all renewals of any of the foregoing, (iv) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing, and (v) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Excluded Collateral ” means (i) any fee-Owned Real Property with a value of less than $25 million and all Real Property leasehold interests (other than interest in ground leases agreed on the Issue Date), (ii) motor vehicles and other assets covered by a Certificate of Title, (iii) letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts, other than (x) the Restricted Accounts and (y) such letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts that constitute Proceeds or Supporting Obligations of any Collateral, (iv) the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or of any special purpose subsidiary whose material assets are comprised solely of the Equity Interests of such joint venture, where the pledge of such Equity Interests would be prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement pertaining to any such joint venture, (v) Equity Interests in each of (a) PO Offtake, LP and (b) POSM II Properties Partnership, L.P., in each case to the extent that and only for so long as the pledge of such Equity Interests is prohibited by the terms of the organizational documents of such entity or any joint venture agreement to which such entity is subject, (vi) any Equipment owned by a Grantor that is subject to a purchase money security interest (within the meaning of Section 9-103 of the UCC) so long as the contract or other agreement in which such security interest is granted prohibits the creation of any other security interest on such, (vii) any contract, lease, license, Intellectual Property or other document so long as (and only to the extent that) the grant of a security interest therein would (a) violate a restriction in such contract, lease, license, Intellectual Property or documents or under any law, regulation, permit, order or decree of any Governmental Authority, unless and until all required consents shall have been obtained (for the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions described herein shall not include negative pledges or similar undertakings in favor of a lender or other financial counterparty), (b) invalidate or terminate such contract, lease, instrument, license, Intellectual Property, or other document or the rights therein or thereunder, or (c) give any other party in respect of any such Intellectual Property, or expressly give any other party in respect of any such contract, lease, instrument, license or other document, the right to invalidate or terminate such contract, lease, instrument, license, Intellectual Property, or other document or its obligations thereunder, (viii) any Equity Interests to the extent that, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests would violate law applicable thereto and (ix) any Equity Interests to the extent that, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests is subject to the 3-16 Exemption set forth in Section 11.04(c) of the Indenture; provided , however , that the limitations set forth in clause (vii) above shall not affect, limit, restrict or impair the grant by a Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in any such Collateral to the extent that an otherwise applicable prohibition or restriction on such grant is rendered ineffective by any applicable law, including the UCC.

 

3


Grantors ” means the Issuer and the Guarantors.

Indenture ” means the Indenture dated as of the date hereof among the Issuer, the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.

Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual and industrial property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other confidential or proprietary intellectual property, software and all registrations, additions and improvements to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.

License ” means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement relating to Intellectual Property to which any Grantor is a party.

Notes Documents ” means the Indenture and the Security Documents.

Original Grantor ” means any Grantor that grants a Lien on any of its assets hereunder on the Issue Date.

own ” refers to the possession of sufficient rights in property to grant a security interest therein as contemplated by UCC Section 9-203, and “ acquire ” refers to the acquisition of any such rights.

Patent License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right with respect to any Patent or any invention now or hereafter in existence, whether patentable or not, whether a patent or application for patent is in existence on such invention or not, and whether a patent or application for patent on such invention may come into existence or not.

Patents ” means (i) inventions, patentable designs, all letters patent and design letters patent of the United States or any other country and all applications for letters patent or design letters patent of the United States or any other country, including applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, revisions and extensions of any of the foregoing, (ii) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

 

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Permitted Liens ” means (i) the Transaction Liens and (ii) any other Liens on the Collateral permitted to be created or assumed or to exist pursuant to Section 4.12 of the Indenture.

Personal Property Collateral ” means all property included in the Collateral except Real Property Collateral.

Pledged ”, when used in conjunction with any type of asset, means at any time an asset of such type that is included (or that creates rights that are included) in the Collateral at such time. For example, “Pledged Equity Interest” means an Equity Interest that is included in the Collateral at such time.

Post-Petition Interest ” means any interest that accrues after the commencement of any case, proceeding or other action, relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of any one or more of the Grantors (or would accrue but for the operation of applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws), whether or not such interest is allowed or allowable as a claim in any such proceeding.

Proceeds ” means all proceeds of, and all other profits, products, rents or receipts, in whatever form, arising from the collection, sale, lease, exchange, assignment, licensing or other disposition of, or other realization upon, any Collateral, including all claims of the relevant Grantor against third parties for loss of, damage to or destruction of, or for proceeds payable under, or unearned premiums with respect to, policies of insurance in respect of, any Collateral, and any condemnation or requisition payments with respect to any Collateral.

Real Property Collateral ” means all real property (including leasehold interests in real property) included in the Collateral.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employers, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Restricted Account ” has the meaning specified in the ABL Credit Agreement.

Secured Agreement ”, when used with respect to any Secured Obligation, refers collectively to each instrument, agreement or other document that sets forth obligations of the Issuer, obligations of a guarantor and/or rights of the holder with respect to such Secured Obligation.

Secured Guarantee ” means, with respect to each Guarantor, its guarantee of the Secured Obligations under Article XII of the Indenture (including any guarantee supplement delivered pursuant to Section 12.06 thereof).

Secured Obligations ” means the “Notes Obligations” under and as defined in the Indenture.

 

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Secured Parties ” means the holders from time to time of the Secured Obligations.

Security Agreement Supplement ” means a Security Agreement Supplement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, signed and delivered to the Collateral Agent for the purpose of adding a Subsidiary as a party hereto pursuant to Section 16 and/or adding additional property to the Collateral.

Trademark License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right to use any Trademark.

Trademarks ” means (i) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, service marks, logos, brand names, trade dress, designs and all other source or business identifiers, and the rights in any of the foregoing which arise under applicable law, (ii) the goodwill of the business symbolized thereby or associated with each of them, (iii) all registrations and applications in connection therewith and all renewals of any of the foregoing, including registrations and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, including those described in Schedule 11(a) to the Perfection Certificate, (iv) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (v) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Transaction Liens ” means the Liens granted by the Grantors under the Security Documents.

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.

(d) References to Agreements . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, references to any agreements (including the Note Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, restructurings, renewals, restatements, refinancings or replacements in whole or in part, but only to the extent that such amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, restructurings, renewals, restatements, refinancings or replacements are permitted by the Note Documents.

SECTION 2 . Grant of Transaction Liens .

(a) The Issuer, in order to secure its Secured Obligations, and each Guarantor listed on the signature pages hereof (other than the Company), in order to secure its

 

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Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in all the following property of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and regardless of where located (the “ Non-Company Collateral ”):

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Chattel Paper;

(iii) the Restricted Accounts;

(iv) all Documents;

(v) all Equipment;

(vi) all General Intangibles (including (x) any Equity Interests in other Persons that do not constitute Investment Property and (y) any Intellectual Property);

(vii) all Instruments;

(viii) all Inventory;

(ix) all Investment Property;

(x) all Supporting Obligations;

(xi) all books and records (including customer lists, credit files, printouts and other computer generated materials and records) of such Grantor pertaining to any of its Collateral;

(xii) such Grantor’s ownership interest in all cash held in the Restricted Accounts from time to time and all other money in the possession of the administrative agent under the ABL Facility (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement);

(xiii) all other personal property or assets of such Grantor; and

(xiv) all Proceeds of the Collateral described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xii);

provided that the Excluded Collateral is excluded from the foregoing security interests; provided further that the Non-Company Collateral shall not include Equity Interests other than (i) any Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or a Guarantor of any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer or such Guarantor, respectively, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and (ii) 100% of the Equity Interests directly owned by the

 

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Issuer or a Guarantor of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer or such Guarantor, respectively, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; provided that the Non-Company Collateral shall not include voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent (but only to the extent) required to prevent the Non-Company Collateral from including more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary.

(b) The Company, in order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in (i) any Equity Interests directly owned by the Company of any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and (ii) 100% of the Equity Interests directly owned by the Company of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the “ Company Collateral ”); provided that the Company Collateral shall not include voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor, to the extent (but only to the extent) required to prevent the Company Collateral from including more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary.

(c) With respect to each right to payment or performance included in the Collateral from time to time, the Transaction Lien granted therein includes a continuing security interest in (i) any Supporting Obligation that supports such payment or performance and (ii) any Lien that (x) secures such right to payment or performance or (y) secures any such Supporting Obligation.

(d) The Transaction Liens are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to any of the Collateral or any transaction in connection therewith.

SECTION 3 . General Representations and Warranties . Each Grantor represents and warrants that:

(a) Such Grantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction identified as its jurisdiction of organization in the Perfection Certificate.

(b) With respect to each Original Grantor, Schedule 9(a) to the Perfection Certificate lists all Equity Interests in direct Wholly Owned Subsidiaries owned by such Grantor as of the Issue Date (other than Equity Interests of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant, inactive or otherwise immaterial). Such Grantor holds all such Equity Interests directly ( i.e. , not through a Subsidiary, a Securities Intermediary or any other Person).

(c) With respect to each Original Grantor, as of the Issue Date, (i) Schedule 9(b) to the Perfection Certificate lists all Securities owned by such Grantor (except

 

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Securities evidencing Equity Interests in Subsidiaries and Affiliates) and (ii) Schedule 12 to the Perfection Certificate lists all Securities Accounts to which Financial Assets are credited in respect of which such Grantor owns Security Entitlements.

(d) All Pledged Equity Interests owned by such Grantor are owned by it free and clear of any Lien other than Permitted Liens. All shares of capital stock included in such Pledged Equity Interests (including shares of capital stock in respect of which such Grantor owns a Security Entitlement) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of such Pledged Equity Interests is subject to any option to purchase or similar right of any Person. Such Grantor is not and will not become a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement (except the Notes Documents) which restricts in any manner the rights of any present or future holder of any Pledged Equity Interest with respect thereto.

(e) Except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Notes Documents, Laws or securities laws generally, or any Permitted Liens, the Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, materially impair, materially delay or otherwise affect in any manner material and adverse to the Secured Parties the pledge of such Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto.

(f) Such Grantor has good and marketable title to all its Collateral (subject to exceptions that are, in the aggregate, not material), free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens. For purposes of clarification, in the event that any Collateral consisting of Patents now owned or hereafter acquired is successfully challenged, such successful challenge will not constitute a breach of this provision.

(g) Such Grantor has not performed any acts that might prevent the Collateral Agent from enforcing any of the provisions of the Security Documents or that would limit the Collateral Agent in any such enforcement. No financing statement, security agreement, mortgage or similar or equivalent document or instrument covering all or part of the Collateral owned by such Grantor is on file or of record in any jurisdiction in which such filing or recording would be effective to perfect or record a Lien on such Collateral, except financing statements, mortgages or other similar or equivalent documents with respect to Permitted Liens. After the Issue Date, no Collateral owned by such Grantor will be in the possession or under the control of any other Person having a claim thereto or security interest therein, other than a Permitted Lien.

(h) The Transaction Liens on all Personal Property Collateral owned by such Grantor (i) have been validly granted, (ii) will attach to each item of such Collateral on or prior to the Issue Date (or, if such Grantor first obtains rights thereto on a later date, on such later date) and (iii) when so attached, will secure all the Secured Obligations or such Grantor’s Secured Guarantee, as the case may be.

 

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(i) When the relevant Mortgages have been duly executed and delivered, the Transaction Liens on all Real Property Collateral owned by such Grantor as of the Issue Date will have been validly created and will secure all the Secured Obligations or such Grantor’s Secured Guarantee, as the case may be. When such Mortgages have been duly recorded, such Transaction Liens will rank prior to all other Liens (except Permitted Liens) on such Real Property Collateral.

(j) Such Grantor has delivered a counterpart to the Perfection Certificate to the Collateral Agent. With respect to each Original Grantor, information set forth in Schedule 1(a) to the Perfection Certificate is correct and complete in all respects, and all other information set forth therein is correct and complete in all material aspects as of the Issue Date; provided that any such information that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language is correct and complete in all respects as of the Issue Date.

(k) When UCC financing statements describing the Collateral as “all assets” have been filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Transaction Liens will constitute perfected security interests in the Personal Property Collateral owned by such Grantor to the extent that a security interest therein may be perfected by filing pursuant to the UCC, prior to all Liens and rights of others therein except Permitted Liens, to the extent such Liens have priority by operation of law.

(l) Such Grantor has taken, and will continue to take, all actions necessary under the UCC to perfect its interest in any Accounts or Chattel Paper purchased or otherwise acquired by it, as against its assignors and creditors of its assignors.

(m) Such Grantor’s Collateral is insured as required by the Indenture.

(n) All of such Grantor’s Inventory has or will have been produced in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended.

(o) Other than a Restricted Account, there is no Deposit Account into which any collections or other payments or proceeds in respect of Pledged Inventory of any borrower under the ABL Facility or Receivables (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) of any borrower under the ABL Facility that have been Pledged are to be deposited. No funds other than ABL Facility Collateral or proceeds thereof will be deposited in any Lockbox Account (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) or the Cash Dominion Account (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement).

SECTION 4 . Further Assurances; General Covenants . Each Grantor covenants as follows:

(a) Such Grantor will at its own expense, from time to time, take any actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent and any other commercially reasonable actions necessary in order to:

(i) defend title to such Grantor’s Collateral, except that Grantor will only be obligated to defend title of the Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of its business as a whole and as currently conducted (it being understood that each Grantor shall have the right to dispose of Collateral to the extent permitted under the Indenture);

 

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(ii) create, preserve, perfect, confirm or validate the Transaction Liens on such Grantor’s Collateral;

(iii) in the case of each Restricted Account, cause the administrative agent under the ABL Facility to have Control thereof (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement);

(iv) enable the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties to obtain the full benefits of the Security Documents; or

(v) enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce any of its rights, powers and remedies with respect to any of such Grantor’s Collateral.

Such Grantor authorizes the Collateral Agent to execute and file such financing statements or continuation statements in such jurisdictions with such descriptions of collateral (including “all assets” or “all personal property” or other words to that effect) and other information set forth therein as the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable for the purposes set forth in the preceding sentence. Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Collateral Agent to file in any such jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

(b) Such Grantor will not (i) change its name or organizational form or structure, (ii) change its location (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-307) or (iii) become bound, as provided in UCC Section 9-203(d) or otherwise, by a security agreement entered into by another Person, unless it shall have given the Collateral Agent 30 days’ prior notice thereof and taken all actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to continue perfection of the security interests created by the Security Documents that may be required under Article XI of the Indenture.

(c) Such Grantor will not sell, lease, exchange, assign, license, terminate, abandon or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of its Collateral; provided that such Grantor may do any of the foregoing unless (i) doing so would violate a covenant in the Indenture or (ii) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either (A) the Collateral Agent shall have notified such Grantor that its right to do so is terminated, suspended or otherwise limited or (B) the maturity of any or all of the Secured Obligations shall have been accelerated. Concurrently with any sale, lease or other disposition (except a sale or disposition to another Grantor or a lease) permitted by the foregoing proviso , the Transaction Liens on the assets sold or disposed of (but not in any Proceeds arising from such sale or disposition) will cease immediately without any action by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. The Collateral

 

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Agent will, at such Grantor’s expense, execute and deliver to the relevant Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence the fact that any asset so sold or disposed of is no longer subject to a Transaction Lien.

(d) Such Grantor will, promptly upon request, provide to the Collateral Agent all information and evidence concerning such Grantor’s Collateral that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time to enable it to enforce the provisions of the Security Documents.

SECTION 5 . Investment Property. Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

(a) Certificated Securities . On the Issue Date (in the case of an Original Grantor) or the date on which it signs and delivers its first Security Agreement Supplement (in the case of any other Grantor), such Grantor will deliver to the Collateral Agent as Collateral hereunder all certificates representing Pledged Certificated Securities and Tangible Chattel Paper then owned by such Grantor (other than any Pledged Certificated Security of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant or inactive). Thereafter, whenever such Grantor acquires any other certificate representing a Pledged Certificated Security (other than any Pledged Certificated Security of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant or inactive) or if any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary of which such Grantor owns a Pledged Certificated Security ceases to be dormant or inactive, such Grantor will immediately deliver such certificate to the Collateral Agent as Collateral hereunder. The provisions of this subsection are subject to the limitation in Section 5(d) in the case of voting Equity Interests in a Foreign Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor.

(b) Perfection as to Certificated Securities. When such Grantor delivers the certificate representing any Pledged Certificated Security owned by it to the Collateral Agent and complies with Section 5(c) in connection with such delivery, (i) the Transaction Lien on such Pledged Certificated Security will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others, (ii) the Collateral Agent will have Control of such Pledged Certificated Security and (iii) the Collateral Agent will be a protected purchaser (within the meaning of UCC Section 8-303) thereof.

(c) Delivery of Pledged Certificates . All certificates in respect of Pledged Certificated Securities, when delivered to the Collateral Agent, will be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

(d) Foreign Subsidiaries. A Grantor will not be obligated to comply with the provisions of this Section at any time with respect to any voting Equity Interest in a Foreign Subsidiary that is not the Issuer or a Guarantor if and to the extent (but only to the extent) that such voting Equity Interest is excluded from the Transaction Liens at such time pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 2(a) or the proviso at the end of Section 2(b) and/or the comparable provisions of one or more Security Agreement Supplements.

 

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(e) Compliance with Applicable Foreign Laws. If and so long as the Collateral includes (i) any Equity Interest in, or other Investment Property issued by, a legal entity organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States or (ii) any Security Entitlement in respect of a Financial Asset issued by such a foreign legal entity, the relevant Grantor will upon reasonable request of the Collateral Agent take all such action as may be required under the laws of such foreign jurisdiction to ensure that the Transaction Lien on such Collateral ranks prior to all Liens and rights of others therein.

(f) Certification of Limited Liability Company and Partnership Interests . Any limited liability company and any partnership controlled by any Grantor shall either (a) not include in its operative documents any provision that any Equity Interests in such limited liability company or such partnership be a “security” as defined under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or (b) certificate any Equity Interests in any such limited liability company or such partnership. To the extent an interest in any limited liability company or partnership controlled by any Grantor and pledged hereunder is certificated or becomes certificated, each such certificate shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 5(a) and such Grantor shall fulfill all other requirements under Section 5 applicable in respect thereof.

SECTION 6 . Restricted Accounts . Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

(a) All cash proceeds of ABL Facility Collateral will be deposited, upon or promptly after the receipt thereof, in a Restricted Account.

(b) In respect of each Restricted Account, the depositary bank’s jurisdiction (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-304) will at all times be a jurisdiction in which Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code is in effect.

(c) So long as the administrative agent under the ABL Facility has Control of a Restricted Account (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement), the Transaction Lien on such Restricted Account will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others (except the depositary bank’s right to deduct its normal operating charges and any uncollected funds previously credited thereto and any Permitted Lien.

SECTION 7 . Transfer Of Record Ownership . At any time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may upon five Business Days’ notice to the Issuer (and to the extent that action by it is required, the relevant Grantor, if directed to do so by the Collateral Agent, will as promptly as practicable) cause each of the Pledged Securities (or any portion thereof specified in such direction) to be transferred of record into the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee. Each Grantor will take any and all actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to facilitate compliance with this Section. The Collateral Agent will promptly give to the relevant Grantor copies of any notices and other communications received by the Collateral Agent with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee.

 

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SECTION 8 . Right to Vote Securities . (a) Unless and until (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Issuer that the rights of the Grantors are being suspended under this Section 8:

(i) each Grantor will have the right, from time to time, to vote and to give consents, ratifications and waivers with respect to any Pledged Security owned by it and the Financial Asset underlying any Pledged Security Entitlement owned by it, and the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to such Grantor or as specified in such request such proxies, powers of attorney, consents, ratifications and waivers in respect of any such Pledged Security that is registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee or any such Pledged Security Entitlement as to which the Collateral Agent or its nominee is the Entitlement Holder, in each case as shall be specified in such request and be in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; and

(ii) each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Indenture and the other Security Documents and applicable Laws; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Equity Interests or Pledged Indebtedness, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and shall if certificated be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent).

(b) If (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Issuer that the rights of the Grantors are being suspended under this Section 8, the Collateral Agent will have the exclusive right to the extent permitted by law to vote, to give consents, ratifications and waivers and to take any other action with respect to the Pledged Investment Property, the other Pledged Equity Interests and the Financial Assets underlying the Pledged Security Entitlements, with the same force and effect as if the Collateral Agent were the absolute and sole owner thereof, and each Grantor will take all such action as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time to give effect to such right; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, each Grantor shall have the exclusive right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor would otherwise be entitled to exercise, in each case pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a) of this Section 8.

 

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SECTION 9 . Remedies upon Event of Default . (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, upon five Business Days’ notice to the Issuer, exercise (or cause its sub-agents to exercise) any or all of the remedies available to it (or to such sub-agents) under the Security Documents.

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, upon five Business Days’ notice to the Issuer, exercise on behalf of the Secured Parties all the rights of a secured party under the UCC (whether or not in effect in the jurisdiction where such rights are exercised) with respect to any Personal Property Collateral and, in addition, the Collateral Agent may, upon five Business Days’ notice (which notice shall state the time, date and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made) to the Issuer and subject to any mandatory provisions of law, sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange, broker’s board or at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such time or times and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable, irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral; provided that any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any Secured Party may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any such sale and (with the consent of the Collateral Agent, which may be withheld in its discretion) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, held at such time or times within ordinary business hours, to use and apply all or any part of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price of any Collateral payable at such sale.

(c) Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay or appraisal that it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Collateral Agent shall not be obliged to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given.

 

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(d) The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

(e) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby waives any claim against any Secured Party arising because the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. The Collateral Agent may disclaim any warranty, as to title or as to any other matter, in connection with such sale or other disposition, and its doing so shall not be considered adversely to affect the commercial reasonableness of such sale or other disposition.

(f) In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again, subject to the same rights and duties set forth herein.

(g) Notice of any such sale or other disposition shall be given to the relevant Grantor(s) as (and if) required by Section 11.

(h) For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, automatically upon the notice by the Collateral Agent of the exercise of remedies to the Grantors pursuant to Article VI of the Indenture after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, an irrevocable license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the Grantors), to use, license or sub-license any of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, except where the grant of such license will terminate or invalidate such Intellectual Property; provided that, anything in this Section 9(h) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Collateral Agent agrees that, on the date the Grantors cure such Event of Default, such license to the Collateral Agent will immediately terminate upon the cure date, but any sub-licenses granted by the Collateral Agent will remain in full force and effect; provided further that such sub-licenses will have terms that are substantially similar to the Grantors’ prior Intellectual Property licenses, and further provided that such sub-licenses (whether exclusive or non-exclusive) shall explicitly reserve the Grantor’s right to use such sub-licensed Intellectual Property in its own business.

(i) The foregoing provisions of this Section shall apply to Real Property Collateral only to the extent permitted by applicable law and the provisions of any applicable Mortgage or other document.

 

16


SECTION 10 . Application of Proceeds. (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may (i) after having given five Business Days’ notice to the Issuer apply any cash held in the Restricted Accounts and/or (ii) apply the proceeds of any sale or other disposition (notice of which sale or other disposition shall have been given by the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement and the other Notes Documents) of all or any part of the Collateral, in accordance with, and in the order of priorities specified in, the Intercreditor Agreement. Any and all such cash held by the Collateral Agent which the Collateral Agent is entitled, under the priority of payments set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, to distribute to the Secured Parties for repayment of the Secured Obligations shall be made in the following order of priorities:

first , to pay the fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent due and payable under the Notes Documents;

second, to pay ratably all interest (including Post-Petition Interest) on the Secured Obligations payable under the Notes and the Indenture, until payment in full of all such interest and fees shall have been made;

third , to pay the unpaid principal of the Secured Obligations ratably, until payment in full of the principal of all Secured Obligations shall have been made; and

fourth , to pay all other Secured Obligations ratably, until payment in full of all such other Secured Obligations shall have been made.

The Collateral Agent may make such distributions hereunder in cash or in kind or, on a ratable basis, in any combination thereof.

(b) In making the payments and allocations required by this Section, the Collateral Agent may rely upon information supplied to it pursuant to Section 14(c). All distributions made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section shall be final (except in the event of manifest error) and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire as to the application by any Secured Party of any amount distributed to it.

SECTION 11 . Authority to Administer Collateral . Each Grantor irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent its true and lawful attorney, with full power of substitution, in the name of such Grantor, any Secured Party or otherwise, for the sole use and benefit of the Secured Parties, but at the Grantor’s expense, as reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, to the extent permitted by law to exercise, at any time from time to time while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all or any of the following powers with respect to all or any of such Grantor’s Collateral:

(a) to demand, sue for, collect, receive and give acquittance for any and all monies due or to become due upon or by virtue thereof,

 

17


(b) to settle, compromise, compound, prosecute or defend any action or proceeding with respect thereto,

(c) to sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of the same or the proceeds or avails thereof, as fully and effectually as if the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof, and

(d) to extend the time of payment of any or all thereof and to make any allowance or other adjustment with reference thereto;

provided that, except in the case of Personal Property Collateral that is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market, the Collateral Agent will give the relevant Grantor at least ten days’ prior written notice of the time and place of any public sale thereof or the time after which any private sale or other intended disposition thereof will be made. Any such notice shall (i) contain the information specified in UCC Section 9-613, (ii) be Authenticated, (iii) be sent to the parties required to be notified pursuant to UCC Section 9-611(c) and (iv) in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange; provided that, if the Collateral Agent fails to comply with this sentence in any respect, its liability for such failure shall be limited to the liability (if any) imposed on it as a matter of law under the UCC.

SECTION 12 . Authority of Collateral Agent . By acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and any other Security Document, each Secured Party other than the Collateral Agent (whether or not a signatory hereto) shall be deemed irrevocably to agree that it shall not take any action (i) to enforce any provisions of this Agreement or any other Security Document against any Grantor or (ii) to exercise any remedy hereunder or thereunder, including the giving of any consents or approvals relating thereto, in each case except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Security Document. In furtherance of the foregoing provision of this Section 12, each Secured Party other than the Collateral Agent, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof and of the other Security Documents, agrees that it shall have no right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral hereunder or thereunder, it being understood and agreed by such Secured Party that all rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties.

SECTION 13 . Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral . Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody and preservation thereof, the Collateral Agent will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any sub-agent or bailee or any income therefrom or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. The Collateral Agent will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession or control if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and will not be liable or

 

18


responsible for any loss or damage to any Collateral, or for any diminution in the value thereof, by reason of any act or omission of any sub-agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith, except to the extent that such liability arises from the Collateral Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 14 . General Provisions Concerning the Collateral Agent .

(a) The provisions of Article VII of the Indenture shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent, and shall be binding upon all Grantors and all Secured Parties, in connection with this Agreement and the other Security Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Collateral Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Security Documents that the Collateral Agent is required in writing to exercise by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or such other number or percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in the Indenture), and (iii) except as expressly set forth in the Notes Documents, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for any failure to disclose, any information relating to any Grantor that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Transaction Lien, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of their directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable as such for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under the Security Documents or in connection therewith (a) at the request or with the approval of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or, if otherwise specifically required hereunder, the consent of all the holders of Notes) or (b) in the absence of its or their own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Collateral Agent by the Issuer.

(b) Sub-Agents and Related Parties . The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers through one or more sub-agents appointed by it. The Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers through its Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of Section 12 and this Section shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent.

(c) Information as to Secured Obligations and Actions by Secured Parties . For all purposes of the Security Documents, including determining the amounts of the Secured Obligations, whether any action has been taken under any Secured Agreement, the Collateral Agent will be entitled to rely on information from (i) its own records for information as to the holders of Notes, the Collateral Agent, their Secured Obligations

 

19


and actions taken by them, (ii) any Secured Party for information as to its Secured Obligations and actions taken by it, to the extent that the Collateral Agent has not obtained such information from its own records and (iii) the Issuer, to the extent that the Collateral Agent has not obtained information from the foregoing sources. Nothing in this Section 14(c) shall prevent any Grantor from contesting any amounts claimed by any Secured Party in any information so supplied.

(d) Refusal to Act . The Collateral Agent may refuse to act on any notice, consent, direction or instruction from any Secured Parties or any agent, trustee or similar representative thereof that, in the Collateral Agent’s opinion, (i) is contrary to law or the provisions of any Security Document, (ii) may expose the Collateral Agent to liability (unless the Collateral Agent shall have been indemnified, to its reasonable satisfaction, for such liability by the Secured Parties that gave such notice, consent, direction or instruction) or (iii) is unduly prejudicial to Secured Parties not joining in such notice, consent, direction or instruction.

SECTION 15 . Termination of Transaction Liens; Release of Collateral . (a) The Transaction Liens granted by the Issuer and each Guarantor shall terminate in accordance with Sections 11.04, 11.08 and 12.02 of the Indenture, as applicable.

(b) Upon any termination of a Transaction Lien or release of Collateral, the Collateral Agent will, at the expense of the relevant Grantor, execute and deliver to such Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence the termination of such Transaction Lien or the release of such Collateral, as the case may be.

(c) Unless expressly agreed otherwise between a Grantor and the Collateral Agent, in the event that any security interest in the Collateral granted pursuant to Section 2 hereof is not required to be so granted pursuant to the Indenture, if no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from any release under this Section, such security interest in such Collateral shall be released automatically; provided that the applicable Grantor shall provide notification of such release to the Collateral Agent promptly.

SECTION 16 . Additional Grantors . Any Subsidiary of the Company may become a party hereto by signing and delivering to the Collateral Agent a Security Agreement Supplement, whereupon such Subsidiary shall become a “Grantor” as defined herein.

SECTION 17 . Notices . Each notice, request or other communication given to any party hereunder shall be given in accordance with Section 13.02 of the Indenture, and in the case of any such notice, request or other communication to a Grantor other than the Issuer, shall be given to it in care of the Issuer.

SECTION 18 . No Implied Waivers; Remedies Not Exclusive . No failure by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising and no course of dealing with respect to, any right or remedy under any Security Document shall

 

20


operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any right or remedy under any Notes Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies specified in the Notes Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

SECTION 19 . Successors and Assigns . This Agreement is for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties. If all or any part of any Secured Party’s interest in any Secured Obligation is assigned or otherwise transferred, the transferor’s rights hereunder, to the extent applicable to the obligation so transferred, shall be automatically transferred with such obligation. This Agreement shall be binding on the Grantors and their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 20 . Amendments and Waivers .

(a) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended, modified or terminated except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Collateral Agent, with the consent of such holders of Notes as are required to consent thereto under Section 9.02 of the Indenture. No such waiver, amendment or modification shall (i) be binding upon any Grantor, except with its written consent, or (ii) affect the rights of a Secured Party (other than a noteholder) hereunder more adversely than it affects the comparable rights of the holders of Notes hereunder, without the consent of such Secured Party.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (a), this Agreement and any provision hereof may be amended, modified or terminated without notice to or consent of any holder of Notes pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture.

SECTION 21 . Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

SECTION 22 . Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY SECURITY DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). 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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

21


SECTION 23 . Severability . If any provision of any Security Document is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the other provisions of the Security Documents shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties in order to carry out the intentions of the parties thereto as nearly as may be possible and (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision in such jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 24 . Intercreditor Agreement Controlling . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder, in each case, with respect to the Collateral are subject to the limitations and provisions for the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms or conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

SECTION 25 . Control by or Delivery to Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, First Lien Notes Collateral Agent or ABL Collateral Agent . Until the termination of the applicable Exit Financing (including, with respect to the ABL Facility, the termination of the Commitments (as defined therein)), any provision of this Agreement requiring delivery of Collateral to or control of Collateral by the Collateral Agent shall be deemed satisfied to the extent that such Collateral is delivered to or controlled by the Senior Term Loan Collateral Agent, the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent or the ABL Collateral Agent under and as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 26 . Agreement to be Bound by Indenture . By entry into this Agreement, each Guarantor agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Indenture (including, without limitation, the provisions of Article IV (Covenants) and all provisions that are expressed to be binding on the Issuer or any Guarantor) with the same force and effect as if it were a signatory thereto.

[SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]

 

22


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BASELL NORTH AMERICA INC.

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP

EQUISTAR GP, LLC

EQUISTAR LP, LLC

HOUSTON REFINING LP

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL F&F HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL FINANCE COMPANY

LYONDELLBASELL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL OVERSEAS SERVICES, INC.

LYONDELL CHIMIE FRANCE LLC

LYONDELL REFINING COMPANY LLC

By:  

            /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Vice President

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Authorized Person

[Signature page to Security Agreement (Plan Roll-Up Notes)]


LYONDELL CHEMICAL DELAWARE COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY 1 INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, L.P.

LYONDELL EUROPE HOLDINGS INC.

LYONDELL REFINING I LLC

By:  

            /s/ Francis P. McGrail

  Name:   Francis P. McGrail
  Title:   Authorized Person

[Signature page to Security Agreement (Plan Roll-Up Notes)]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Agent

By:  

            /s/ Raymond Delli Colli

  Name:   Raymond Delli Colli
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature page to Security Agreement (Plan Roll-Up Notes)]


EXHIBIT A

to Security Agreement

SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT dated as of              ,          , between [NAME OF GRANTOR] (the “ Grantor ”) WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent.

WHEREAS, LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as a Grantor and as Issuer, LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES, N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands and the other Grantors party hereto, each as a Grantor and the Collateral Agent, are parties to a Security Agreement dated as of April [30], 2010 (as heretofore amended and/or supplemented, the “ Security Agreement ”) under which each Grantor secures certain of its obligations (the “ Secured Obligations ”);

WHEREAS, [ name of Grantor ] desires to become a party to the Security Agreement as a Grantor thereunder; and

WHEREAS, terms defined in the Security Agreement (or whose definitions are incorporated by reference in Section 1 of the Security Agreement) and not otherwise defined herein have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for therein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Grant of Transaction Liens . (a) In order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, the Grantor grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in all the following property of the Grantor, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and regardless of where located (the “ New Collateral ”):

[describe property being added to the Collateral] 1

(b) With respect to each right to payment or performance included in the Collateral from time to time, the Transaction Lien granted therein includes a continuing security interest in (i) any Supporting Obligation that supports such payment or performance and (ii) any Lien that (x) secures such right to payment or performance or (y) secures any such Supporting Obligation.

 

1

If the Grantor is not already a party to the Security Agreement, clauses (i) through (xiv) of, and the proviso to, Section 2(a) of the Security Agreement may be appropriate.

 

A-1


(c) The foregoing Transaction Liens are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation or liability of the Grantor with respect to any of the New Collateral or any transaction in connection therewith.

2. Delivery of Collateral . Concurrently with delivering this Security Agreement Supplement to the Collateral Agent, the Grantor is complying with the provisions of Section 5 of the Security Agreement with respect to Investment Property, in each case if and to the extent included in the New Collateral at such time.

3. Party to Security Agreement . Upon delivering this Security Agreement Supplement to the Collateral Agent, the Grantor will, if not already a party, become a party to the Security Agreement and will thereafter have all the rights and obligations of a Grantor thereunder and be bound by all the provisions thereof as fully as if the Grantor were one of the original parties thereto. References in the Security Agreement to a “Grantor” shall be deemed to refer to the Grantor, references to Schedules to the Perfection Certificate shall be deemed to include the corresponding Schedules to the Perfection Certificate delivered in connection with this Security Agreement Supplement and references to “Collateral” shall be deemed to include the New Collateral.

4. Representations and Warranties . (a) The Grantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of [ jurisdiction of organization ].

(b) The Grantor has delivered a Perfection Certificate to the Collateral Agent. The information set forth therein is correct and complete as of the date hereof.

(c) The execution and delivery of this Security Agreement Supplement by the Grantor and the performance by it of its obligations under the Security Agreement as supplemented hereby are within its corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of its organizational documents, or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon it or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except a Transaction Lien) on any of its assets.

(d) The Security Agreement as supplemented hereby constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Grantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity.

(e) Each of the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3, 5 and 6 of the Security Agreement is true on and as of the date hereof as applied to the Grantor and the New Collateral. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, references in said Sections to a “Grantor” shall be deemed to refer to the Grantor, references to Schedules to the Perfection Certificate shall be deemed

 

A-2


to refer to the corresponding Schedules to the Perfection Certificate delivered in connection with this Security Agreement Supplement, references to “Collateral” shall be deemed to refer to the New Collateral, and references to the “Effective Date” shall be deemed to refer to the date on which the Grantor signs and delivers this Security Agreement Supplement.

5. Governing Law . This Security Agreement Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Security Agreement Supplement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF GRANTOR]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-4


EXHIBIT B

to Security Agreement

PERFECTION CERTIFICATE

[Attached under separate cover.]

 

B-1

EXHIBIT 4.12

EXECUTION COPY

WARRANT AGREEMENT

dated as of April 30, 2010

between

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

and

Computershare Inc. and

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

collectively and individually as Warrant Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
   ARTICLE 1   
   DEFINITIONS   

Section 1.01

   Certain Definitions    1
   ARTICLE 2   
   ISSUANCE, EXECUTION AND TRANSFER OF WARRANTS   

Section 2.01

   Issuance of Warrants    9

Section 2.02

   Execution and Authentication of Warrants    9

Section 2.03

   Form of Warrant Certificates    10

Section 2.04

   Securities Law Compliance    10

Section 2.05

   EEA Securities Law Compliance    10

Section 2.06

   Registration, Transfer, Exchange and Substitution    11

Section 2.07

   Global Warrants    12

Section 2.08

   Surrender of Warrant Certificates    14
   ARTICLE 3   
   EXERCISE AND SETTLEMENT OF WARRANTS   

Section 3.01

   Exercise of Warrants    14

Section 3.02

   Procedure for Exercise    14

Section 3.03

   Settlement of Warrants    15

Section 3.04

   Delivery of Class A Common Stock    15

Section 3.05

   No Fractional Shares to Be Issued    16

Section 3.06

   Acquisition of Warrants by Company    17

Section 3.07

   Obligations of the Warrant Agent    17

Section 3.08

   Validity of Exercise    17

Section 3.09

   Direction of Warrant Agent    18

 

-i-


   ARTICLE 4   
   ADJUSTMENTS   
Section 4.01    Adjustments to Exercise Price    19
Section 4.02    Adjustments to Number of Warrants    22
Section 4.03    Certain Distributions of Rights and Warrants    22
Section 4.04    No Impairment    23
Section 4.05    Other Adjustments if Net Share Settlement Applies    23
Section 4.06    Discretionary Adjustments    24
Section 4.07    Restrictions on Adjustments    24
Section 4.08    Deferral of Adjustments    25
Section 4.09    Reclassifications and Other Changes    25
Section 4.10    Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets    29
Section 4.11    Common Stock Outstanding    30
Section 4.12    Calculations Final    30
Section 4.13    Notice of Adjustments    30
Section 4.14    Warrant Agent Not Responsible for Adjustments or Validity    30
Section 4.15    Statements on Warrants    30
   ARTICLE 5   
   OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS OF WARRANTHOLDERS   
Section 5.01    No Rights as Stockholders    31
Section 5.02    Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificates    31
Section 5.03    Modification, Waiver and Meetings    31
   ARTICLE 6   
   CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT AND OTHER MATTERS   
Section 6.01    Payment of Certain Taxes    32
Section 6.02    Change of Warrant Agent    33
Section 6.03    Compensation; Further Assurances    34
Section 6.04    Reliance on Counsel    35
Section 6.05    Proof of Actions Taken    35

 

-ii-


Section 6.06    Correctness of Statements    35
Section 6.07    Validity of Agreement    35
Section 6.08    Use of Agents    36
Section 6.09    Liability of Warrant Agent    36
Section 6.10    Legal Proceedings    36
Section 6.11    Other Transactions in Securities of the Company    36
Section 6.12    Actions as Agent    37
Section 6.13    Appointment and Acceptance of Agency    37
Section 6.14    Successors and Assigns    37
Section 6.15    Notices    37
Section 6.16    Applicable Law; Jurisdiction    38
Section 6.17    Benefit of this Warrant Agreement    38
Section 6.18    Registered Warrantholders    38
Section 6.19    Inspection of this Warrant Agreement    39
Section 6.20    Termination    39
Section 6.21    Headings    39
Section 6.22    Counterparts    39
Section 6.23    Entire Agreement    39
Section 6.24    Severability    39
EXHIBIT A    FORM OF GLOBAL WARRANT LEGEND    A-1
EXHIBIT B    FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE    B-1
EXHIBIT C    FORM OF CLASS A COMMON SHARES REQUISITION ORDER    C-1
EXHIBIT D    CONFIRMATION ORDER    D-1

 

-iii-


WARRANT AGREEMENT

This Warrant Agreement (“ Warrant Agreement ”) dated as of April 30, 2010 is between LyondellBasell Industries N.V., a public limited liability corporation formed under the laws of the Netherlands (the “ Company ”), and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation and individually “CI” and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. national bank individually “CTNA” and both collectively the “ Warrant Agent ”).

WITNESSETH THAT:

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Third Amended Plan of Reorganization, dated March 12, 2010, as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time (the “ Plan ”) relating to the reorganization under Chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”) of Lyondell Chemical Company and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries and LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (“ LBIAF ”) and certain of its affiliates, certain parties identified in the Plan and listed on Schedule I hereto (such parties, the “ Initial Warrantholders ”) are to be issued warrants (the “ Warrants ”) exercisable until the Expiration Date (as defined below), to purchase up to an aggregate of 11,508,204 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $15.90 per share, as the same may be adjusted pursuant to Section 4 hereof (the “ Exercise Price ”);

WHEREAS, the Warrants are being issued pursuant to, and upon the terms and conditions set forth in, the Plan in an offering in reliance on the exemption afforded by section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and of any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws;

WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Warrant Agent act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to act, in connection with the issuance, exchange, transfer, substitution and exercise of Warrants;

NOW THEREFORE in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the Company and the Warrant Agent agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

D EFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Certain Definitions . As used in this Warrant Agreement, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

$ ” refers to such coin or currency of the United States as at any time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Adjustment Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08.


Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

“Affiliate Change of Control Consideration” shall mean the value of the stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) to be received per share of Class A Common Stock, pursuant to the Affiliate Change of Control Event (to be calculated consistent with the principles set forth in Section 4.09(c) with respect to the calculation of Unit Value).

Affiliate Change of Control Date ” shall mean the date on which an Affiliate Change of Control Event is consummated.

Affiliate Change of Control Event ” shall mean the consummation of a transaction pursuant to which (i) a Rights Offering Sponsor directly or indirectly (whether through a portfolio holding company or otherwise) beneficially owns 50.1% or more of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, taken as a whole (determined on a Fully-Diluted Basis) and (ii) the Class A Common Stock ceases to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange and on each other U.S. national or regional securities exchange or quotation system on which such Class A common Stock has previously traded.

Affiliate Change of Control Payment Amount ” shall mean (A) if the Affiliate Change of Control Consideration exceeds the Exercise Price, an amount in Cash equal to (1) Affiliate Change of Control Consideration minus (2) the Exercise Price or (B) if the Affiliate Change of Control Consideration does not exceed the Exercise Price, an amount in Cash equal to the Black Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below) of the Warrant.

Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(e).

Affiliate Change of Control Put ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(e).

Affiliate Change of Control Put Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(e).

Affiliate Change of Control Put Warrants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(e).

Agent Members ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).

Authentication Order ” means a Company Order for authentication and delivery of Warrants.

“Bankruptcy Code” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Black Scholes Warrant Value ” as of any date, shall mean the value of a Warrant to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock (as determined in good faith by a majority of the non-affiliate directors of the Board of Directors based upon the advice of an independent investment bank of national standing selected by a majority of the non-affiliate directors of the

 

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Board of Directors) and shall be determined by customary investment banking practices using the Black Scholes model. For purposes of calculating such amount, (1) the term of the Warrants will be the period from the date of determination until the Expiration Date, (2) the fair market value of each share of Class A Common Stock will be the Current Market Price as of the date of determination, (3) the assumed volatility will be determined based on information available prior to the first announcement of the Affiliate Change of Control Event by such independent investment banking firm as of the date of determination, (4) the assumed risk-free rate will equal the yield on the U.S. Treasury security with a maturity closest to the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date, as the yield on that security exists as of the date of determination, (5) the assumed dividends will be based solely on historical dividend paying practice of the Company (not taking into account any dividends that are not Ordinary Cash Dividends) and (6) any other assumptions shall be made by a majority of the non-affiliate directors in good faith based upon the advice of such independent investment bank at the time of determination. For purposes of this definition, “non-affiliate directors” means the directors of the Board of Directors other than those directors who are affiliated with, or a nominee or appointee of, the Rights Offering Sponsor causing such Affiliate Change of Control Event.

Board of Directors ” means the supervisory board of the Company or any committee of such supervisory board duly authorized to exercise the power of such supervisory board with respect to the matters provided for in this Warrant Agreement as to which the supervisory board is authorized or required to act.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or other than a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Capital Stock ” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of the Company and all warrants or options to acquire such capital stock.

Cash ” means such coin or currency of the United States as at any time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Certificated Warrant ” means a Warrant represented by a Warrant Certificate, in definitive, fully registered form.

Class A Common Stock ” means the Class A ordinary shares, par value four eurocent (€0.04) per share, of the Company.

Class B Common Stock ” means the Class B ordinary shares, par value four eurocent (€0.04) per share, of the Company.

Close of Business ” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Closing Date ” means the effective date of the Plan.

Closing Sale Price ” means, as of any date, the last reported per share sales price of a share of Class A Common Stock or any other security on such date (or, if no last reported sale

 

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price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices on such date) as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the Class A Common Stock or such other security is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported by the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock or such other security is then listed or quoted, or if the Class A Common Stock or such other security is not so listed or reported , as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board or, if not so listed or reported, as reported in the “pink sheets” published by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided , however , that in the absence of such quotations, the Board of Directors will make a good faith determination of the Closing Sale Price.

If during a period applicable for calculating Closing Sale Price, an issuance, distribution, subdivision, combination or other transaction or event occurs that requires an adjustment to the Exercise Price or Number of Warrants pursuant to Article 3 hereof, Closing Sale Price shall be calculated for such period in a manner determined by the Company to appropriately reflect the impact of such issuance, distribution, subdivision or combination on the price of the Class A Common Stock during such period.

Common Stock ” means the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Company Order ” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by any two officers, at least one of whom must be its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, or its Controller, and delivered to the Warrant Agent.

CI ” means Computershare Inc.

CTNA ” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Current Market Price ” means, (i) in connection with a dividend, issuance or distribution, the volume weighted average price per share of Class A Common Stock for the twenty (20) Trading Days ending on, but excluding, the earlier of the date in question and the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date for such dividend, issuance or distribution and (ii) in connection with a determination of Black Scholes Warrant Value, the volume weighted average price per share of Class A Common Stock for the twenty (20) Trading Days ending on, but excluding, the date of determination, in each case, for the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof, without regard to pre-open or after hours trading outside of such regular trading session) as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the Class A Common Stock or such other security is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported by the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock or such other security is then listed or quoted, whichever is applicable, as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session), or if the Class A Common Stock is not so listed or quoted, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board or, if not so reported, as reported in the “pink sheets” published by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or similar organization or agency succeeding to its

 

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functions of reporting prices), on such Trading Day, or if such volume weighted average price is unavailable or in manifest error, the market value of one share of Class A Common Stock during such twenty (20) Trading Day period determined using a volume weighted average price method by an independent nationally recognized investment bank or other qualified financial institution selected by the Board of Directors and reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. If the Class A Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange or any U.S. national or regional securities exchange or quotation system or not reported on the OTC Bulletin Board or in the “pink sheets,” the Current Market Price shall be the price per share of Class A Common Stock that the Company could obtain from a willing buyer for shares of Class A Common Stock sold by the Company from authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, as such price shall be reasonably determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Depositary ” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees, and their respective successors.

Determination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Ex-Date ” means, in connection with any dividend, issuance or distribution, the first date on which the shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such dividend, issuance or distribution.

Exercise Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(b).

Exercise Notice ” means, for any Warrant, the exercise notice set forth on the reverse of the Warrant Certificate, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

Exercise Price ” means initially $15.90 per Warrant, subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 3.

Expiration Date ” means, for any Warrant, the date that is the seventh anniversary of the date hereof, or if not a Business Day, then the next Business Day thereafter.

Full Physical Settlement ” means the settlement method pursuant to which an exercising Warrantholder shall be entitled to receive from the Company, for each Warrant exercised, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the Full Physical Share Amount in exchange for payment by the Warrantholder of the Exercise Price.

Full Physical Share Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b).

Fully-Diluted Basis” means, with respect to any class or series of equity securities of the Company as of any date of determination, (a) all outstanding shares of capital stock of that class or series as of that date and (b) the maximum number of shares of capital stock of that class or series then issuable in respect of all securities convertible into or exchangeable for, all stock appreciation rights relating to, and all options, warrants and other rights to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire upon the exercise or conversion thereof, shares of that class or series of equity securities of the Company, in each case that are in-the-money based on the Closing Sale Price of the underlying security as of the date of determination and exercisable within 60 days of the date of determination.

 

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Global Warrant ” means a Warrant in the form of a permanent global Warrant Certificate, in definitive, fully registered form.

Global Warrant Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.07(a).

Initial Warrantholders ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“LBIAF” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Management Board ” means the management board of the Company ( bestuur ).

Net Share Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(c).

Net Share Settlement ” means the settlement method pursuant to which an exercising Warrantholder shall be entitled to receive from the Company, for each Warrant exercised, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the Net Share Amount without any payment therefor.

Net Share Settlement Price ” means, as of any date, the volume weighted average price per share of Class A Common Stock for the twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the date of determination of the Net Share Settlement Price for the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof, without regard to pre-open or after hours trading outside of such regular trading session) as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the Class A Common Stock or such other security is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported by the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock or such other security is then listed or quoted, whichever is applicable, as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session), or if the Class A Common Stock is not so listed or quoted, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board or, if not so reported, as reported in the “pink sheets” published by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), on such Trading Day, or if such volume weighted average price is unavailable or in manifest error, the market value of one share of Class A Common Stock during such twenty (20) Trading Day period determined using a volume weighted average price method by an independent nationally recognized investment bank or other qualified financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Warrant Agent. If the Class A Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange or any U.S. national or regional securities exchange or quotation system or not reported on the OTC Bulletin Board or in the “pink sheets,” the Net Share Settlement Price shall be the price per share of Class A Common Stock that the Company could obtain from a willing buyer for shares of Class A Common Stock sold by the Company from authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, as such prices shall be reasonably determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.

If during a period applicable for calculating Net Share Settlement Price, an issuance, distribution, subdivision, combination or other transaction or event occurs that requires an adjustment to the Exercise Price or Number of Warrants pursuant to Article 3 hereof, the Net

 

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Share Settlement Price shall be calculated for such period in a manner determined by the Company to appropriately reflect the impact of such issuance, distribution, subdivision or combination on the price of the Class A Common Stock during such period.

New Warrants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(e).

Number of Warrants ” means, for a Warrant Certificate, the “Number of Warrants” specified on the face of such Warrant Certificate (or, in the case of a Global Warrant, on Schedule A to such Warrant Certificate), subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 3.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed by a member of the Management Board of the Company or such other person he appoints by proxy.

Open of Business ” means 9:00 a.m., New York City time.

Ordinary Cash Dividend ” means regular quarterly or other periodic dividends declared and paid pursuant to a dividend policy established by the Board of Directors, not to exceed in the four most recently completed fiscal quarters of the Company, 45% of the consolidated net income of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (determined in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles) for the four most recently completed fiscal quarters.

Person ” means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.

Plan ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Pro Rata Repurchase ” means any purchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to (a) any tender offer or exchange offer subject to Section 13(e) or 14(e) of the Exchange Act or Regulation 14E promulgated thereunder or (b) any other offer available to substantially all holders of Common Stock, in the case of both (a) or (b), whether for cash, shares of Capital Stock of the Company, other securities of the Company, evidences of indebtedness of the Company or any other Person or any other property (including, without limitation, shares of Capital Stock, other securities or evidences of indebtedness of a subsidiary), or any combination thereof, effected while a Warrant is outstanding. The “ Effective Date ” of a Pro Rata Repurchase shall mean the date of acceptance of shares for purchase or exchange by the Company under any tender or exchange offer which is a Pro Rata Repurchase or the date of purchase with respect to any Pro Rata Repurchase that is not a tender or exchange offer.

Prospectus Directive ” means Directive 2003/71/EC and any relevant implementing measures in each applicable member state of the European Economic Area.

Record Date ” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of Common Stock have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which Common Stock (or other applicable security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for

 

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determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors or by statute, contract or otherwise).

Reference Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(a).

Reorganization Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(a).

Rights Offering Sponsor ” means any of LeverageSource (Delaware) LLC, an affiliate of Apollo Management VII, L.P., AI LBI Investment LLC, an affiliate of Access Industries, and Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III, L.P and any of their respective Affiliates.

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Settlement Date ” means, in respect of a Warrant that is exercised hereunder, the third Trading Day immediately following the Exercise Date for such Warrant.

Trading Day ” means (i) if the applicable security is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, a day on which trades may be made thereon or (ii) if the applicable security is listed or admitted for trading on the American Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or other national securities exchange or market, a day on which the American Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or such other national securities exchange or market, respectively, is open for business or (iii) if the applicable security is not so listed, admitted for trading or quoted, any Business Day.

Trigger Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03(a).

Unit of Reference Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(a).

Unit Value ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.09(c).

Vice President ” means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president” of the Company.

Voting Stock ” means Capital Stock having the right to vote for the election of directors under ordinary circumstances.

Warrant ” means a warrant of the Company exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock as provided herein, and issued pursuant to this Warrant Agreement with the terms, conditions and rights set forth in this Warrant Agreement.

Warrant Agent ” means Computershare Inc., and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. collectively in their capacity as warrant agent hereunder .

Warrant Certificate ” means any certificate representing Warrants satisfying the requirements set forth in Section 2.03.

 

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Warrant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.

Warrantholder ” means each Person in whose name Warrants are registered in the Warrant Register.

ARTICLE 2

I SSUANCE , E XECUTION AND T RANSFER OF W ARRANTS

Section 2.01 Issuance of Warrants . (a) The Company shall execute and deliver to the Warrant Agent, for authentication and delivery to the Initial Warrantholders on the Closing Date, a Certificated Warrant in the name of each Initial Warrantholder, together with an Authentication Order with respect thereto, evidencing an initial aggregate Number of Warrants equal to 11,508,204 (such Number of Warrants subject to adjustment from time to time as described herein) in accordance with the terms of this Warrant Agreement and the Plan. Each Certificated Warrant shall evidence one or more Warrants. Each Warrant evidenced thereby entitles the holder, upon proper exercise and payment of the applicable Exercise Price to receive from the Company, as adjusted as provided herein, one share of Class A Common Stock at the Exercise Price. The Warrant Agent shall, upon receipt of such Certificated Warrant and Authentication Order, authenticate, manually countersign and on the Closing Date, deliver such Certificated Warrant to the respective Initial Warrantholder in accordance with Section 2.02. All such Warrants shall be dated as of the Closing Date.

(b) Except as set forth in Section 2.06 and Section 5.02, the Warrants delivered to each Initial Warrantholder on the Closing Date shall be the only Warrants issued or outstanding under this Warrant Agreement.

(c) All Warrants issued under this Warrant Agreement shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof, without preference, priority, or distinction on account of the actual time of the issuance and authentication or any other terms thereof.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication of Warrants . (a) Warrants shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer or any person delegated by the Chief Executive Officer and attested by the Company’s Secretary or any one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any such person on Warrants may be manual or facsimile. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Warrant that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Warrant Agent.

(b) Warrants bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals, each of whom was, at the time he or she signed such Warrant or his or her facsimile signature was affixed to such Warrant, as the case may be, an authorized representative of the Company, shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Warrants or did not hold such offices at the date of such Warrants.

 

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(c) No Warrant shall be entitled to any benefit under this Warrant Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Warrant a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Warrant Agent by manual or facsimile signature, and such signature upon any Warrant shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Warrant has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.03 Form of Warrant Certificates . Each Warrant Certificate shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and shall have such insertions as are appropriate or required by this Warrant Agreement and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends and endorsements, stamped, printed, lithographed or engraved thereon, as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Warrant Agreement, such as may be required to comply with this Warrant Agreement, any law or any rule of any securities exchange on which Warrants may be listed, and such as may be necessary to conform to customary usage.

Section 2.04 Securities Law Compliance . The Warrants (including any Class A Common Stock issued upon exercise thereof) are issued pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act provided by Section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code, as set forth in the confirmation order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court attached hereto as Exhibit D. Any Warrant that is purchased or owned by any “underwriter” as defined in Section 1145(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, may not be resold by such holder, and such holder may not be able to transfer any Warrants or Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of any Warrant in the absence of an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and state securities laws.

Section 2.05 EEA Securities Law Compliance . In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (“ EEA ”) which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “ Relevant Member State ”), an offer to the public of the Warrants as provided in this Warrant Agreement may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any Warrants may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, in that Relevant Member State:

(a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in the relevant entity’s last annual or consolidated accounts;

(c) to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive); or

(d) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

 

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provided that no such offer of Warrants will result in a requirement for the publication by the Company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any Warrants in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information the terms of the offer as provided in this Warrant Agreement to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for Warrants, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

In the case of any Warrants being offered to a financial intermediary (as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive), such financial intermediary will also be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the Warrants acquired by it have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any Warrants to the public other than their offer of resale in a relevant Member State to qualified investors as so defined. The Company and its affiliates, and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representation, acknowledgement and agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person who is not a qualified investor and who meets at least two of the following requirements (i) 10 significant transactions on a regulated market, (ii) size of such persons security portfolio exceeds EU 50,000 and (iii) who has at least one year of relevant working experience, and has voluntarily registered with the Authority for Financial Markets (“ AFM ”), and has notified the Company of such fact in writing may, with the consent of the Company, be permitted to purchase Warrants.

Section 2.06 Registration, Transfer, Exchange and Substitution . (a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the office of the Warrant Agent, and the Warrant Agent shall maintain, a register (the “ Warrant Register ”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe and such regulations as may be prescribed by law, the Company shall provide for the registration of Warrants and transfers, exchanges or substitutions of Warrants as herein provided. All Warrants issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of or substitution for Warrants shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same obligations, and entitled to the same benefits under this Warrant Agreement, as Warrants surrendered for such registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.

(b) Transfers of a Global Warrant registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be limited to transfers in whole, and not in part, to the Company, the Depositary, their successors, and their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Warrant registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be transferred in accordance with this Warrant Agreement and the procedures of the Depositary.

(c) A Warrantholder may transfer a Certificated Warrant only upon surrender of such Certificated Warrant for registration of transfer. Certificated Warrants may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the Warrant Agent with a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Warrant Agent, along with any other such documents that the Warrant Agent may reasonably require including, without limitation, a

 

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signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, and any other reasonable evidence of authority that may be required by the Exchange Agent, duly executed by such Warrantholder or by such Warrantholder’s attorney, duly authorized in writing. No such transfer shall be effected until, and the transferee shall succeed to the rights of a Warrantholder only upon, final acceptance and registration of the transfer in the Warrant Register by the Warrant Agent. Prior to the registration of any transfer of a Certificated Warrant by a Warrantholder as provided herein, the Company, the Warrant Agent, and any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent may treat the Person in whose name Warrants are registered as the owner thereof for all purposes and as the Person entitled to exercise the rights represented thereby, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding.

(d) Every Certificated Warrant presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or substitution shall (if so required by the Company or the Warrant Agent) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a duly executed instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent, by the holder thereof or such Warrantholder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

(e) When Certificated Warrants are presented to the Warrant Agent with a request to register the transfer of, or to exchange or substitute, such Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall register the transfer or make the exchange or substitution as requested if its requirements for such transactions and any applicable requirements hereunder are satisfied. To permit registrations of transfers, exchanges and substitutions, the Company shall execute Warrant Certificates at the Warrant Agent’s request and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver such Warrant Certificates. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of or substitution for Warrants, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer of Warrants.

(f) A Certificated Warrant may be exchanged at the option of the holder or holders thereof, when presented or surrendered in accordance with this Warrant Agreement, for another Warrant Certificate or other Warrant Certificates of like tenor and representing in the aggregate a like Number of Warrants. If less than all Warrants represented by a Certificated Warrant are transferred, exchanged or substituted in accordance with this Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Certificate shall be surrendered to the Warrant Agent and a new Warrant Certificate for a Number of Warrants equal to the Warrants represented by such Warrant Certificate that were not transferred, exchanged or substituted, registered in such name or names as may be directed in writing by the surrendering Warrantholder, shall be executed by the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent and the Warrant Agent shall countersign such new Warrant Certificate and shall deliver such new Warrant Certificate to the Person or Persons entitled to receive the same.

Section 2.07 Global Warrants . (a) The Warrants shall initially be issued in the form of Certificated Warrants. The Company shall use its best effort to enable the Warrants to be “DTC eligible” so that interests in the Warrants may be held in book-entry form through the Depositary. Once the Warrants become “DTC eligible,” (i) the Company or the Warrant Agent shall provide written notice of such event to each Warrantholder and (ii) any Certificated Warrants may be presented to the Warrant Agent by Warrantholders in exchange for

 

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one or more Global Warrants up to the aggregate Number of Warrants then outstanding, to be registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee, and delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary, or its custodian, for crediting to the accounts of its participants pursuant to the procedures of the Depositary. Upon such presentation, the Company shall execute a Global Warrant representing such aggregate Number of Warrants and deliver the same to the Warrant Agent for authentication and delivery in accordance with Section 2.02. Any Global Warrant shall bear the legend substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the “ Global Warrant Legend ”).

(b) So long as a Global Warrant is registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“ Agent Members ”), the holders of beneficial interests in the Global Warrant shall have no rights under this Warrant Agreement with respect to the Global Warrant held on their behalf by the Depositary or the Warrant Agent as its custodian, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Warrant Agent and any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent as the absolute owner of such Global Warrant for all purposes. Accordingly, any such owner’s beneficial interest in such Global Warrant will be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall have any responsibility with respect to such records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Warrant Agent or any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Warrantholder.

(c) Any holder of a Global Warrant registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall, by acceptance of such Global Warrant, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Warrant may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the holder of such Global Warrant (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in Warrants represented thereby shall be required to be reflected in book-entry form.

(d) A Global Warrant registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be exchanged for Certificated Warrants only if the Depositary (A) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act and (B) a successor to the Depositary registered as a clearing agency under Section 17A of the Exchange Act is not able to be appointed by the Company within 90 days or the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and a successor to the Depositary is not able to be appointed by the Company within 90 days. In any such event, a Global Warrant registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee shall be surrendered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary, in exchange for such beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in such Global Warrant, Certificated Warrants representing, in the aggregate, the Number of Warrants theretofore represented by such Global Warrant with respect to such beneficial owner’s respective beneficial interest. Any Certificated Warrant delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Warrant pursuant to this Section 2.07(d) shall not bear the Global Warrant Legend. Interests in the Global Warrant may not be exchanged for Certificated Warrants other than as provided in this Section 2.07(d).

 

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(e) The holder of a Global Warrant registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Warrantholder is entitled to take under this Warrant Agreement or the Warrant.

Section 2.08 Surrender of Warrant Certificates . Any Warrant Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, substitution or exercise of Warrants represented thereby shall, if surrendered to the Company, be delivered to the Warrant Agent, and all Warrant Certificates surrendered or so delivered to the Warrant Agent shall be promptly cancelled by the Warrant Agent and shall not be reissued by the Company and, except as provided in this Article 2 in case of an exchange, transfer or substitution, or Article 3 in case of the exercise of less than all Warrants represented thereby, or Section 5.02 in case of mutilation, no Warrant Certificate shall be issued hereunder in lieu thereof. The Warrant Agent shall deliver to the Company from time to time or otherwise dispose of such cancelled Warrant Certificates as the Company may direct.

ARTICLE 3

E XERCISE AND S ETTLEMENT OF W ARRANTS

Section 3.01 Exercise of Warrants . At any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, a Warrantholder shall be entitled to exercise, in accordance with this Article 3, the full Number of Warrants represented by any Warrant Certificate then registered in such Warrantholder’s name (which may include fractional Warrants) or any portion thereof (which shall not include any fractional Warrants). Any Warrants not exercised prior to such time shall expire unexercised and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Warrant Agreement shall cease as of the Expiration Date.

Section 3.02 Procedure for Exercise . (a) To exercise a Warrant (i) in the case of a Certificated Warrant, the Warrantholder must (x) surrender the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant at the principal office of the Warrant Agent (or successor warrant agent), (y) deliver the Exercise Notice set forth on the reverse of the Warrant Certificate duly completed and executed at the principal office of the Warrant Agent (or successor warrant agent), together with any applicable transfer taxes as set forth in Section 6.01(b), and (z) in the event the exercising Warrantholder does not elect for Net Share Settlement in accordance with Section 3.03(c), pay to the Warrant Agent (or successor warrant agent) an amount equal to the Exercise Price in accordance with the procedures for Full Physical Settlement set forth in Section 3.03(b) or (ii) in the case of a Global Warrant, the holders of beneficial interests therein must (x) comply with the procedures established by the Depositary for the exercise of Warrants and (y) in the event the exercising Warrantholder does not elect for Net Share Settlement in accordance with Section 3.03(c), pay to the Warrant Agent (or successor warrant agent) an amount equal to the Exercise Price in accordance with the procedures for Full Physical Settlement set forth in Section 3.03(b).

 

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(b) The date on which a Warrantholder complies with the requirements for exercise set forth in this Section 3.02 in respect of a Warrant is the “ Exercise Date ” for such Warrant. However, if such date is not a Trading Day or the Warrantholder satisfies such requirements after the Close of Business on a Trading Day, then the Exercise Date shall be the immediately succeeding Trading Day.

(c) Any exercise of a Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant Agreement shall be irrevocable and shall constitute a binding agreement between the holder and the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

Section 3.03 Settlement of Warrants . (a) Full Physical Settlement shall apply to each Warrant unless the Warrantholder elects for Net Share Settlement to apply upon exercise of such Warrant. Such election shall be made (i) in the case of a Certificated Warrant, in the Exercise Notice for such Warrant, or (ii) in the case of a Global Warrant, in accordance with the procedures established by the Depositary for the exercise of Warrants.

(b) If Full Physical Settlement is applicable with respect to the exercise of a Warrant, then, for each Warrant exercised hereunder, prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date for such Warrant, the Warrantholder shall pay the Exercise Price (determined as of such Exercise Date) by check or money order payable to the order of the Company to the account maintained by the Warrant Agent and notified to the Warrantholder in accordance with Section 6.15, and on the Settlement Date, following receipt by the Warrant Agent of such Exercise Price, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Warrantholder one share of Class A Common Stock (the “ Full Physical Share Amount ”), together with Cash in respect of any fractional share or fractional Warrant as provided in Section 3.05. All funds received by the Warrant Agent upon exercise of such Warrant shall be deposited by the Warrant Agent for the benefit of the Company.

(c) If Net Share Settlement is applicable with respect to the exercise of a Warrant, then, for each Warrant exercised hereunder, on the Settlement Date for such Warrant, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Warrantholder a number of shares of Class A Common Stock (which in no event will be less than zero) (the “ Net Share Amount ”) equal to (i) the Net Share Settlement Price as of the relevant Exercise Date, minus the Exercise Price (determined as of such Exercise Date), divided by (ii) such Net Share Settlement Price, together with Cash in respect of any factional share or fractional Warrant as provided in Section 3.05.

Section 3.04 Delivery of Class A Common Stock . (a) In connection with the delivery of shares of Class A Common Stock to an exercising Warrantholder pursuant to Section 3.03(b) or Section 3.03(c), as the case may be, the Warrant Agent shall:

(i) inform the Company, within one Business Day following the satisfaction by the exercising Warrantholder of each of the applicable procedures for exercise set forth in Section 3.02(a), of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants which were exercised;

 

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(ii) promptly deliver or deposit all funds delivered to the Warrant Agent upon exercise of any Warrant(s) by bank wire transfer to an account designated by the Company or as the Warrant Agent may be directed in writing by the Company;

(iii) on the Settlement Date, deliver Cash to such Warrantholder in respect of any fractional shares or fractional Warrants, as provided in Section 3.05, provided that the Company has delivered to the Warrant Agent Cash in an amount equal to, or in excess of, that which such Warrantholder is entitled;

(iv) promptly cancel all Warrant Certificates surrendered to the Warrant Agent, destroy all such cancelled Warrant Certificates and deliver a certificate of destruction to the Company, unless the Company shall otherwise direct; and

(v) if the Number of Warrants represented by a Certificated Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, deliver a new Warrant Certificate, countersigned by the Warrant Agent, for the balance of the number of Warrants represented by the surrendered Warrant Certificate.

(b) If such shares of Class A Common Stock are in book-entry form at the Depositary, the Company shall (or shall cause the transfer agent to) deliver such shares of Class A Common Stock by electronic transfer to such exercising Warrantholder’s account at the Depositary. If such shares of Class A Common Stock are not in book-entry form at the Depositary, the Company shall (or shall cause the transfer agent to) deliver to or upon the order of such exercising Warrantholder a certificate or certificates, in each case with legends thereon as appropriate (as determined by the Company) and for the number of full shares of Class A Common Stock to which such exercising Warrantholder is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by such exercising Warrantholder

(c) Each Person in whose name any shares of Class A Common Stock are issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares as of the Exercise Date or, in the case of a Warrant subject to Full Physical Settlement only, the date of payment by the Warrantholder of the Exercise Price in accordance with Section 3.03(b), if later. However, if any such date is a date when the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the Close of Business on the next succeeding date on which the stock transfer books are open.

(d) Promptly after the Warrant Agent shall have taken the action required by Section 3 of this Agreement (or at such later time as may be mutually agreeable to the Company and the Warrant Agent), the Warrant Agent shall account to the Company with respect to any Warrants exercised (including, without limitation, with respect to any Exercise Price paid to the Warrant Agent).

Section 3.05 No Fractional Shares to Be Issued . (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Warrant Agreement, the Company shall not be required to issue any fraction of a share of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of any Warrants.

(b) If any fraction of a Warrant shall be exercised hereunder, the Company shall pay the relevant Warrantholder Cash in lieu of the corresponding fraction of a share of Class A

 

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Common Stock valued at the Net Share Settlement Price as of the Exercise Date. However, if more than one Warrant shall be exercised hereunder at one time by the same Warrantholder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon exercise thereof shall be computed on the basis of all Warrants (including any fractional Warrants) so exercised. If any fraction of a share of Class A Common Stock would, except for the provisions of this Section 3.05, be issuable on the exercise of any Warrant or Warrants (including any fractional Warrants), the Company shall pay the Warrantholder Cash in lieu of such fractional shares valued at the Net Share Settlement Price as of the Exercise Date.

(c) Each Warrantholder, by its acceptance of a Warrant Certificate, expressly waives its right to receive any fraction of a share of Class A Common Stock or a stock certificate representing a fraction of a share of Class A Common Stock.

Section 3.06 Acquisition of Warrants by Company . The Company shall have the right, except as limited by law, to purchase or otherwise to acquire Warrants at such times, in such manner and for such consideration as it may deem appropriate and shall have agreed with the holder of such Warrants.

Section 3.07 Obligations of the Warrant Agent . The Warrant Agent shall:

(a) examine all Exercise Notices and all other documents delivered to it by or on behalf of holders to ascertain whether, on their face, such Exercise Notices and any such other documents have been executed and completed in accordance with their terms;

(b) where an Exercise Notice or other document appears on its face to have been improperly completed or executed or some other irregularity in connection with the exercise of the Warrant exists, the Warrant Agent shall endeavor to inform the appropriate parties (including the person submitting such instrument) of the need for fulfillment of all requirements, specifying those requirements which appear to be unfulfilled;

(c) inform the Company of and cooperate with and assist the Company in resolving any reconciliation problems between the Exercise Notices received and delivery of Warrants to the Warrant Agent’s account; and

(d) advise the Company of (x) the instructions with respect to delivery of the shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable upon such exercise, subject to the timely receipt from the Depositary of the necessary information, and (y) such other information as the Company shall reasonably require.

Section 3.08 Validity of Exercise . All questions as to the validity, form and sufficiency (including time of receipt) of a Warrant exercise shall be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. The Warrant Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of and, except to the extent such liability arises from the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company for acting or refraining from acting upon, or as a result of such determination by the Company. The Company reserves the right to reject any and all Exercise Notices not in proper form or for which any corresponding agreement by the Company

 

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to exchange would, in the opinion of the Company, be unlawful. Such determination by the Company shall be final and binding on the holders, absent manifest error. Moreover, the Company reserves the absolute right to waive any of the conditions to the exercise of Warrants or defects in Exercise Notices with regard to any particular exercise of Warrants. The Company shall be under no duty to give notice to the holders of the Warrants of any irregularities in any exercise of Warrants, nor shall it incur any liability for the failure to give such notice.

Section 3.09 Direction of Warrant Agent . (a) The Company shall be responsible for performing all calculations required in connection with the exercise and settlement of the Warrants and the payment or delivery, as the case may be, of Cash and/or Class A Common Stock as described in this Article 3. In connection therewith, the Company shall provide prompt written notice to the Warrant Agent of the amount of Cash and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock payable or deliverable, as the case may be, upon exercise and settlement of the Warrants, including, without limitation, the Net Share Amount and the Full Physical Share Amount.

(b) Any Cash to be paid to the Warrantholders hereunder shall be delivered to Computershare no later than the Business Day immediately preceding the date such consideration is required to be delivered to the Warrantholders. Any Class A Common Stock to be delivered to the Warrantholders hereunder shall be delivered by the Company (or the transfer agent) by the date such consideration is required to be delivered to the Warrantholders.

(c) The Warrant Agent shall have no liability for any failure or delay in performing its duties hereunder caused by any failure or delay of the Company in providing such calculations or items to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Units of Reference Property that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the exercise of any Warrant, and it makes no representation with respect thereto. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any failure of the Company to make any Cash payment or to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock or stock certificates or Units of Reference Property, or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article 3.

(d) The Company acknowledges that the bank accounts maintained by CI in connection with the services provided under this Agreement will be in its name and that CI may receive investment earnings in connection with the investment at the CI’s risk and for its benefit of funds held in those accounts from time to time. Warrant Holders and the Company will not receive interest on any Cash delivered to the Warrant Agent.

 

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ARTICLE 4

A DJUSTMENTS

Section 4.01 Adjustments to Exercise Price. The Exercise Price for the Warrants shall be subject to adjustment (without duplication) upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) The issuance of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock as a dividend or distribution to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock, or a subdivision or combination of Common Stock, in which event the Exercise Price shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

EP 1

  

=

  

EP 0

  

x

  

OS 0

  
            OS 1   

where:

 

EP0    =    the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the Open of Business on the effective date for such subdivision or combination, as the case may be;
EP 1    =    the Exercise Price in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the Open of Business on the effective date for such subdivision or combination, as the case may be;
OS 0    =    the number of shares of Common Stock, in the aggregate, outstanding immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the Open of Business on the effective date for such subdivision or combination, as the case may be; and
OS 1    =    the number of shares of Common Stock, in the aggregate, that would be outstanding immediately after, and solely as a result of, such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination.

Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the Open of Business on the effective date for such subdivision or combination, as the case may be. If any dividend or distribution or subdivision or combination of the type described in this Section 4.01(a) is declared or announced but not so paid or made, the Exercise Price shall again be adjusted to the Exercise Price that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution or subdivision or combination had not been declared or announced, as the case may be.

 

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(b) The dividend or distribution to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock of (i) shares of capital stock of the Company (excluding any dividend, distribution or issuance covered by clause (a) above) or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, (ii) evidences of indebtedness of the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, or (iii) any other assets or property or cash dividends (excluding any Ordinary Cash Dividends and excluding any dividend, distribution or issuance covered by clause (a) above), in which event the Exercise Price will be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

EP 1

 

=

  

EP 0

  

x

  

SP 0  - FMV

  
           SP 0   

where:

 

EP0    =    the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;
EP 1    =    the Exercise Price in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;
SP 0    =    the Current Market Price; and
FMV    =    the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors), on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, of the shares of capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other assets or property, or the amount of the cash dividend (other than Ordinary Cash Dividends) expressed as an amount per share of outstanding Common Stock.

Such decrease shall become effective immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution. In the event that such dividend or distribution is declared or announced but not so paid or made, the Exercise Price shall again be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared or announced.

However, if the transaction that gives rise to an adjustment pursuant to this clause (b) is one pursuant to which the payment of a dividend or other distribution on Common Stock consists exclusively of shares of capital stock of, or similar equity interests in, a subsidiary of the Company or other business unit of the Company (i.e., a spin-off) that are, or, when issued, will be, traded or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national or regional securities exchange or market, then the Exercise Price will instead be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

                  

MP 0

    
EP 1   =    EP 0    x    MP 0 +   FMV 0   

 

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where:

 

EP 0    =    the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;
EP 1    =    the Exercise Price in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;
FMV 0    =    the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the capital stock or similar equity interests distributed to holders of Common Stock applicable to one share of Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Days commencing on, and including, the third Trading Day after the Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution; and
MP 0    =    the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Days commencing on, and including, the third Trading Day after the Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution.

Such decrease shall become effective immediately after the Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution. In the event that such dividend or distribution is declared or announced but not so paid or made, the Exercise Price shall again be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared or announced.

(c) In the event that the Company effects a Pro Rata Repurchase in which the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of Common Stock exceeds the Closing Sale Price on the Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such Pro Rata Repurchase, then the Exercise Price will be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

EP 1   =    EP 0  X   

(NS 0A  x  SP 1A ) +  (NS 0B  x  SP 1B )

  
        PP 0 +  ((NS 1A  x SP 1A ) +  (NS 1B  x  SP 1B ))   

where:

 

EP 0    =    the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date of such Pro Rata Repurchase;
EP 1    =    the Exercise Price in effect immediately after the Effective Date of such Pro Rata Repurchase;
NS 0A    =    the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately before the consummation of the Pro Rata Repurchase;

 

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NS 0B    =    the number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately before the consummation of the Pro Rata Repurchase;
NS 1A    =    the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after the consummation of the Pro Rata Repurchase;
NS 1B    =    the number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately after the consummation of the Pro Rata Repurchase;
PP 0    =    the aggregate purchase price of the Pro Rata Repurchase; and
SP 1A    =    the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Class A Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the first public announcement by the Company of its intent to effect such Pro Rata Repurchase.
SP 1B    =    the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Class B Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the first public announcement by the Company of its intent to effect such Pro Rata Repurchase.

(d) If any single action would require adjustment of the Exercise Price pursuant to more than one subsection of Section 4.01, only one adjustment shall be made and such adjustment shall be the amount of adjustment that has the highest, relative to the rights and interests of the registered holders of the Warrants then outstanding, absolute value.

Section 4.02 Adjustments to Number of Warrants. Concurrently with any adjustment to the Exercise Price under Section 4.01, the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate will be adjusted such that the Number of Warrants for each such Warrant Certificate in effect immediately following the effectiveness of such adjustment will be equal to the Number of Warrants for each such Warrant Certificate in effect immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment and (ii) the denominator of which is the Exercise Price in effect immediately following such adjustment.

Section 4.03 Certain Distributions of Rights and Warrants. (a) Rights or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of Common Stock entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s Capital Stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (a “Trigger Event” ):

 

  (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of Common Stock;

 

  (ii) are not exercisable; and

 

  (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of Common Stock,

 

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shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of Article 4 (and no adjustment to the Exercise Price or the Number of Warrants under this Article 4 will be made) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights and warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Exercise Price and the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate shall be made under this Article 4.

(b) If any such right or warrant is subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and Record Date with respect to new rights or warrants with such rights.

(c) In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in Section 4.03(b)) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Exercise Price and the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate under Article 4 was made:

(i) in the case of any such rights or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or repurchased without exercise by the holders thereof, the Exercise Price and the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate shall be readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give effect to such distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or repurchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or repurchase; and

(ii) in the case of such rights or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by the holders thereof, the Exercise Price and the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate shall be readjusted as if such rights and warrants had not been issued.

Section 4.04 No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of its Articles of Association or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Company, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Warrant and in taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Warrantholders.

Section 4.05 Other Adjustments if Net Share Settlement Applies. To the extent Net Share Settlement applies to the exercise of any Warrant, the Board of Directors shall make appropriate adjustments to the amount of Cash or number of shares of Class A Common Stock, as the case may be, due upon exercise of the Warrant, as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the intent of this Article 4 and to avoid unjust or inequitable results as determined in its good faith judgment, to account for any adjustment to the Exercise Price and the Number of Warrants for the relevant Warrant Certificate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an

 

23


adjustment to the Exercise Price and the Number of Warrants for the relevant Warrant Certificate where the Record Date or effective date (in the case of a subdivision or combination of the Class A Common Stock) of the event occurs, during the period beginning on, and including, the Exercise Date and ending on, and including, the related Settlement Date.

Section 4.06 Discretionary Adjustments. The Company may from time to time, to the extent permitted by law and subject to applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange (or if not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the rules of the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed or quoted), decrease the Exercise Price and make a corresponding increase in the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate by any amount for any period of at least 20 days. In that case, the Company shall give the Warrantholders at least 15 days’ prior notice of such increase or decrease, and such notice shall state the decreased Exercise Price and increased Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate and the period during such adjustment will be in effect. The Company may make such decreases in the Exercise Price and increases in the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate, in addition to those set forth in this Article 4, as the Company’s Board of Directors deems advisable, including to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of the Class A Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock (or rights to acquire stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes.

Section 4.07 Restrictions on Adjustments. (a) Except in accordance with Section 4.01, the Exercise Price and the Number of Warrants for any Warrant Certificate will not be adjusted for the issuance of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock.

(b) Neither the Exercise Price nor the Number of Warrants for any Warrant Certificate will be adjusted:

(i) upon the issuance of any securities by the Company on the Closing Date or pursuant to the Plan;

(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or the issuance of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock to any of the Company’s officers, directors or employees pursuant to any benefit plan of the Company;

(iii) for a change in the par value of the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock.

(c) In no event will the Company adjust the Exercise Price or make a corresponding adjustment to the Number of Warrants for any Warrant Certificate to the extent that the adjustment would reduce the Exercise Price below the par value per share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock.

(d) No adjustment shall be made to the Exercise Price or the Number of Warrants for any Warrant Certificate for any of the transactions described in Section 4.01 if the Company makes provisions for Warrantholders to participate in any such transaction without exercising their Warrants on the same basis as holders of Common Stock, as applicable and with notice that the Board of Directors determines in good faith to be fair and appropriate.

 

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(e) No adjustment shall be made to the Exercise Price, nor will any corresponding adjustment be made to the Number of Warrants for any Warrant Certificate, unless the adjustment would result in a change of at least 1% of the Exercise Price; however, any such adjustments that are not made will be carried forward and made when the aggregate of all such adjustments or any other adjustment required to be made pursuant to Article 4 equal or exceed 1% of the Exercise Price. All calculations under this Article 4 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be.

(f) If the Company takes a record of the holders of Class A Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or other distribution, and thereafter (and before the dividend or distribution has been paid or delivered to stockholders) legally abandons its plan to pay or deliver such dividend or distribution, then thereafter no adjustment to the Exercise Price or the Number of Warrants for any Warrant Certificate then in effect shall be required by reason of the taking of such record.

Section 4.08 Deferral of Adjustments. In any case in which Section 4.01 provides that an adjustment shall become effective immediately after (a) a Record Date for an event or (b) the effective date (in the case of a subdivision or combination of the Class A Common Stock) (each a “Determination Date” ), the Company may elect to defer, until the later of the date the adjustment to the Exercise Price and Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate can be definitively determined and the occurrence of the applicable Adjustment Event (as hereinafter defined), (i) issuing to the Warrantholder of any Warrant exercised after such Determination Date and before the occurrence of such Adjustment Event, the additional shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities or assets issuable upon such exercise by reason of the adjustment required by such Adjustment Event over and above the Class A Common Stock issuable upon such exercise before giving effect to such adjustment and (ii) paying to such Warrantholder any amount in Cash in lieu of any fractional share of Class A Common Stock or fractional Warrant pursuant to Section 3.05. For the purposes of this Section 4.08, the term “Adjustment Event” shall mean in any case referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) hereof, the occurrence of such event.

Section 4.09 Reclassifications and Other Changes. (a) Subject to Section 4.09(e), if any of the following events occur:

(i) any reclassification or change of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination to which Section 4.01(a) applies or conversion of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock);

(ii) any consolidation, merger or combination involving the Company; or

(iii) any sale or conveyance to a third party of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets

(each such event a “Reorganization Event” ), in each case as a result of which the Class A Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property

 

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or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (the “Reference Property” ), then following the effective time of the Reorganization Event, the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant shall be changed to a right to receive, upon exercise of such Warrant, the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of one share of Class A Common Stock would have owned or been entitled to receive in connection with such Reorganization Event (such kind and amount of Reference Property per share of Class A Common Stock, a “Unit of Reference Property” ). In the event holders of Class A Common Stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in a Reorganization Event, other than with respect to an Affiliate Change of Control Event, the type and amount of consideration into which the Warrants shall be exercisable from and after the effective time of such Reorganization Event shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Class A Common Stock in such Reorganization Event.

(b) At any time from, and including, the effective time of a Reorganization Event:

(i) if Full Physical Settlement applies upon exercise of a Warrant, the Full Physical Share Amount per Warrant shall be equal to a single Unit of Reference Property;

(ii) if Net Share Settlement applies upon exercise of a Warrant, the Net Share Amount per Warrant shall be a number of Units of Reference Property calculated as set forth in Section 3.03(c), except that the Net Share Settlement Price used to determine such Net Share Amount on any Trading Day shall be the Unit Value for such Trading Day;

(iii) the Company shall pay Cash in lieu of delivering any fraction of a Unit of Reference Property or any fractional Warrant in accordance with Section 3.05 based on the Unit Value as of the Exercise Date; and

(iv) the Closing Sale Price and the Current Market Price shall be calculated with respect to a Unit of Reference Property.

(c) The value of a Unit of Reference Property (the “Unit Value” ) shall be determined as follows:

(i) any shares of common stock of the successor or purchasing corporation or any other corporation that are traded on a national or regional stock exchange included in such Unit of Reference Property shall be valued as if such shares were “Class A Common Stock” using procedures set forth in the definition of “Closing Sale Price” in Section 1.01;

(ii) any other property (other than cash) included in such Unit of Reference Property shall be valued in good faith by the Board of Directors (in a manner not materially inconsistent with the manner the Board of Directors valued such property for purposes of the Reorganization Event, if applicable) or by a an independent investment bank of national standing; and

 

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(iii) any cash included in such Unit of Reference Property shall be valued at the amount thereof.

(d) On or prior to the effective time of any Reorganization Event, the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute an amendment to this Warrant Agreement providing that the Warrants shall be exercisable for Units of Reference Property in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.09. If the Reference Property in connection with any Reorganization Event includes shares of stock or other securities and assets of a Person other than the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, in such Reorganization Event, then the Company shall cause such amendment to this Warrant Agreement to be executed by such other Person and such amendment shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Warrantholders as the Board of Directors shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing. Any such amendment to this Warrant Agreement shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article 4. In the event the Company shall execute an amendment to this Warrant Agreement pursuant to this Section 4.09, the Company shall promptly file with the Warrant Agent an Officers’ Certificate briefly stating the reasons therefor, the kind or amount of cash, securities or property or asset that will comprise a Unit of Reference Property after the relevant Reorganization Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all conditions precedent have been complied with. The Company shall cause notice of the execution of amendment to be mailed to each Warrantholder, at its address appearing on the Warrant Register, within ten (10) Business Days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such amendment.

(e) Affiliate Change of Control Event:

(i) On or before the 20th day after the effective date of an Affiliate Change of Control Event, the Company shall:

(A) cause a notice of the Affiliate Change of Control Event to be sent at least once to the Dow Jones News Service or similar business news service in the United States; and

(B) cause the Warrant Agent to send by first-class mail, postage prepaid to each Warrantholder, at the address appearing in the warrant register, a notice of the Affiliate Change of Control Event (a “Affiliate Change of Control Put Notice” ) stating:

1) that each Warrantholder may require the Company to purchase all, or a portion of, any Warrants (the “Affiliate Change of Control Put Warrants” ) that have not been exercised prior to the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date at a price equal to the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Amount (the “Affiliate Change of Control Put” ) as of the date specified by the Company that is not less than 20 Business Days nor more than 35 Business Days after the date of the Affiliate Change of Control Put Notice (the “Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date” );

 

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2) that the Affiliate Change of Control Put is being offered pursuant to this Section 4.09(e) and that the Warrantholders may not require the Company to purchase Warrants prior to the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date;

3) that any Warrant not tendered will remain outstanding;

4) that Warrantholders accepting the offer to have their Warrants purchased pursuant to the Affiliate Change of Control Put Right will be required to surrender their Warrant Certificates representing such Warrants to the Warrant Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the Close of Business on the fifth Business Day preceding the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date;

5) a reasonably detailed explanation of the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Amount;

6) that Holders whose Warrants are being purchased only in part will be issued New Warrants representing the unpurchased portion of the Warrants surrendered; provided that each such New Warrant issued shall be in denominations of one Warrant and integral multiples thereof;

7) any other reasonable procedures that a Warrantholder must follow (to the extent consistent with the terms and conditions set forth herein) in connection with such Affiliate Change of Control Put; and

8) the name and address of the Warrant Agent.

(ii) Three (3) Business Days prior to the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date, the Warrant Agent shall notify the Company in writing the number of Warrants for which an Affiliate Change of Control Put Right has been validly exercised.

(iii) On the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date, the Company or the surviving Person (if other than the Company) shall (A) deliver to the Warrant Agent the calculation of the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Amount and (B) deposit with the Warrant Agent money sufficient to pay the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Amount for all Affiliate Change of Control Put Warrants for which the Affiliate Change of Control Put has been validly tendered.

(iv) On the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date, (A) the Company or the surviving Person (if other than the Company) shall purchase all Affiliate Change of Control Put Warrants for which the Affiliate Change of Control Put has been validly tendered, (B) the Warrant Agent shall mail to each holder of Affiliate Change of Control Put Warrants so purchased a payment in Cash in an amount equal to the aggregate Affiliate Change of Control Payment Amount in respect of such Affiliate Change of Control Put Warrants, and (C) the Company or the surviving Person (if other than the Company) shall execute and issue to the Warrantholders, and the Warrant Agent shall authenticate, new Warrants in an amount of Warrants equal to the balance of a holder’s Warrants to the extent that a holder exercises its right to an Affiliate Change of Control Put with respect to less than all of its Warrants (collectively, the “New Warrants” );

 

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provided that each such New Warrant shall be issued in denominations of one Warrant and integral multiples thereof and the terms thereof shall, subject to Section 4.09(e)(vi), be substantially consistent with the terms of this Warrant Agreement and the Warrants (and all references herein to Warrants shall thereafter be deemed to be references to such New Warrants).

(v) Following the Affiliate Change of Control Payment Date, any holder of New Warrants shall have the right to exercise such New Warrant and to receive, upon such exercise, the Reference Property in accordance with Section 4.09(a), subject to Section 4.09(b) and Section 4.09(c) and the remaining terms of this Warrant Agreement and the Warrants (as the same may have been amended in connection with such Affiliate Change of Control Event pursuant to Section 4.09).

(vi) The provisions of this Section 4.09(e) are subject, in all cases, to any applicable requirements under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Where there is any inconsistency between the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the requirements of this Section 4.09(e), the requirements of the Company under this Section 4.09(e) shall be modified but only to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, shall supersede.

Section 4.10 Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets. (a) The Company may, without the consent of the Warrantholders, consolidate with, merge into or sell, lease or otherwise transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust organized under the laws of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or the laws of the Netherlands so long as the Company is the surviving corporation or in the event that the Company is not the surviving corporation:

(i) the successor to the Company assumes all of the Company’s obligations under this Warrant Agreement and the Warrants; and

(ii) the successor to the Company provides written notice of such assumption to the Warrant Agent.

(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or other transfer and upon any such assumption by the successor corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue any or all of the Warrants issuable pursuant to this Warrant Agreement which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company; and, upon the order of such successor entity, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Warrant Agreement prescribed, the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver, as applicable, any Warrants that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Warrant Agent for authentication, and any Warrants which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Warrant Agent for such purpose.

 

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Section 4.11 Common Stock Outstanding . For the purposes of this Article 4, the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

Section 4.12 Calculations Final . The Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under this Warrant Agreement. These calculations include, but are not limited to, the Exercise Date, the Current Market Price, the Closing Sale Price, the Net Share Settlement Price, the Exercise Price, the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Units of Reference Property, if any, to be issued upon exercise of any Warrants. The Company shall make the foregoing calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations shall be final and binding on Warrantholders. The Company shall provide a schedule of the Company’s calculations to the Warrant Agent, and the Warrant Agent is entitled to rely upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification.

Section 4.13 Notice of Adjustments . Whenever the Exercise Price or the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate is adjusted, the Company shall promptly mail the Warrantholders a notice of the adjustment. The Company shall file with the Warrant Agent such notice and an Officer’s Certificate briefly stating the facts requiring the adjustment and the manner of computing it. The certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the adjustment is correct, and the Warrant Agent shall not be deemed to have any knowledge of any adjustments unless and until it has received such certificate. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any duty or responsibility with respect to any such certificate except to exhibit the same to any Warrantholder desiring inspection thereof.

Section 4.14 Warrant Agent Not Responsible for Adjustments or Validity . The Warrant Agent shall at no time be under any duty or responsibility to any Warrantholder to determine whether any facts exist that may require an adjustment of the Exercise Price and the Number of Warrants for each Warrant Certificate, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, herein or in any supplemental agreement provided to be employed, in making the same. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty to verify or confirm any calculation called for hereunder. The Warrant Agent shall have no liability for any failure or delay in performing its duties hereunder caused by any failure or delay of the Company in providing such calculations to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Class A Common Stock or of any securities or property which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the exercise of any Warrant or upon any adjustment pursuant to this Article 4, and it makes no representation with respect thereto. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any failure of the Company to make any Cash payment or to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or scrip upon the surrender of any Warrant for the purpose of exercise or upon any adjustment pursuant to this Article 4, or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article 4.

Section 4.15 Statements on Warrants . The form of Warrant Certificate need not be changed because of any adjustment made pursuant to this Article 4, and Warrant Certificates issued after such adjustment may state the same information (other than the adjusted Exercise Price and the adjusted Number of Warrants for such Warrant Certificates) as are stated in the Warrant Certificates initially issued pursuant to this Warrant Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE 5

O THER P ROVISIONS R ELATING TO R IGHTS OF W ARRANTHOLDERS

Section 5.01 No Rights as Stockholders . Nothing contained in this Warrant Agreement or in any of the Warrant Certificates shall be construed as conferring upon the holders of any Warrant Certificate or any Warrants, by virtue of holding Warrants, the right to attend any of the Company’s general meeting of shareholders, to vote, to consent, to receive any cash dividends, stock dividends, allotments or rights or other distributions paid, allotted or distributed or distributable to the holders of Class A Common Stock, to receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of the Company’s directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as the Company’s stockholders unless, until and only to the extent such holders become holders of record of shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon settlement of the Warrants.

Section 5.02 Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificates . If any Warrant at any time is mutilated, defaced, lost, destroyed or stolen, then on the terms set forth in this Warrant Agreement, such Warrant may be replaced with a new Warrant, of like date and tenor and representing an equivalent number of Warrants, at the cost of the applicant (including legal fees of the Company) at the office of the Warrant Agent. The applicant for a new Warrant shall, in the case of any mutilated or defaced Warrant, surrender such Warrant to the Warrant Agent and, in the case of any lost, destroyed or stolen Warrant, furnish evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent of such loss, destruction or theft, and, in each case, furnish evidence satisfactory to the Company of the ownership and authenticity of the Warrant together with such indemnity and security, which shall include an open penalty surety bond satisfactory to the Warrant Agent and holding the Warrant Agent and the Company harmless, as required by the Warrant Agent. Any such new Warrant Certificate shall constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone. An applicant for such a substitute Warrant Certificate shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and pay such other reasonable charges as the Company or the Warrant Agent may prescribe. All Warrant Certificates shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the substitution for lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed Warrant Certificates, and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the substitution for and replacement of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 5.03 Modification, Waiver and Meetings . (a) This Warrant Agreement may be modified or amended by the Company and the Warrant Agent, without the consent of the holder of any Warrant, for the purposes of curing any ambiguity or correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained in this Warrant Agreement or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising in this Warrant Agreement which the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem necessary or desirable; provided that such modification or amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the Warrantholders in any respect.

 

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(b) Modifications and amendments to this Warrant Agreement or to the terms and conditions of Warrants may also be made by the Company and the Warrant Agent, and noncompliance with any provision of the Warrant Agreement or Warrants may be waived, with the written consent of the Warrantholders of Warrants representing a majority of the aggregate Number of Warrants at the time outstanding.

(c) However, no such modification, amendment or waiver may, without the written consent or the affirmative vote of each Warrantholder affected:

(i) change the Expiration Date;

(ii) increase the Exercise Price or decrease the Number of Warrants (except as set forth in Article 4);

(iii) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment or delivery with respect to the exercise and settlement of any Warrant;

(iv) reduce the percentage of Warrants outstanding necessary to modify or amend this Warrant Agreement or to waive any past default; or

(v) reduce the percentage in Warrants outstanding required for any other waiver under this Warrant Agreement.

ARTICLE 6

C ONCERNING THE W ARRANT A GENT AND O THER M ATTERS

Section 6.01 Payment of Certain Taxes . (a) The Company shall pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be payable upon the initial issuance of the Warrants hereunder.

(b) The Company shall pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be payable upon the issuance of Class A Common Stock (or any other stock certificate) upon the exercise of Warrants hereunder and the issuance of stock certificates in respect thereof in the respective names of, or in such names as may be directed by, the exercising Warrantholders; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such stock certificate, any Warrant Certificates or other securities in a name other than that of the registered holder of the Warrant Certificate surrendered upon exercise of the Warrant, and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver such certificates or other securities unless and until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

 

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Section 6.02 Change of Warrant Agent . (a) The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder (except for liability arising as a result of the Warrant Agent’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith) after giving 60 days’ notice in writing to the Company, except that such shorter notice may be given as the Company shall, in writing, accept as sufficient. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor warrant agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 60 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated warrant agent or by any holder of Warrants (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrants may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor warrant agent.

(b) The Warrant Agent may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder (except for liability arising as a result of the Warrant Agent’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith) upon receipt of any notice from the Company pursuant to Section 6.03(c) or Section 6.03(d) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 6.02(a), except that the notice required to effect such resignation shall be reduced from 60 days to 5 days.

(c) The Warrant Agent may be removed by the Company at any time upon 30 days’ written notice to the Warrant Agent; provided, however , that the Company shall not remove the Warrant Agent until a successor warrant agent meeting the qualifications hereof shall have been appointed.

(d) Any successor warrant agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation or banking association organized, in good standing and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority and having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000. The combined capital and surplus of any such successor warrant agent shall be deemed to be the combined capital and surplus as set forth in the most recent report of its condition published prior to its appointment; provided that such reports are published at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of a Federal or state supervising or examining authority. After acceptance in writing of such appointment by the successor warrant agent, such successor warrant agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations of its predecessor warrant agent with like effect as if originally named as warrant agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor warrant agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor warrant agent all the authority, powers and rights of such predecessor warrant agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor warrant agent, the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments in writing to more fully and effectually vest in and conform to such successor warrant agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations. Upon assumption by a successor warrant agent of the duties and responsibilities hereunder, the predecessor warrant agent shall deliver and transfer, at the expense of the Company, to the successor warrant agent any property at the time held by it hereunder. As soon

 

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as practicable after such appointment, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor warrant agent, the Warrantholders and each transfer agent for the shares of its Class A Common Stock. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of the appointment of the successor warrant agent.

(e) Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party, or any person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust or agency business of the Warrant Agent, shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Warrant Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such entity would be eligible for appointment as a successor warrant agent under Section 6.02(c). In case at the time such successor to the Warrant Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Warrant Agreement, any of the Warrant Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor to the Warrant Agent may adopt the countersignature of the original Warrant Agent and deliver such Warrant Certificates so countersigned, and in case at that time any of the Warrant Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor to the Warrant Agent may countersign such Warrant Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Warrant Agent or in the name of the successor Warrant Agent; and in all such cases Warrant Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Warrant Certificates and in this Warrant Agreement.

(f) In case at any time the name of the Warrant Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Warrant Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Warrant Agent may adopt the countersignatures under its prior name and deliver such Warrant Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Warrant Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Warrant Agent may countersign such Warrant Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Warrant Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Warrant Certificates and in this Warrant Agreement.

Section 6.03 Compensation; Further Assurances . The Company agrees that it will

(a) pay the Warrant Agent reasonable compensation for its services as Warrant Agent hereunder pursuant to the attached fee schedule and, except as otherwise expressly provided, will pay or reimburse the Warrant Agent upon written demand for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Warrant Agent in accordance with any of the provisions of this Warrant Agreement (including the reasonable compensation, expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its or any of its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and

(b) perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Warrant Agreement.

(c) notify the Warrant Agent immediately in writing in the event it lists the Warrants or the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof on any exchange other than the

 

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New York Stock Exchange. The parties hereto agree that the Warrant Agent, at its sole discretion, shall have the right to resign as Warrant Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(b) upon its receipt of such notice.

(d) determine if the Warrant Agent requires any regulatory licenses in any foreign jurisdictions in which the services to be provided hereunder may be performed and the Company shall provide the Warrant Agent with written notice of any such required licenses promptly upon such determination. The parties hereto agree that the Warrant Agent, at its sole discretion, shall have the right to resign as Warrant Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(b) upon its receipt of such notice. The parties hereto further agree that the Warrant Agent, at its sole discretion, may obtain such licenses or may consent to the Company obtaining such license on the Warrant Agent’s behalf, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company agrees to pay for all reasonable costs associated with such additional licensing.

Section 6.04 Reliance on Counsel . The Warrant Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the written opinion of such counsel or any advice of legal counsel subsequently confirmed by a written opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Warrant Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such written opinion or advice.

Section 6.05 Proof of Actions Taken . Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Warrant Agreement the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Warrant Agent, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Warrant Agent; and such Officer’s Certificate shall, in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Warrant Agent, be full warrant to the Warrant Agent for any action taken, suffered or omitted in good faith by it under the provisions of this Warrant Agreement in reliance upon such certificate; but in its discretion the Warrant Agent may in lieu thereof accept other evidence of such fact or matter or may require such further or additional evidence as to it may seem reasonable.

Section 6.06 Correctness of Statements . The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Warrant Agreement or in the Warrant Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, and all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

Section 6.07 Validity of Agreement . The Warrant Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Warrant Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof or in respect of the validity or execution of any Warrant Certificates (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Warrant Agreement or in any Warrant Certificate; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Warrant Agreement or any Warrants or as to whether any shares of Class A Common Stock will, when issued, be validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

 

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Section 6.08 Use of Agents . The Warrant Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents.

Section 6.09 Liability of Warrant Agent . (a) The Warrant Agent shall incur no liability or responsibility to the Company or to any holder of Warrants for any action taken in reliance on any notice, resolution, waiver, consent, order, certificate, or other paper, document or instrument believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all losses, expenses and liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted in good faith by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Warrant Agreement or otherwise arising in connection with this Warrant Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Warrant Agent’s aggregate liability during any term of this Agreement with respect to, arising from, or arising in connection with this Agreement, or from all services provided or omitted to be provided under this Agreement, whether in contract, or in tort, or otherwise, is limited to, and shall not exceed, the amounts paid hereunder by the Company to Warrant Agent as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses.

(b) From time to time, the Warrant Agent may apply to any officer of the Company for instruction and Company shall provide Warrant Agent with such instructions concerning the services to be provided hereunder. In addition, the Warrant Agent may consult with legal counsel for the Warrant Agent or the Company with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement, and the Warrant Agent and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Company for any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon any Company instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel. The Warrant Agent shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from the Company.

Section 6.10 Legal Proceedings . The Warrant Agent shall be under no obligation to institute any action, suit or legal proceeding or to take any other action likely to involve expense unless the Company or one or more Warrantholders shall furnish the Warrant Agent with reasonable security and indemnity for any costs and expenses which may be incurred, but this provision shall not affect the power of the Warrant Agent to take such action as the Warrant Agent may consider proper, whether with or without any such security or indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any claim made or action, suit or proceeding instituted against it arising out of or in connection with this Warrant Agreement.

Section 6.11 Other Transactions in Securities of the Company . The Warrant Agent in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner of Warrants or other securities of the Company, or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Warrant Agent under this Warrant Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

 

36


Section 6.12 Actions as Agent . The Warrant Agent shall act hereunder solely as agent and not in a ministerial or fiduciary capacity, and its duties shall be determined solely by the provisions hereof. The duties and obligations of the Warrant Agent shall be determined solely by the express provisions of the Warrant Agreement, and the Warrant Agent shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in the Warrant Agreement. No implied covenants or obligations shall be read into the Warrant Agreement against the Warrant Agent. No provision of the Warrant Agreement shall require the Warrant Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for anything that it may do or refrain from doing in good faith in connection with this Warrant Agreement except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith.

Section 6.13 Appointment and Acceptance of Agency . The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the instructions set forth in this Warrant Agreement, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Warrant Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

Section 6.14 Successors and Assigns . All the covenants and provisions of this Warrant Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

Section 6.15 Notices . Any notice or demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by any Warrantholder to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by mail first-class, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

Weena 737

3013AM Rotterdam

The Netherlands

Attention:        Frits Bos

Facsimile:         011-31-10-713-62-59

with copies to:

LyondellBasell Industries

1221 McKinney Street

Houston, TX 77010

Attention:        Craig B. Glidden

Facsimile:        (713) 309-7312

 

37


Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

Attention:        George A. Davis

Andrew Troop

Facsimile:        (212) 504-6666

Any notice or demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made by any Warrantholder or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by mail first-class, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

Computershare Inc.

Address 250 Royall Street Canton , MA 02021 USA

Attention:U.S. General Counsel

Re: LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Warrant Agreement

Fax: 781.575.4210

Any notice of demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made to any Warrantholder shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid to the last address of such Warrantholder as it shall appear on the Warrant Register.

Section 6.16 Applicable Law; Jurisdiction . The validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant Agreement and of the Warrant Certificates shall be governed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof. The parties hereto irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and any federal court located in such state in connection with any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant Agreement.

Section 6.17 Benefit of this Warrant Agreement . Nothing in this Warrant Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any Person or corporation other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Warrant Agreement contained shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors.

Section 6.18 Registered Warrantholders . Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Warrants are registered in the Warrant Register as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes whatever (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent) and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary or be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in any Warrants on the part of any other Person and shall not be liable for any registration of transfer of Warrants that are registered or to be registered in the name of a fiduciary or the nominee of a fiduciary unless made with actual knowledge that a fiduciary or nominee is committing a breach of trust in requesting such registration of transfer or with such knowledge of such facts that its participation therein amounts to bad faith.

 

38


Section 6.19 Inspection of this Warrant Agreement . The Warrant Agent (or successor warrant agent)shall make a copy of this Warrant Agreement available at all reasonable times for inspection by any registered Warrantholder upon reasonable request. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit his Warrant Certificate for inspection by it before allowing such holder to inspect a copy of this Warrant Agreement.

Section 6.20 Termination . (a) This Warrant Agreement shall terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date (or, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date with respect to any Warrant Exercise Notice delivered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Warrant Agreement will terminate on such earlier date on which all outstanding Warrants have been exercised or put pursuant to Section 4.09 of this Agreement. Termination of this Warrant Agreement shall not relieve the Company or the Warrant Agent of any of their obligations arising prior to the date of such termination or in connection with the settlement of any Warrant exercised prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

Section 6.21 Headings . The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not a part of this Warrant Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

Section 6.22 Counterparts . This Warrant Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts on separate counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 6.23 Entire Agreement . This Warrant Agreement and the Warrant Certificates constitute the entire agreement of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the registered holders of the Warrant Certificates with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the Company, the Warrant Agent and the registered holders of the Warrant Certificates with respect to the subject matter hereof.

Section 6.24 Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Warrant Agreement.

Section 6.25 Damages. Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for any consequential, indirect, special or incidental damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any consequential, indirect, penal, special or incidental damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder even if that party has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages.

 

39


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Warrant Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
By:  

/s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Attorney-in-Fact

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Attorney-in-Fact

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]


COMPUTERSHARE INC.
By:  

/s/ Martin J. McHale, Jr

  Name:   Martin J. McHale, Jr.
  Title:   President, Equity Services

 

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]


COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Martin J. McHale, Jr

  Name:   Martin J. McHale, Jr.
  Title:   President, Equity Services

 

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]


Schedule I

Initial Warrantholders

 

   

Name

   Number of Warrants
1.  

ANCHORAGE CAPITAL MASTER OFFSHORE

610 Broadway, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10012

   30,776
2.  

BELLIPOTENT HOLDINGS LLC

Siguler Gulf & Co.

825 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

   76,709
3.  

CERBERUS LB HOLDING LLC

299 Park Avenue, 22nd Fl

New York, NY 10171

   387,874
4.  

CERBERUS SERIES FOUR HOLDINGS LLC

299 Park Avenue, 22nd Fl

New York, NY 10171

   130,195
5.  

CITIBANK NA

388 Greenwich St.

New York, NY 10013

   2,083,476
6.  

CRESCENT 1 LP

399 Park Avenue, 39th Fl

New York, NY 10022

   4,924
7.  

CRS FUND LTD

399 Park Avenue, 39th Fl

New York, NY 10022

   4,309
8.  

CYRUS OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND II LTD

399 Park Avenue, 39th Fl

New York, NY 10022

   9,233
9.  

CYRUS SELECT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND LTD

399 Park Avenue, 39th Fl

New York, NY 10022

   2,052


   

Name

   Number of Warrants
10.  

DIAMONDBACK FIXED INCOME MASTER FUND LTD

One Landmark Square

Stamford, CT 06901

   8,445
11.  

DRAWBRIDGE DG II LLC

540 West Madison, 18th Fl

Chicago, IL 60661

   51,540
12.  

DRAWBRIDGE DG LLC

540 West Madison, 18th Fl

Chicago, IL 60661

   328,282
13.  

FAYETT GROUP LLC

777 Westchester Avenue, Suite 203

White Plains, NY 10604

   42,225
14.  

FCCD LIMITED

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Fl

New York, NY 10105

   90,081
15.  

FCCO LIMITED

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Fl

New York, NY 10105

   22,520
16.  

GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC

200 West St.

New York, NY 10282

   2,301,641
17.  

MANOLIN HOLDINGS LLC

Siguler Gulf & Co.

825 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

   76,709
18.  

MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION

335 Madison Avenue, 5th Fl

New York, NY 10017

   2,301,641
19.  

MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING MARKETS INC

1 Pierrepont Plaza, 7th Fl

Brooklyn, NY 12201

   614,958
20.  

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING INC

1 Pierrepont Plaza, 7th Fl

Brooklyn, NY 12201

   32,373


   

Name

   Number of Warrants
21.  

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC

600 Steamboat Road

Greenwich, CT 06830

   14,075
22.  

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND NV

(f/k/a ABN AMRO BANK NV)

55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

   2,301,641
23.  

SABRETOOTH MASTER FUND LP

405 Lexington Avenue, 50th Fl

New York, NY 10174

   4,104
24.  

SILVER POINT LUXEMBOURG PLATFORM S.À R.L.

2 Greenwich Plaza, 1st Fl

Greenwich, CT 06830

   92,329
25.  

STARK CRITERION MASTER FUND LTD

3600 South Lake Drive

Saint Francis, WI 53235-3716

   3,078.00
26.  

STARK MASTER FUND LTD

3600 South Lake Drive

Saint Francis, WI 53235-3716

   27,699
27.  

TACONIC CAPITAL PARTNERS 1.5 L.P.

450 Park Avenue, 8th Fl

New York, NY 10022

   32,315
28.  

TACONIC OPPORTUNITY FUND LP

450 Park Avenue, 8th Fl

New York, NY 10022

   183,120
29.  

UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC

677 Washington Blvd.

Stamford CT 06901

   249,880
  TOTALS    11,508,204


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF GLOBAL WARRANT LEGEND

UNLESS THIS GLOBAL WARRANT IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“ DTC ”), TO LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V. (THE “ ISSUER ”), THE CUSTODIAN OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFER OF THIS GLOBAL WARRANT SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, AND NOT IN PART, TO THE COMPANY, DTC, THEIR SUCCESSORS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE NOMINEES.

 

A-I


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE

[FACE]

 

No. [              ]   CUSIP No. [              ]

[UNLESS THIS GLOBAL WARRANT IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“ DTC ”), TO LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V. (THE “ ISSUER ”), THE CUSTODIAN OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFER OF THIS GLOBAL WARRANT SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, AND NOT IN PART, TO THE COMPANY, DTC, THEIR SUCCESSORS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE NOMINEES.]

 

B-1


LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

[Designation of Warrants]

NUMBER OF WARRANTS: Initially, 11,508,204 Warrants, subject to adjustment as described in the Warrant Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 between LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation and individually “CI” and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. national bank individually “CTNA” and both collectively the “Warrant Agent” (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), each of which is exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock.

EXERCISE PRICE: Initially, $15.90 per Warrant, subject to adjustment as described in the Warrant Agreement.

FORM OF PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE: Cash, if Full Physical Settlement is applicable, or Net Share Settlement.

FORM OF SETTLEMENT: Upon exercise of any Warrants represented hereby, the Warrantholder shall be entitled to receive, at the Warrantholder’s election, either (a) upon payment to the Warrant Agent of the Exercise Price (determined as of the relevant Exercise Date), one share of Class A Common Stock per Warrant exercised, together with Cash in lieu of any fractional shares or fractional Warrants, or (b) without any payment therefor, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the Net Share Amount, together with Cash in lieu of any fractional shares or fractional Warrants, in each case, as described in the Warrant Agreement.

DATES OF EXERCISE: At any time, and from time to time, prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, the Warrantholder shall be entitled to exercise all Warrants then represented hereby and outstanding (which may include fractional Warrants) or any portion thereof (which shall not include any fractional Warrants).

PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE: Warrants may be exercised by (a) in the case of a Certificated Warrant, surrendering the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant at the principal office of the Warrant Agent (or successor warrant agent), with the Exercise Notice set forth on the reverse of the Warrant Certificate duly completed and executed, together with any applicable transfer taxes, or (b) in the case of a Global Warrant, complying with the procedures established by the Depositary for the exercise of Warrants.

EXPIRATION DATE: April 30, 2017.

This Warrant Certificate certifies that                      , or its registered assigns, is the Warrantholder of the Number of Warrants (the “ Warrants ”) specified above [, as modified in Schedule A hereto,] (such number subject to adjustment from time to time as described in the Warrant Agreement).

In connection with the exercise of any Warrants, (a) the Company shall determine the Full Physical Share Amount or Net Share Amount, as applicable, for each Warrant, and (b) the

 

B-2


Company shall, or shall cause the Warrant Agent to, deliver to the exercising Warrantholder, on the applicable Settlement Date, for each Warrant exercised, a number of Shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the relevant Full Physical Share Amount or Net Share Amount, as applicable, together with Cash in lieu of any fractional shares or fractional Warrants as described in the Warrant Agreement.

Prior to the relevant Exercise Date as described more fully in the Warrant Agreement, Warrants will not entitle the Warrantholder to any of the rights of the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof, and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth in this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent.

In the event of any inconsistency between the Warrant Agreement and this Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agreement shall govern.

 

B-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated: [                      ]

 

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Attest

 

By:

 

 

  Assistant Secretary

 

B-4


Certificate of Authentication

These are the Warrants referred to in the above-mentioned Warrant Agreement.

Countersigned as of the date above written:

                     , as Warrant Agent

 

By:

 

 

  Authorized Officer

 

B-5


[FORM OF REVERSE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants issued by the Company pursuant to a Warrant Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2010 (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), between the Company and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation and individually “CI” and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. national bank individually “CTNA” and both collectively the “Warrant Agent” (the “ Warrant Agent ”), and are subject to the terms and provisions contained in the Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms and provisions each Warrantholder consents by acceptance of this Warrant Certificate or a beneficial interest therein. Without limiting the foregoing, all capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Warrant Agreement. A copy of the Warrant Agreement is on file at the Warrant Agent’s Office.

The Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Warrants are subject to amendment as provided in the Warrant Agreement.

This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

B-6


[To be attached if Warrant is a Certificated Warrant]

Exercise Notice

[Warrant Agent]

Address Attention:

Transfer Department

 

Re: LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Warrant Agreement

The undersigned (the “ Registered Warrantholder ”) hereby irrevocably exercises [                    ] Warrants (the “ Exercised Warrants ”) and delivers to you herewith a Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates, registered in the Registered Warrantholder’s name, representing a Number of Warrants at least equal to the number of Exercised Warrants.

The Registered Warrantholder hereby either:

 

  ¨ elects for Full Physical Settlement to apply to the Exercised Warrants pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Warrant Agreement and confirms that it will, prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date, pay an amount equal to the Exercise Price (determined as of the relevant Exercise Date), multiplied by the number of Exercised Warrants, by federal wire or other immediately available funds payable to the order of the Company to the account maintained by the Warrant Agent and notified to the Registered Warrantholder as required under Section 3.03(b) of the Warrant Agreement; or

 

  ¨ elects for Net Share Settlement to apply to the Exercised Warrants pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Warrant Agreement.

The Registered Warrantholder hereby directs the Warrant Agent to:

(a) deliver the Full Physical Share Amount or Net Share Amount, as applicable, for each of the Exercised Warrants as follows:

[                                                                                    ]; and

(b) if the number of Exercised Warrants is less than the Number of Warrants represented by the enclosed Warrant Certificates, to deliver a Warrant Certificate representing the unexercised Warrants to:

[                                                                                    ]

 

Dated:  

 

   

 

      (Registered Warrantholder)

 

B-7


By:  

 

  Authorized Signature
  Address:
  Telephone:

 

B-8


SCHEDULE A

[To Be Attached if Warrant is a Global Warrant]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN WARRANTS

The initial Number of Warrants represented by this Global Warrant is [                      ]. In accordance with the Warrant Agreement dated as of [                      ], 2010 among the Company and [                      ], as Warrant Agent, the following increases or decreases in the Number of Warrants represented by this certificate have been made:

 

Date

  

Amount of increase

in Number of

Warrants

evidenced by this

Global Warrant

  

Amount of

decrease in

Number of

Warrants

evidenced by this

Global Warrant

  

Number of

Warrants

evidenced by this

Global Warrant

following such

decrease or

increase

  

Signature of

authorized

signatory

           
           
           

 

B-9


[To Be Attached if Warrant is a Global Warrant or Certificated Warrant]

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the Warrant(s) represented by this Certificate to:

 

   
Name, Address and Zip Code of Assignee

 

and irrevocably appoints  

 

  Name of Agent

as its agent to transfer this Warrant Certificate on the books of the Warrant Agent.

[Signature page follows]

 

B-10


Date: [                      ]

 

 

Name of Transferee

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Certificate)

NOTICE: The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.

 

B-11


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CLASS A COMMON SHARES REQUISITION ORDER

[Date]

Via Facsimile [                      ]

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

[                                           ]

[                                           ]

 

Re: DWAC Issuance

Control No. [                      ]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You are hereby authorized to issue and deliver the shares of Class A Common Stock as indicated below via DWAC. The shares are being issued to cover the exercise of Warrants under the Warrant Agreement, dated as of [                      ], 2010, between LyondellBasell Industries N.V. and [                      ], as Warrant Agent (the “ Warrant Agreement ”). Defined terms used but not defined herein have the meaning assigned to them in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Number of Shares:  

 

  
 

 

   Original Issue or   
 

 

   Transfer from Treasury Account   
Broker Name:  

 

  
Broker’s DTC Number:  

 

  
Contact and Phone:  

 

  

 

C-1


The Broker will initiate the DWAC transaction on (date).

 

 

Sincerely,
[                                                                                        ],
as Warrant Agent
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

cc: [ Insert name ] via facsimile [insert fax number]

Broker

 

C-2


EXHIBIT D

[CONFIRMATION ORDER]

 

D-1

EXHIBIT 10.11

LyondellBasell Industries Short-Term Incentive Plan

(Effective as of January 1, 2010)

 

1. Objectives and Establishment of Plan

Effective as of January 1, 2010, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “Company”) hereby establishes the LyondellBasell Industries Short-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) for the purposes of

 

   

attracting, motivating, and retaining highly talented and competent individuals by providing competitive compensation opportunities similar to those of comparable companies;

 

   

aligning the interests of employees with the creation of value for the Company’s shareholders; and

 

   

tying annual incentives to the achievement of performance objectives by the employee, his or her award unit and the Company as a whole.

With respect to Participants who are United States taxpayers, the Company intends for the Plan to comply with applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”). As a “bonus program” within the meaning of Section 2510.3-2(c) of the Department of Labor Regulations, the Plan is not subject to the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).

The Plan applies globally and may be adapted in certain jurisdictions to work in conjunction with locally negotiated bonus plans and to comply with certain tax-advantaged bonus schemes and individual employment contracts.

 

2. Interpretation and Definitions

 

  (a) General .

 

  (1) Interpretation . Unless a clear contrary intention appears, for purposes of construction of this Plan and all related Plan Documents:

 

  (i) the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;

 

  (ii) reference to any person includes such person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by the Plan Documents, and reference to a person in a particular capacity excludes such person in any other capacity;

 

  (iii) reference to any gender includes the other gender;


  (iv) reference to any Plan Document or any other agreement, document or instrument means the applicable Plan Document or such other agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof; and

 

  (v) reference to any law means such law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or other provision of any law means that provision of such law from time to time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision.

 

  (2) Accounting Terms . In each Plan Document, unless expressly otherwise provided, accounting terms shall be construed and interpreted, and accounting determinations and computations shall be made, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

  (3) Conflict in Plan Documents . If there is any conflict between any two or more Plan Documents, such Plan Documents shall be interpreted and construed, if possible, so as to avoid or minimize such conflict but, to the extent (and only to the extent) of such conflict, the Plan Document dealing most specifically with the matter as to which there is a conflict shall prevail and control. If it cannot be determined which Plan Document deals most specifically with a matter as to which there is a conflict then the Plan shall prevail and control.

 

  (4) Conflict with Local Laws . To the extent not otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of the Code or securities laws of the United States, if there is a conflict between the Plan Documents and the local laws of a country applicable to a Participant, the local laws of such country shall prevail and control.

 

  (5) Conflict with Employment Agreements or Collective Bargaining Agreements . To the extent that participation in this Plan is intended to satisfy the Company’s obligations under any employment agreement between the Company and the Participant or a collective bargaining agreement or works council agreement covering the Participant, this Plan shall be interpreted and construed to the fullest extent possible consistent with such employment agreement or collective bargaining agreement or works council agreement, and in the event of a conflict between the terms of such employment agreement or collective bargaining agreement or works council agreement and the terms of this Plan, the terms of the employment agreement or the collective bargaining agreement or works council agreement shall prevail and control.

 

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  (b) Definitions .

 

  (1) “Affiliate” means any person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company.

 

  (2) “Board” means the Supervisory Board of the Company.

 

  (3) “Cause” means the Company or an Affiliate having “cause” to terminate a Participant’s employment or service, as defined in any employment or consulting agreement between the Participant and the Company or Affiliate in effect at the time of such termination or (ii) in the absence of any such agreement or definition therein, (A) the Participant’s conviction for, plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or its equivalent in accordance with local laws, (B) the Participant’s commission of a material act or omission involving dishonesty or fraud in the course of a Participant’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate, (C) the Participant’s conduct that brings or is reasonably likely to bring the Company or an Affiliate into public disgrace or disrepute and that affects the Company’s or an Affiliate’s business in any material way, (D) the Participant’s continuing and willful failure to perform duties as reasonably directed by the Company or Affiliate (which if curable, is not cured within 10 days after written notice thereof is provided to the Participant), (E) the Participant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or its Affiliates (which, if curable, is not cured within 10 days after written notice thereof is provided to the Participant) or (F) the Participant’s failure to meet minimum work requirements or unsatisfactory work performance or conduct. Any determination of whether Cause exists shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

  (4) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or its delegate.

 

  (5) “Company” means LyondellBasell Industries N.V., and any successor entity.

 

  (6) “Date of Termination” means the date on which a Participant ceases to be an Employee.

 

  (7) “Disability” means a permanent and total disability as defined in the applicable long-term disability plan of the Participating Employer. “Disabled” has the correlative meaning.

 

  (8) “Employee” means an individual employed by a Participating Employer, including any such individual who is assigned to work for a joint venture with a Subsidiary or Affiliate.

 

  (9) “Participant” means an Employee who has been designated as a Participant pursuant to Section 4.

 

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  (10) “Participating Employer” means the Company, together with any Subsidiaries or Affiliates of the Company whose Employees are included in the Plan upon authorization of the Committee.

 

  (11) “Plan” means the LyondellBasell Industries Short-Term Incentive Plan, as set forth herein and as hereafter amended.

 

  (12) “Plan Document” means this Plan, any administrative procedures that may from time to time be adopted by the Committee (including Appendix A), and any other document defining the rights and liabilities of any Participant.

 

  (13) “Plan Year” means a period of twelve (12) months beginning on January 1 of any calendar year.

 

  (14) “Retirement” means a Participant’s voluntarily initiated Termination of Service on or after the earliest of (i) age 65, (ii) age 55 with 10 years of participation service credited under the qualified defined benefit pension plan maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate in which the Participant is eligible to participate, (iii) the time of retirement as defined in a written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Employer, or (iv) outside the United States, the time when retirement is permitted and the Participant is eligible to receive a company retirement benefit under applicable law with respect to the Participant’s primary place of employment (as determined by the Committee in its sole judgment).

 

  (15) “Salary” means a Participant’s pay used to calculate the STI Award as defined in the Administrative Procedures document attached as Appendix A.

 

  (16) “Short-Term Incentive Plan Award” or “STI Award” means an award of cash made pursuant to the Plan (or any prorated portion thereof) for a Plan Year, determined in accordance with the provisions of Appendix A.

 

  (17) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership in which the Company (or its direct or indirect Subsidiary) holds more than 50 percent of the equity interest.

 

  (18) “Target STI Award” means the projected amount based on a percentage of the Participant’s Salary that may be payable in satisfaction of the STI Award for a Plan Year if the Committee, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures document attached as Appendix A, determines and certifies the Company Performance Percentage, the Award Unit Performance Percentage and Individual Performance Modifier applicable to such Participant all at 100 percent.

 

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  (19) “Termination of Service” occurs when a Participant ceases to serve as an Employee for any reason.

 

3. Administration of the Plan

 

  (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

 

  (b) The Committee may establish, from time to time and at any time, subject to the limitations of the Plan as set forth herein, such rules and regulations and amendments and supplements thereto, as it deems necessary to comply with applicable law and for the proper administration of the Plan.

 

  (c) The Committee’s interpretation and construction of the provisions of the Plan and rules and regulations adopted by the Committee shall be final. No member of the Committee or the Board, or their delegates, shall be liable for any action taken, or determination made, in respect of the Plan in good faith. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan shall be interpreted, operated and administered with respect to United States taxpayers in a manner consistent with Section 409A.

 

  (d) The members of the Committee may retain counsel, employ agents, and provide for such clerical, accounting and consulting services as they may require in carrying out the provisions of the Plan; and may allocate among themselves or delegate to other persons all or such portion of their duties under the Plan as they, in their sole discretion, shall decide. Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in relying upon or acting in good faith upon any opinion, report, or information furnished in connection with the Plan by any accountant, counsel, or other specialist so retained (including financial officers of the Company, whether or not such persons are Participants in the Plan).

 

4. Eligibility and Participation

 

  (a) Except for individuals described in Section 4(b), all individuals who are Employees on January 1 of a Plan Year shall be Participants in the Plan.

 

  (b) Certain Employees who are represented by works councils or collective bargaining agreements or who provide services to a joint venture of the Company participate in other bonus programs maintained by their Participating Employer. An Employee who participates during all or a portion of the Plan Year in any other annual bonus program maintained by a Participating Employer shall not be a Participant in this Plan during such portion of the Plan Year in which the Employee participates in such other bonus program. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, Premio di Participazione (Italy) , Interessement (France), or Resultaten Bonus (Belgium), and any other local bonus scheme designated by the Committee, shall be integrated with and considered part of this Plan for purposes of applying this Section 4(b), provided that an individual’s combined target award from such a local bonus scheme and this Plan for a Plan Year shall not exceed the Participant’s Target STI Award under this Plan for such Plan Year.

 

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  (c) If, during a Plan Year, an individual is hired as an Employee or otherwise becomes eligible to participate in the Plan and is designated as a Participant by the Committee, the Employee will become a Participant in the Plan and will be eligible for an STI Award for said Plan Year. Such STI Award will be prorated for the period which begins on the date of employment or eligibility and ends as of the last day of the applicable Plan Year.

 

5. STI Awards

 

  (a) As soon as practicable following the beginning of each Plan Year, the Committee shall establish a Target STI Award for each Participant which will be measured as described in the Administrative Procedures document attached hereto as Appendix A.

 

  (b) Following the end of each Plan Year, the Committee shall calculate each Participant’s STI Award for that Plan Year in accordance with the Administrative Procedures document attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Any resultant STI Award may be further adjusted as a result of the application of the provisions in Section 5(c) or by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion whether in individual cases or in the aggregate.

 

  (c) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan Documents to the contrary, in the event that any Participant engages in any activity which the Committee, in its sole discretion, judges to be detrimental to any Participating Employer, the Committee may cancel or reduce the STI Award in whole or in part at any time prior to payment of the STI Award.

 

6. Payment of STI Awards

 

  (a)

STI Awards will be paid in a single lump-sum cash payment on March 15 th after the Plan Year ends, except that an STI Award to a non-United States Employee may be paid no later than April 30 after the Plan Year ends.

 

  (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if the Participant who is a United States taxpayer is treated as a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A as of the date of the Participant’s termination, then any amounts or benefits which are payable under this Plan upon the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A which are subject to the provisions of Section 409A and are not otherwise excluded under Section 409A and would otherwise be payable during the first six-month period following such separation from service shall be paid on the fifteenth business day next following the earlier of (1) the expiration of six months from the date of the Participant’s termination or (2) the Participant’s death.

 

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7. Vesting and Forfeiture

 

  (a) STI Awards under this Plan are not wages and are not earned or accrued over regular payroll intervals. A Participant will become vested in his STI Award for the 2010 Plan Year if the Participant is an Employee on December 31, 2010. For Plan Years beginning on and after January 1, 2011, a Participant will become vested in his STI Award for such Plan Year if the Participant is an Employee on the date the Committee certifies the Company Performance Percentage and Award Unit Performance Percentage for such Plan Year.

 

  (b) If a Participant becomes Disabled, the Participant shall be vested in his STI Award as of the date of Disability; provided, however, that the amount of the STI Award to which he is entitled shall be pro-rated in accordance with Section 7(d).

 

  (c) If a Participant has a Termination of Service due to Retirement, involuntary termination not for Cause, or death prior to the date of payment of the STI Award, the Participant shall be vested in his STI Award on his Date of Termination; provided, however, that the amount of the STI Award to which he is entitled shall be pro-rated in accordance with Section 7(d).

 

  (d) The amount of the STI Award payable to the Participant under Section 7(b) or 7(c) with respect to Plan Year shall be pro-rated by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days of the Participant’s employment in such Plan Year ending on the earlier of (1) the date of Disability or Date of Termination, as applicable, or (2) December 31 of such Plan Year and the denominator of which shall be the number of days in the Plan Year.

 

  (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Participant: (1) takes a leave of absence from the Company for personal reasons or as a result of entry into military service, or (2) terminates employment for reasons which, in the judgment of the Committee, are deemed to be special circumstances, the Committee may consider such circumstances and may take such action (to the extent consistent with Section 409A) as it may deem appropriate under the circumstances, including extending the rights of a Participant to continue participation in the Plan beyond his Date of Termination; provided, however, that in no event may participation be extended beyond the term of the Plan Year in question.

 

8. Amendment or Discontinuance

Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, the Company may (a) amend, suspend or discontinue the Plan, in whole or in part, and (b) amend or suspend Appendix A. Any such amendment may be made effective with respect to any Plan Year and with respect to any STI Awards which, as of the date of the amendment, are earned but have not become payable. The Company is not required to obtain the consent of any Participant in order for any such amendment, suspension or termination to be effective.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Plan nor Appendix A shall be amended or terminated in a manner that would cause the Plan or any amounts payable under the Plan

 

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to fail to comply with the requirements of Section 409A with respect to United States taxpayers, to the extent applicable, and, further, the provisions of any purported amendment or termination that may reasonably be expected to result in such non-compliance shall be of no force or effect with respect to the Plan.

 

9. Recapitalization Merger and Consolidation

The existence of this Plan and the STI Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or those entities holding membership interests in the Company to make or authorize any or all adjustments, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s capital structure and its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

10. General Provisions

 

  (a) STI Awards shall be nontransferable and nonassignable, except that any such STI Awards may be transferred by testamentary instrument or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

  (b) The establishment of the Plan shall not confer any legal rights upon any Employee or other person to continued employment, nor shall it interfere with the right of any Participating Employer (which right is hereby reserved) to discharge any Employee and to treat him without regard to the effect which that treatment might have upon him as a Participant or potential Participant.

 

  (c) Neither the adoption of this Plan nor any action of the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to give any person any right to receive an STI Award or any other rights except otherwise specifically provided herein.

 

  (d) The governing law applicable to this Plan shall be determined as follows:

 

  (1) For Participants who are United States taxpayers, this Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of the Code or the securities laws of the United States, shall be governed by, and construed and enforced according to, the laws of the State of Texas; provided, however, that notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Plan, for an Employee who is on international assignment in the United States, Section 10.(d)(2) will apply,

 

  (2) For Participants who are not United States taxpayers, this Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of the Code or securities laws of the United States, shall be governed by, and construed and enforced according to, the laws of the country in which the Participant is employed.

 

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  (e) The Company shall have the right to deduct from all amounts hereunder paid in cash, any federal, state, local, or other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments.

 

  (f) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, expressly to assume and agree to perform the Company’s obligations under this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform them if no such succession had taken place.

 

  (g) The Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company, any Participating Employer, the Committee, nor the Board shall be required to segregate any assets or secure any liability that may at any time exist under the Plan.

 

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APPENDIX A

Administrative Procedures

 

1. STI Award

On or before December 31, 2010 for the 2010 Plan Year and on or before March 30 of each succeeding Plan Year, the Committee shall establish and communicate to each Participant his or her Target STI Percentage for the Plan Year.

The STI Award payable to each Participant shall be determined under the following formula:

STI Award = Salary x Target STI Percentage x ((Company Performance Percentage x 50 percent) + (Award Unit Performance Percentage x 50 percent)) x Individual Performance Modifier.

 

2. Definitions

The following definitions apply for determining STI Awards:

 

  (a) “Award Unit” a discrete organizational unit to which a Participant is assigned for purposes of measuring performance of the operational or functional group to which the Participant contributes.

 

  (b) “Award Unit Performance Goals” means one or more objective performance goals for each Award Unit for the Plan Year. The Award Unit Performance Goals shall be comprised of one or more of the elements described under “Company Performance Goals,” as modified to address specific budgets and targets applicable to the Award Unit; as well as, with respect to staff functions such as the research and development and service award units, the additional criteria of internal customer satisfaction. The relative weighting of each focus area varies slightly according to the type of activity being carried out by the Award Unit. The Committee will establish Award Unit Performance Goals for the 2010 Plan Year before July 31, 2010 for the 2010 Plan Year and on or before March 30 for each succeeding Plan Year.

 

  (c) “Award Unit Performance Percentage” means the performance result as determined by the Committee following the close of the Plan Year of each Award Unit relative to its Award Unit Performance Goals for the Plan Year. The Committee will certify each Award Unit Performance Percentage for each Plan Year in writing. An Award Unit Performance Percentage may range from 0 percent to 200 percent. If a Participant is responsible for or contributes to more than one Award Unit, the applicable Award Unit Performance Percentage applied to determine such Participant’s STI Award will be a weighted average of the Award Unit Performance Percentages for the relevant Award Units. For Employees who leave or join an Award Unit during a Plan Year, the weighted average shall be based on the number of calendar days the Employee spends in each Award Unit during the Plan Year.

 

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  (d) “Company Performance Goals” means one or more objective performance goals for the Company during the Plan Year. The factors which the Committee may take into account in establishing such goals may include HSE Performance based on Recordable Injury Rate and HSE Management (considering severity of injuries and benchmarks, process safety incidents, environmental performance and stewardship, and audit results); Costs based on fixed costs compared to budget (considering benchmarks and success in cost improvement initiatives); business results based on EBITDA defined in the Company’s financing arrangements with appropriate adjustments for unusual events compared to budget (considering business environment and relative performance to peer companies); and such other quantitative or qualitative factors as the Committee, in its discretion, determines to be relevant to the assessment of the Company’s overall financial and operational performance. For each Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 2011, the Committee will establish the Company Performance Goals on or before March 30. The Committee has established the following Company Performance Goals for the 2010 Plan Year:

 

Metric

  

Weight

  

Targets & Considerations

HSE Performance    12.5 percent   

Based on Recordable Injury Rate and HSE Management

 

(Considering severity of injuries and benchmarks, process safety incidents, environmental performance and stewardship, and audit results.)

Costs    12.5 percent   

Based on cash fixed costs compared to budget.

 

(Considering benchmarks and success in cost improvement initiatives.)

Business Results    25 percent   

Based on EBITDA defined in accordance with the company’s financing arrangements with appropriate adjustments for unusual events compared to budget.

 

(Considering business environment and performance relative to peer companies.)

 

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  (e) “Company Performance Percentage” means the performance result as determined by the Committee following the close of the Plan Year of the Company relative to the Company Performance Goals for the Plan Year. The Committee will certify the Company Performance Percentage for a Plan Year in writing. A Company Performance Percentage may range from 0 percent to 200 percent.

 

  (f) “Individual Performance Modifier” means the performance result as determined by the Committee following the close of the Plan Year for each Participant with respect to his or her individual performance relative to his or her peers. The Committee will communicate each Participant’s Individual Performance Modifier for a Plan Year to such Participant in writing. An Individual Performance Modifier may range from 0 to 1.5.

 

  (g) “Salary” means

 

  (1)

Except as provided in subparagraph (2) below, the annualized base pay of such Participant as of December 31 of the Plan Year with respect to which an STI Award is made, including any statutorily required adjustments such as overtime in the United States and, for the avoidance of doubt, including any 13 th , 14 th , 15 th month (or similar) payments.

 

  (2) In the case of a Participant’s Disability or Termination of Service by reason of Retirement or involuntary termination without Cause during a Plan Year, such Participant’s pro-rated STI Award for the Plan Year shall be determined on the same basis as Section 2.(g)(1), but using the base rate of pay of the Participant when he is placed on Disability or the Date of Termination of Service, as applicable.

 

  (h) “Target STI Percentage” means the percentage of the Participant’s Salary used to calculate the Participant’s Target STI Award.

 

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EXHIBIT 10.14

Execution Copy

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) dated the [ ] day of [ ], 2010, by and between LyondellBasell Industries N.V., a public limited liability company formed under the laws of The Netherlands (the “ Company ”), and [ ], an individual (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS

A. Competent and experienced persons are reluctant to serve or to continue to serve as directors of corporations or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or indemnification (or both) against claims against them arising out of their service and activities on behalf of the corporation.

B. The current uncertainties relating to the availability of adequate insurance have increased the difficulty for corporations of attracting and retaining competent and experienced persons to serve in such capacity.

C. The supervisory board of the Company (the “ Supervisory Board ”) has determined that the continuation of present trends in litigation will make it more difficult to attract and retain competent and experienced persons to serve as directors of the Company, that this situation is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of adequate protection in the future.

D. As a supplement to and in the furtherance of the Company’s Articles of Association, as amended (the “ Articles ”), it is reasonable, prudent, desirable and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay in advance expenses on behalf of, directors to the fullest extent permitted by law, consistent with the Company’s Liability Insurance, so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from concern that they will not be so indemnified and that their expenses will not be so paid in advance;

E. This Agreement is not a substitute for, nor is it intended to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee under, Liability Insurance, the Articles or any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto (including any contractual rights of Indemnitee that may exist);

F. Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company and his or her willingness to continue to serve in such capacity is predicated, in substantial part, upon the Company’s willingness to indemnify him or her to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, consistent with the Company’s Liability Insurance, and upon the other undertakings set forth in this Agreement.


AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings set forth below:

Applicable Law ” means the laws of The Netherlands.

Corporate Status ” means the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company. In addition to any service at the actual request of the Company, Indemnitee will be deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to be serving or to have served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another Enterprise if Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, fiduciary, trustee or agent of such Enterprise and (i) such Enterprise is or at the time of such service was a Controlled Affiliate, (ii) such Enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored on maintained by the Company or a Controlled Affiliate or (iii) the Company or a Controlled Affiliate caused Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity on its behalf.

Controlled Affiliate ” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise, whether or not for profit, that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management or policies of an Enterprise, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through other voting rights, by contract or otherwise; provided , however , that direct or indirect beneficial ownership of capital stock or other interests in an Enterprise entitling the holder to cast 10% or more of the total number of votes generally entitled to be cast in the election of directors (or persons performing comparable functions) of such Enterprise will be deemed to constitute “control” for purposes of this definition.

Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding, decision or Enterprise action in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

Enterprise ” means the Company and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other entity or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company in a Corporate Status.

 

2


Expenses ” means all reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees, disbursements and retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, fax transmission charges, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses paid or incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding, or in connection with seeking indemnification under this Agreement. Expenses will also include Expenses reasonably paid or incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding. Expenses, however, will not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s obligation to pay “Expenses” is limited to Expenses incurred after written notice is given to the Company of a Proceeding, and the Company’s obligation to pay fees to defense counsel shall be limited to the rates which are actually paid by the Company to attorneys performing similar work in the ordinary course of business in the defense of similar actions in the community where the Proceeding is being defended. When a Proceeding subject to the indemnity obligation in this Agreement presents both matters that are covered by the indemnity obligation and matters that are not, Expenses shall refer solely to Expenses incurred for the defense of those parts of the Proceeding that are covered by the indemnity obligation in this Agreement

Fund Indemnitors ” means any Person who employs the Indemnitee or of whom the Indemnitee is a partner or member, and such Person’s affiliated investment funds, managed funds and management companies and each of their respective affiliates.

Independent Counsel ” means an attorney or firm of attorneys that is experienced in matters of corporation law in the appropriate jurisdictions and neither currently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement and/or the indemnification provisions of the Articles, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

Liability Insurance ” means such director and officer liability insurance (or the equivalent), which the Company purchases for the benefit of its directors and officers. The Liability Insurance that the Company currently maintains is set forth in Exhibit A, provided, however, that the Company may alter the composition of the insurance program, including the amount and terms of insurance, and the participating insurers, in the Company’s sole discretion.

Losses ” means any loss, liability, judgments, damages, amounts paid in settlement (which settlement is entered into in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), fines (including excise taxes and penalties assessed with respect to employee benefit plans) and all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing.

Management Board ” means the management board of the Company.

 

3


Person ” shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual, a partnership, stichting, commanditaire vennootschap, besloten vennootschap, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

Proceeding ” means any actually threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, demand, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, including any and all appeals, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, and in each case commenced after the date of this Agreement, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of or relating to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and by reason of or relating to either (i) any action or alleged action taken by Indemnitee (or failure or alleged failure to act) or of any action or alleged action (or failure or alleged failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part, while acting in his or her Corporate Status or (ii) the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any Loss or Expense is paid or incurred for which indemnification or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement, except one initiated by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under this Agreement.

References to “ serving at the request of the Company ” include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan will be deemed to have acted in a manner “ not opposed to the best interests of the Company ” as referred to under applicable law or in this Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

SERVICES TO THE COMPANY

2.1 Services to the Company . Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director on the Company’s Supervisory Board. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company will have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement will not be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained as a director on the Company’s Supervisory Board or in any other position with the Company(or any other Enterprise).

ARTICLE 3

INDEMNIFICATION

3.1 Company Indemnification . Except as otherwise provided in this Article 3 , if Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to, or was or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless

 

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Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the Articles and Applicable Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, interpreted or replaced, against any and all Expenses and Losses, and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, that are paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding.

3.2 Mandatory Indemnification if Indemnitee is Wholly or Partly Successful . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6.9 ), to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any Proceeding or any part thereof, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses that are paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but fewer than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section 3.2 , the termination of any Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding, by dismissal with or without prejudice will be deemed to be a successful result as to such Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.

3.3 Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, the Company will advance all reasonable expenses and indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee on his or her behalf in connection therewith.

3.4 Exclusions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company will not be obligated under this Agreement to provide indemnification in connection with the following:

(a) Any Proceeding (or part of any Proceeding) initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnities, unless the Management Board has authorized or consented to the initiation of the Proceeding (or such part of any Proceeding) with approval of the Supervisory Board.

(b) For an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or any similar successor statute or for any Losses to the extent that they represent the gaining in fact of any profit or advantage to which the Indemnitee is not legally entitled.

(c) If the Indemnitee suffers Losses or Expenses as a result of his willful default, negligence or misconduct under Applicable Law

(d) For any Proceeding arising out of, based upon or attributable to the committing in fact by the Indemnitee of any deliberate criminal or deliberate fraudulent act.

 

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ARTICLE 4

ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

4.1 Expense Advances . Except as set forth in Section 4.2 , the Company will, if requested by Indemnitee, advance, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to Indemnitee (hereinafter an “ Expense Advance ”) any and all Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (whether prior to or after its final disposition). Indemnitee’s right to each Expense Advance will be subject to the requirements of the next sentence but not otherwise subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct and will be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement, or under provisions of the Articles or otherwise. Each Expense Advance will be unsecured and interest free and will be made by the Company upon a resolution of the Supervisory Board; provided , however , that an Expense Advance will be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “ Undertaking ”), in a form satisfactory to the Company, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay such Expense Advance if it is ultimately determined, by final decision by a court or arbitrator, as applicable, from which there is no further right to appeal, that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such Expenses under the Articles or Applicable Law. An Expense eligible for an Expense Advance will include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce the right of advancement provided for in this Article 4 .

4.2 Exclusions . Indemnitee will not be entitled to any Expense Advance in connection with any of the matters for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 3.4 .

4.3 Timing . An Expense Advance pursuant to Section 4.1 will be made within fifteen business days after the resolution of the management board is approved by the Supervisory Board with respect to such Expense Advance; provided , however , that no such Expense Advance will be made by the Company prior to receipt by the Company of the Undertaking.

ARTICLE 5

CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY

5.1 Contribution by Company . To the fullest extent permitted by law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount of Expenses and Losses incurred or paid by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors and employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee, on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose; provided , however , that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors and employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee, on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such Expenses and Losses, as well as any other equitable considerations which applicable law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors and employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee, on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, will

 

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be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary, and the degree to which their conduct was active or passive.

5.2 Indemnification for Contribution Claims by Others . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the indemnification herein will include claims of contribution which may be brought by other officers, directors or employees of the Company who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee for any Loss or Expense arising from a Proceeding.

ARTICLE 6

PROCEDURES AND PRESUMPTIONS FOR THE

DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO INDEMNIFICATION

6.1 Notification of Claims; Request for Indemnification . Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing of any claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement; provided , however , that a delay in giving such notice will not deprive Indemnitee of any right to be indemnified under this Agreement unless, and then only to the extent that, the Company did not otherwise learn of the Proceeding and such delay is materially prejudicial to the Company’s ability to defend or to obtain coverage under the Company’s Liability Insurance for such Proceeding; and, provided , further , that notice will be deemed to have been given without any action on the part of Indemnitee in the event the Company is a party to the same Proceeding. The omission to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability for indemnification which it may have to Indemnitee otherwise than under this Agreement. Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written request to have the Company indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Subject to Section 6.9 , such request may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following such a written request for indemnification, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 6.2 . The Secretary of the Company will, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Management Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. The Company will be entitled to participate in any Proceeding at its own expense.

6.2 Determination of Right to Indemnification . Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof with respect to any Proceeding, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto will be made by one of the following, at the election of the Company: (1) so long as there are Disinterested Directors with respect to such Proceeding, a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Supervisory Board, (2) so long as there are Disinterested Directors with respect to such Proceeding, a committee of such Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of such Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Supervisory Board or (3) Independent Counsel in a written opinion delivered to the Supervisory Board, a copy of which will also be delivered to Indemnitee. The election by the Company to use a particular person, persons or entity to make such determination is to be included in a written notification to Indemnitee. The person, persons or entity chosen to make a determination under this Agreement of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall act reasonably and in good faith in making such determination.

 

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6.3 Selection of Independent Counsel . If the determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Section 6.2 will be made by an Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel will be selected as provided in this Section 6.3 . The Independent Counsel will be selected by the Company (unless the Company requests that such selection be made by the Indemnitee, in which event the immediately following sentence will apply) and the Company will give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Indemnitee, Indemnitee will give written notice to the Company advising of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten days after such written notice of selection is given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement, and the objection will set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 30 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6.1 , no Independent Counsel is selected, or an Independent Counsel for which an objection thereto has been properly made remains unresolved, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which has been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court may designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed will act as Independent Counsel under Section 6.2 . The Company will pay any and all reasonable and necessary fees and expenses incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, and the Company will pay all fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6.3 , regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

6.4 Burden of Proof . In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination will presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption will have the burden of proof. Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action with respect to a particular Enterprise is based on the records or books of account of such Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of such Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for such Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to such Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by such Enterprise; provided , however this sentence will not be deemed to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the appropriate standard of conduct and provided further that this sentence shall not excuse fraudulent or other knowing improper actions taken by Indemnitee. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, agent or employee of such Enterprise will not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

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6.5 No Presumption in Absence of a Determination or As Result of an Adverse Determination; Presumption Regarding Success . Neither the failure of any person, persons or entity chosen to make a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief to make such determination, nor an actual determination by such person, persons or entity that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to or after the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under this Agreement under Applicable Law, will be a defense to Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief. In addition, the termination of any Proceeding by settlement approved by the Management Board and Supervisory Board (whether with or without court approval) or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by this Agreement or Applicable Law.

6.6 Timing of Determination . The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause any determination required to be made pursuant to Section 6.2 to be made as promptly as practicable after Indemnitee has submitted a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6.1 .

6.7 Timing of Payments . All payments of Expenses, including any Expense Advance, and other amounts by the Company to the Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement will be made as soon as practicable after a written request or demand therefor by Indemnitee is presented to the Company, but in no event later than 30 days after (i) such demand is presented or (ii) such later date as a determination of entitlement to indemnification is made in accordance with Section 6.6 , if applicable; provided , however , that an Expense Advance will be made within the time provided in Section 4.3 hereof.

6.8 Cooperation . Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons or entity making a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity, upon reasonable advance request, any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination will be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification).

6.9 Time for Submission of Request . Indemnitee will be required to submit any request for Indemnification pursuant to this Article 6 within a reasonable time, not to exceed two years, after any judgment, order, settlement, dismissal, arbitration award, conviction, acceptance of a plea of nolo contendere (or its equivalent) or other full or partial final determination or disposition of the Proceeding (with the latest date of the occurrence of any such event to be considered the commencement of the two year period).

 

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ARTICLE 7

LIABILITY INSURANCE

7.1 Liability Insurance . The Company will obtain and maintain a policy or policies of Liability Insurance with one or more reputable insurance companies providing Indemnitee with coverage in such amount as will be determined by the Supervisory Board for Losses and Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee as a result of acts or omissions of Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status, and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement, to the extent that a policy covering the indemnification obligations under this Agreement is reasonably attainaable; provided , however , in all policies of director and officer liability insurance obtained by the Company, Indemnitee will be named as an Insured in such manner as to provide Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are afforded to the other directors or officers, as applicable, of the Company under such policies. Any reductions to the amount of director and officer liability insurance coverage maintained by the Company as of the date hereof will be subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board.

7.2 Notice to Insurers . If, at the time of receipt by the Company of a notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or participant, the Company will give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies, the Company will provide Indemnitee with a copy of such notice. The Company will thereafter take all necessary or desirable actions to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

7.3 Cooperation with Company . The Indemnitee will cooperate in all ways with the Company and its counsel and, if required by the Company, with the insurers issuing the Company’s Liability Insurance, to the extent the Company deems such cooperation reasonably necessary in connection with the tender, evaluation, investigation, and pursuant of insurance coverage for any Proceeding.

ARTICLE 8

REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE

8.1 Action by Indemnitee . In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Article 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) an Expense Advance is not timely made pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made within the applicable time periods specified in Section 6.6 or (iv) payment of indemnified amounts is not made within the applicable time periods specified in Section 6.7 , Indemnitee will be entitled to seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association; such award to be made within 60 days following the filing of the demand for arbitration. The provisions of New York law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules that would cause the application of the laws of another jurisdiction) will apply to any such arbitration. The Company will not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

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8.2 Company Bound by Favorable Determination by Reviewing Party . If a determination is made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to Article 6 , the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article 8 , absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statements in connection with the request for indemnification not materially misleading or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under Applicable Law.

8.3 Company Bound by Provisions of this Agreement . The Company and Indemnitee will each be precluded from asserting in any judicial or arbitration proceeding commenced pursuant to this Article 8 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and will stipulate in any such judicial or arbitration proceeding that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 9

NON-EXCLUSIVITY, SUBROGATION; NO DUPLICATIVE PAYMENTS;

INDEMNITOR OF FIRST RESORT; MORE FAVORABLE TERMS

9.1 Non-Exclusivity . The rights of indemnification and to receive Expense Advances as provided by this Agreement are not exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under Applicable Law, the Articles, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of the directors or otherwise. To the extent Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification or payment of any advancement of Expenses under any other provisions under Applicable Law, the Articles, any agreement, vote of stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise, Indemnitee will be entitled under this Agreement to such greater right. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof limits or restricts any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Applicable Law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Articles and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy will be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

9.2 Subrogation . In the event of any payment by the Company under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect thereto, including rights under any policy of insurance or other indemnity agreement or obligation, and Indemnitee will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights (it being understood that all of Indemnitee’s reasonable Expenses related thereto will be borne by the Company).

9.3 No Duplicative Payments . The Company will not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or any Expense for which

 

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advancement is provided) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee is otherwise entitled to receive such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise. The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee in respect of Proceedings relating to Indemnitee’s service at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of any other Enterprise will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee is actually entitled to receive as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other Enterprise. Subject to Section 4.1, the indemnity obligations of this Agreement shall apply in excess of the Company’s Liability Insurance and to any other insurance or indemnities available to the Indemnitee.

9.4 Indemnitor of First Resort . The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more of the Fund Indemnitors. The Company hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to an Indemnitee under this Agreement, the Articles and Applicable Law are primary and any obligation of the Fund Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by such Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement (or any other agreement between the Company and an Indemnitee), without regard to any rights an Indemnitee may have against the Fund Indemnitors, and (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Fund Indemnitors from any and all claims which it has or may have against the Fund Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Fund Indemnitors on behalf of an Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which such Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Fund Indemnitors shall affect the foregoing and the Fund Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and each Indemnitee agree that the Fund Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of this Section 9.4 .

ARTICLE 10

DEFENSE OF PROCEEDINGS

10.1 Company Assuming the Defense . In the event the Company is obligated to pay in advance the Expenses of any Proceeding pursuant to Article 4 , the Company will be entitled, by written notice to Indemnitee, to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company will identify the counsel it proposes to employ in connection with such defense as part of the written notice sent to Indemnitee notifying Indemnitee of the Company’s election to assume such defense, and Indemnitee will be required, within ten days following Indemnitee’s receipt of such notice, to inform the Company of its approval of such counsel or, if it has objections, the reasons therefor. If such objections cannot be resolved by the parties, the Company will identify alternative counsel, which counsel will also be subject to approval by Indemnitee in accordance with the procedure described in the prior sentence. In the absence of an actual conflict of interest that would prevent defense counsel from representing both the Indemnitee and other defendants in the Proceeding, the Indemnitee agrees that the Company may assign defense counsel to represent Indemnitee and other defendants in that Proceeding.

 

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10.2 Right of Indemnitee to Employ Counsel . Following approval of counsel by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10.1 and retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees and expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding; provided , however , that (a) Indemnitee has the right to employ counsel in any such Proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense and (b) the Company will be required to pay the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee is authorized by the Company, or (ii) an actual conflict of interest arises between the Company (or any other person or persons included in a joint defense) and Indemnitee in the conduct of such defense or representation by such counsel retained by the Company and the Company has not appointed new counsel without such conflict of interest to represent the Indemnitee or (iii) the Company does not continue to retain such counsel approved by the Indemnitee and the Company has not appointed new counsel to represent the Indemnitee in accordance with Section 10.1 .

ARTICLE 11

SETTLEMENT

11.1 Company Bound by Provisions of this Agreement . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company will have no obligation to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

11.2 When Indemnitee’s Prior Consent Required . The Company will not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise which (i) contains any non-monetary remedy imposed on Indemnitee or a Loss for which Indemnitee is not wholly indemnified hereunder or (ii) with respect to any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee is made a party or a participant or is otherwise entitled to seek indemnification hereunder, does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement; provided , however , Indemnitee may withhold consent to any settlement that does not provide a full and unconditional release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding.

ARTICLE 12

DURATION OF AGREEMENT; PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS

12.1 Duration of Agreement . This Agreement will continue until and terminate upon the latest of (a) the statute of limitations applicable to any claim that could be asserted against an Indemnitee with respect to which Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification and/or an Expense Advance under this Agreement, (b) ten years after the date that Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, fiduciary or agent of any other Enterprise which Indemnitee served at the request of the Company, or (c) if, at the later of the dates referred to in (a) and (b) above, there is

 

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pending a Proceeding in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or the right to an Expense Advance under this Agreement or a Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Article 8 of this Agreement, one year after the final termination of such Proceeding, including any and all appeals.

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

13.1 Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof; provided , however , it is agreed that the provisions contained in this Agreement are a supplement to, and not a substitute for, any provisions regarding the same subject matter contained in the Articles and any employment or similar agreement between the parties.

13.2 Assignment; Binding Effect; Third Party Beneficiaries . No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party and any such assignment by a party without prior written approval of the other parties will be deemed invalid and not binding on such other parties. All of the terms, agreements, covenants, representations, warranties and conditions of this Agreement are binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and are enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. Except for Fund Indemnitors as set forth in Section 9.5 of this Agreement, there are no third party beneficiaries having rights under or with respect to this Agreement.

13.3 Notices . All notices, requests and other communications provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and be given by personal delivery, by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or by facsimile transmission, as follows (or to such other address as any party may give in a notice given in accordance with the provisions hereof):

If to the Company:

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

Weena 737

3013AM Rotterdam

The Netherlands

Attention: Frits Bos

Facsimile: 011-31-10-713-62-59

 

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with a copy to:

LyondellBasell Industries

1221 McKinney Street

Houston, TX 77010

Attention: Craig B. Glidden

Facsimile: (713) 309-7312

 

If to                                          :

                                                 

Attention:

Facsimile:

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

                                                 

Attention:

Facsimile:

All notices, requests or other communications will be effective and deemed given only as follows: (i) if given by personal delivery, upon such personal delivery, (ii) if sent by certified or registered mail, on the fifth business day after being deposited in the United States mail, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by overnight delivery service, on the date of delivery as confirmed by written confirmation of delivery, (iv) if sent by facsimile, upon the transmitter’s confirmation of receipt of such facsimile transmission, except that if such confirmation is received after 5:00 p.m. (in the recipient’s time zone) on a business day, or is received on a day that is not a business day, then such notice, request or communication will not be deemed effective or given until the next succeeding business day. Notices, requests and other communications sent in any other manner, including by electronic mail, will not be effective.

13.4 Specific Performance; Remedies . Each party acknowledges and agrees that the other party would be damaged irreparably if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, the parties will be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and its provisions in any action or proceeding instituted in any court having jurisdiction over the parties and the matter, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at law or in equity. Except as expressly provided herein, the rights, obligations and remedies created by this Agreement are cumulative and in addition to any other rights, obligations or remedies otherwise available at law or in equity. Except as expressly provided herein, nothing herein will be considered an election of remedies.

13.5 Submission to Jurisdiction . Any Proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement may only be brought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or any New York State court, in each case, located in the Borough of Manhattan, which will be the exclusive and only

 

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proper forum for adjudicating such Proceeding, and each party consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such Proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such Proceeding in any such court or that any such Proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such action, suit or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court.

13.6 Headings . The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

13.7 Governing Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

13.8 Amendment . This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a writing signed by all of the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Section 9.5 nor the last sentence of Section 13.2 of this Agreement may be amended at any time.

13.9 Extensions; Waivers . Any party may, for itself only, (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of any other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in a writing signed by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver by any party of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.

13.10 Severability . The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided that if any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any party or to any circumstance, is judicially determined not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms, the parties agree that the court judicially making such determination may modify the provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is enforceable, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its modified form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced.

13.11 Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, which delivery may be made by exchange of copies of the signature page by facsimile or other electronic transmission.

 

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13.12 Construction . This Agreement has been freely and fairly negotiated among the parties. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any law will be deemed also to refer to such law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which the party has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that the party is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant. Time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement.

[Signature page follows]

 

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

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
By:  

 

        Name:
        Title:
Indemnitee

 

Signature

 

Print Name

 

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EXHIBIT 10.16

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES

2010 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

By letter (the “Grant Letter”), effective as of the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization (the “Grant Date”), LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “Company”), pursuant to the LyondellBasell Industries 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), has granted to the Participant a right (the “Option”) to purchase from the Company up to but not exceeding in the aggregate the number of shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Plan) (the “Option Shares”) specified in the Grant Letter at the Grant Price per Option Share specified in the Grant Letter, such number of shares and such price per share being subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan, and further subject to the following terms and conditions (the “Award Agreement”):

1. Relationship to Plan and Company Agreements.

This Option is intended to be a nonqualified stock option within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code. This Option is subject to all of the Plan terms, conditions, provisions and administrative interpretations, if any, adopted by the Committee. Except as defined in this Award Agreement, capitalized terms have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of any employment agreement between the Participant and the Company regarding an award of an option to purchase shares of common stock of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., this Award Agreement is with respect to shares of common stock of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. as required pursuant to the terms of the Company’s long term incentive program as in effect on the Grant Date. To the extent that this Award Agreement is intended to satisfy the Company’s obligations under any employment agreement between the Company and the Participant, the Participant agrees and acknowledges that this Award Agreement fulfills the Company’s obligations under the employment agreement, this Award Agreement shall be interpreted and construed to the fullest extent possible consistent with such employment agreement, and in the event of a conflict between the terms of such employment agreement and the terms of this Award Agreement, the terms of this Award Agreement shall control.

2. Exercise Schedule.

(a) This Option shall become exercisable in three cumulative installments, with one-third of the Option Shares becoming exercisable on the second anniversary of the Grant Date, an additional one-third of the Option Shares becoming exercisable on the third anniversary of the Grant Date, and the final one-third of the Option Shares becoming exercisable on the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date. The Participant must be in continuous Employment from the Grant Date through the date of exercisability of each installment in order for the Option to become exercisable with respect to additional shares of Common Stock on such date.

(b) This Option shall become fully exercisable, irrespective of the limitations set forth in subparagraph (a) above, provided that the Participant has been in continuous

 

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Employment since the Grant Date, upon (1) an involuntary termination of Employment by the Company without Cause or a constructive termination of Employment by the Participant with good reason as defined in Section 10 of the Plan (a “Constructive Termination”), either of which occurs within one year after the occurrence of a Change of Control or (2) any termination of Employment due to death or Disability.

(c) Irrespective of the limitations set forth in subparagraph (a) above, provided that the Participant has been in continuous Employment since the Grant Date, upon termination of Employment due to Retirement or involuntary termination not for Cause, to the extent not previously vested pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, each third of the Option Shares described in subparagraph (a) above that are unvested as of the date of termination of Employment shall become exercisable in a pro rata amount determined by a fraction with respect to each such unvested third of the Option Shares, the numerator of which shall be the number of months (with any partial months being considered a full month) of the Participant’s Employment from the Grant Date through the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment, and the denominator of which shall be the number of months for the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the corresponding anniversary date on which each such unvested third of the Option Shares would have vested pursuant to subparagraph (a) above.

(d) For purposes of this Award Agreement, the following definitions apply:

(i) “Disability” means a permanent and total disability as defined in the Company’s long-term disability plan in which the Participant is eligible to participate.

(ii) “Employment” means employment as an Employee with the Company or any Participating Employer. Neither the Participant’s transfer from Company employment to employment by any Participating Employer, the Participant’s transfer from employment by any Participating Employer to Company employment, nor the Participant’s transfer between Participating Employers shall be deemed to be a termination of the Participant’s employment. Moreover, a Participant’s employment shall not be deemed to terminate because the Participant is absent from active employment due to temporary illness, during authorized vacation, during temporary leaves of absence granted by the Company or a Participating Employer for professional advancement, education, health or government services, during military leave for any period if the Participant returns to active employment within 90 days after military leave terminates, or during any period required to be treated as a leave of absence by any valid law or agreement.

(iii) “Retirement” means a Participant’s voluntarily initiated termination of service on or after the earliest of (i) age 65, (ii) age 55 with 10 years of participation service credited under the qualified defined benefit pension plan maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate in which the Participant is eligible to participate, (iii) the time of retirement as defined in a written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Employer, or (iv) outside the U.S., the time when retirement is permitted and the Participant is eligible to receive a company retirement benefit under applicable law with respect to the Participant’s primary place of employment (as determined by the Committee in its sole judgment).

 

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3. Termination of Option.  The Option hereby granted shall terminate and be of no force and effect with respect to any shares of Common Stock not previously purchased by the Participant upon the first to occur of:

(a) the close of business on the date that is ten years from the Grant Date;

(b) with respect to

(i) the portion of the Option exercisable upon termination of Employment (or which becomes exercisable upon termination due to death, Disability, Retirement, involuntary termination not for Cause or Constructive Termination), the expiration of (A) 90 days following the Participant’s voluntary termination of Employment, involuntary termination of Employment not for Cause or Constructive Termination, and not due to death, Disability or Retirement, (B) one year following the Participant’s termination of Employment by reason of death or Disability; and (C) five years following the Participant’s termination of Employment by reason of Retirement.

(ii) the portion of the Option not exercisable upon termination of Employment, the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment; or

(c) the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment for any reason other than those described in (b) above.

4. Exercise of Option.  Subject to the limitations set forth herein and in the Plan, this Option may be exercised by written notice provided to the Company as set forth in Section 5. Such written notice shall (a) state the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and (b) be accompanied by a check, cash or money order payable to the Company in the full amount of the purchase price for any shares of Common Stock being acquired or, at the option of the Committee or its delegate, accompanied by Common Stock theretofore owned by such Participant that is equal in value to the full amount of the purchase price (or any combination of cash, check or such Common Stock) or in any other manner approved by the Committee or its delegate. For purposes of determining the amount, if any, of the purchase price satisfied by payment in Common Stock, such Common Stock shall be valued at its Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. Any Common Stock delivered in satisfaction of all or a portion of the purchase price shall be appropriately endorsed for transfer and assignment to the Company.

The Participant will not be entitled to exercise the Option granted pursuant hereto, and the Company will not be obligated to issue any Option Shares pursuant to this Award Agreement, if the exercise of the Option or the issuance of such shares would constitute a violation by the Participant or by the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority or any stock exchange or transaction quotation system.

 

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If any law or regulation requires the Company to take any action with respect to the shares specified in such notice, the time for delivery thereof, which would otherwise be as promptly as possible, shall be postponed for the period of time necessary to take such action.

5. Notices.  Notice of exercise of the Option must be made in the following manner, using such forms as the Company may from time to time provide:

(a) by mail or overnight delivery service, postage prepaid, to LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Attn: Manager of Executive Services, 1221 McKinney Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77010, in which case the date of exercise shall be the date of mailing; or

(b) by hand delivery or otherwise to LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Attn: Manager of Executive Services, 1221 McKinney Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77010, in which case the date of exercise shall be the date when receipt is acknowledged by the Company.

(c) by electronic delivery to Manager of Executive Services via e-mail to execserv@lyondellbasell.com or fax to +1 713 309 3028, in which case the date of exercise shall be the date of the e-mail or fax.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Company’s address is changed before the exercise date of this Option, notice of exercise shall be made instead under the previous provisions at the Company’s current address, or (ii) if the Committee delegates the administration of option exercises to a third party administrator, notice of exercise shall be made instead according to the written instructions that the third party administrator gives to the Participant for the option exercise.

Any other notices provided for in this Award Agreement or in the Plan shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively delivered or given upon receipt or, in the case of notices delivered by the Company to the Participant, five days after deposit in the mail or delivery to an overnight delivery service, postage prepaid, addressed to the Participant at the address specified at the end of this Award Agreement or at such other address as the Participant hereafter designates by written notice to the Company.

6. Assignment of Option. The Participant’s rights under the Plan and this Award Agreement are personal. No assignment or transfer of the Participant’s rights under and interest in this Option may be made by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. This Option is exercisable during his lifetime only by the Participant, or, in the case of a Participant who is mentally incapacitated, this Option shall be exercisable by his guardian or legal representative. After the death of the Participant, exercise of the Option shall be permitted only by the Participant’s executor or the personal representative of the Participant’s estate (or by his assignee, in the event of a permitted assignment) and only to the extent that the Option was exercisable on the date of the Participant’s death.

 

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7. Stock Certificates.  Any certificates representing the Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option will bear all legends required by law and necessary or advisable to effectuate the provisions of the Plan and this Option.

8. Withholding.  No shares of Common Stock shall be delivered to or in respect of a Participant unless the amount of all federal, state and other governmental withholding tax requirements imposed upon the Company for those shares of Common Stock has been remitted to the Company or unless provisions to pay such withholding requirements have been made to the Committee’s satisfaction. The Committee may make any provision it deems appropriate to withhold any taxes it determines are required in connection with this Option. Unless the Participant pays all taxes required to be withheld by the Company or paid in connection with the exercise of all or any portion of this Option by delivering cash to the Company, the Company shall withhold shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to all taxes required to be withheld with respect to the exercise of the Option.

9. Expatriate Participants.  Exercises by expatriate Participants will be, pursuant to the applicable expatriate assignment policy of the Participating Employer, tax normalized based on typical income taxes and social security taxes in the expatriate Participant’s home country relevant to the expatriate Participant’s domestic circumstances.

10. Currency Exchange Rates. For Participants who are not paid on a U.S. Dollar payroll, the currency exchange rate used to calculate the number of Option Shares was determined by the published intercompany exchange rate in effect for the month in which the Grant Date occurred; provided if such rate had not been determined at the Grant Date, the currency exchange rate was determined by using the published intercompany exchange rate for the month prior to the month in which the Grant Date occurred.

11. No Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares of Common Stock are permitted in connection with this Award Agreement. For purposes of vesting in Section 2(a), Option Shares vesting on the second anniversary of the Grant Date shall be increased by any fractional shares resulting from the vesting schedule with respect to subsequent vesting dates and Option Shares vesting thereafter shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share. For purposes of pro-ration in Section 2(c), Option Shares shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share of Common Stock. Only whole Option Shares are exercisable pursuant to Section 4, and only whole shares of Common Stock may be delivered in satisfaction of the Grant Price. Any shares of Common Stock withheld pursuant to Section 8 shall be rounded to whole shares in the manner determined by the Committee to be appropriate to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding requirements.

12. Shareholder Rights.  The Participant shall have no rights of a shareholder with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to the Option unless and until such time as the Option has been exercised and ownership of such shares of Common Stock has been transferred to the Participant.

13. Successors and Assigns.  This Award Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participant, the Company and their respective permitted successors and assigns (including personal representatives, heirs and legatees), but the Participant may not assign any rights or obligations under this Award Agreement except to the extent and in the manner expressly permitted.

 

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14. No Guaranteed Employment.  No provision of this Award Agreement shall confer any right upon the Participant to continued Employment.

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

6

EXHIBIT 10.17

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES

2010 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

By letter (the “Grant Letter”), effective as of the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization (the “Grant Date”), LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “Company”), pursuant to the LyondellBasell Industries 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), has granted to the Participant the number of units of Common Stock (as defined in the Plan) specified in the Grant Letter subject to transfer and forfeiture restrictions (“Restricted Stock Units”). These grants are all subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan, and the following terms and conditions (the “Award Agreement”):

 

  1. Relationship to Plan and Company Agreements.

This Restricted Stock Unit grant is subject to all Plan terms, conditions, provisions and administrative interpretations, if any, adopted by the Committee. Except as defined in this Award Agreement, capitalized terms have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of any employment agreement between the Participant and the Company regarding an award of restricted stock units of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., this Award Agreement is with respect to shares of common stock of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. as required pursuant to the terms of the Company’s long term incentive program as in effect on the Grant Date. To the extent that this Award Agreement is intended to satisfy the Company’s obligations under any employment agreement between the Company and the Participant, the Participant agrees and acknowledges that this Award Agreement fulfills the Company’s obligations under the employment agreement, this Award Agreement shall be interpreted and construed to the fullest extent possible consistent with such employment agreement, and in the event of a conflict between the terms of such employment agreement and the terms of this Award Agreement, the terms of this Award Agreement shall control.

 

  2. Restriction Period and Vesting Schedule.

(a) The Restriction Period applicable to the Restricted Stock Units shall lapse and Restricted Stock Units shall fully vest on the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date. The Participant must be in continuous Employment from the Grant Date through the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date to vest in Restricted Stock Units on that date.

(b) If the Participant has been in continuous Employment since the Grant Date, the Restriction Period shall lapse and the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested, irrespective of the limits in subparagraph (a), upon (1) an involuntary termination of Employment by the Company without Cause or a constructive termination of Employment by the Participant with good reason as defined in Section 10 of the Plan, either of which occurs within one year after the occurrence of a Change of Control or (2) any termination of Employment due to death or Disability.

(c) Irrespective of the limitations set forth in subparagraph (a) above, provided that the Participant has been in continuous Employment since the Grant Date,

 

1


upon termination of Employment due to Retirement or involuntary termination not for Cause, the Restriction Period shall lapse with respect to a pro rata portion of the Restricted Stock Units which shall be determined by multiplying the full number of Restricted Stock Units otherwise payable under this Award Agreement by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months (with any partial months being considered a full month) of the Participant’s Employment during the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date and the denominator of which is the number of months in such period. Remaining Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited.

(d) The following definitions apply to this Award Agreement:

(i) “Disability” means (i) a permanent and total disability as defined in the Company’s long-term disability plan in which the Participant is eligible to participate and (ii) the Participant is not eligible for Retirement.

(ii) “Employment” means employment as an Employee with the Company or any Participating Employer. Neither the Participant’s transfer from Company employment to employment by any Participating Employer, the Participant’s transfer from employment by any Participating Employer to Company employment, nor the Participant’s transfer between Participating Employers shall be deemed to be a termination of the Participant’s employment. Moreover, a Participant’s employment shall not be deemed to terminate because the Participant is absent from active employment due to temporary illness, during authorized vacation, during temporary leaves of absence granted by the Company or a Participating Employer for professional advancement, education, health or government service, during military leave for any period if the Participant returns to active employment within 90 days after military leave terminates, or during any period required to be treated as a leave of absence by any valid law or agreement.

(iii) “Retirement” means a Participant’s voluntarily initiated termination of service on or after the earliest of (i) age 65, (ii) age 55 with 10 years of participation service credited under the qualified defined benefit pension plan maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate in which the Participant is eligible to participate, (iii) the time of retirement as defined in a written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Employer, or (iv) outside the U.S., the time when retirement is permitted and the Participant is eligible to receive a company retirement benefit under applicable law with respect to the Participant’s primary place of employment (as determined by the Committee in its sole judgment).

 

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  3. Terms and Conditions.

Each Restricted Stock Unit shall be subject to the restrictions below and a substantial risk of forfeiture during the Restriction Period. A Participant shall not be entitled to any payment under Section 5 until the Restriction Period for affected Restricted Stock Units lapses. No rights related to a Restricted Stock Unit may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the Restriction Period. Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited on the date the Participant’s Employment terminates except as otherwise provided in Section 2 hereof.

 

  4. Registration of Units.

The Participant’s right to receive Common Stock in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by book entry (or by such other manner as the Committee may determine).

 

  5. Settlement.

Subject to Section 13 hereof, when the Restriction Period lapses and Restricted Stock Units vest under Section 2, a Participant shall become entitled to receive, within 60 days of the date the Restricted Stock Units vested, the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units which have vested on the particular vesting date.

 

  6. Dividend Equivalents.

The Company will pay Dividend Equivalents for each outstanding Restricted Stock Unit as soon as administratively practicable after dividends, if any, are paid on the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that (i) such payment shall be made no later than March 15th following the year in which the dividends are paid and (ii) the Participant must be in Employment as of the date of such payment.

 

  7. Withholding.

No shares of Common Stock shall be delivered to or for a Participant unless the amount of all federal, state and other governmental withholding tax requirements imposed upon the Company for those shares has been remitted to the Company or unless provisions to pay withholding requirements have been made to the Committee’s satisfaction. The Committee may make any provision it deems appropriate to withhold any taxes it determines are required in connection with the Restricted Stock Units. Unless the Participant pays all taxes required to be withheld by the Company or paid in connection with vesting of all or any portion of the Restricted Stock Units by delivering cash to the Company, the Company shall withhold from the Restricted Stock Unit grant shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to all taxes required to be withheld with respect to the award of Restricted Stock Units.

 

  8. Expatriate Participants.

Payments of Awards made to expatriate Participants will be, pursuant to the applicable expatriate assignment policy of the Participating Employer, tax normalized based on typical income taxes and social security taxes in the expatriate Participant’s home country relevant to the expatriate Participant’s domestic circumstances.

 

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  9. Currency Exchange Rates.

For Participants who are not paid on a U.S. Dollar payroll, the currency exchange rate used to calculate the number of Restricted Stock Units was determined by the published intercompany exchange rate in effect for the month in which the Grant Date occurred; provided if such rate had not been determined at the Grant Date, the currency exchange rate was determined by using the published intercompany exchange rate for the month prior to the month in which the Grant Date occurred.

 

  10. No Fractional Shares.

No fractional shares of Common Stock are permitted in connection with this Award Agreement. For purposes of pro-ration in Section 2(c), Restricted Stock Units shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share of Common Stock. Any shares of Common Stock withheld pursuant to Section 8 shall be rounded to whole shares in the manner determined by the Committee to be appropriate to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding requirements.

 

  11. Successors and Assigns.

This Award Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participant, the Company and their respective permitted successors and assigns (including personal representatives, heirs and legatees), but the Participant may not assign any rights or obligations under this Award Agreement except to the extent and in the manner expressly permitted.

 

  12. No Guaranteed Employment.

No provision of this Award Agreement shall confer any right to continued Employment.

 

  13. Section 409A.

It is intended that the provisions of this Award Agreement satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the accompanying U.S. Treasury Regulations and pronouncements thereunder, and that the Award Agreement be operated in a manner consistent with such requirements to the extent applicable.

For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, (a) if the Participant is Retirement Eligible, the time of settlement in Section 5 hereof constitutes a specified date within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(a)(4) of the Treasury Regulations and is within the 90-day period described in Section 1.409A-3(b) of the Treasury Regulations and (b) if the Participant is not Retirement Eligible, the time of settlement in Section 5 hereof is within the short-term deferral period described in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations. For purposes of this Section 13, “Retirement Eligible” means that the Participant will be eligible to terminate Employment by reason of Retirement prior to the date such Retirement would qualify for short-term deferral treatment under Section 409A of the Code.

 

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If the Company is publicly-traded and the Participant is identified by the Company as a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code on the date on which the Participant has a “separation from service” (other than due to death) within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5 hereof, any transfer of shares payable on account of a separation from service that are deferred compensation shall take place on the earlier of (i) the first business day following the expiration of six months from the Participant’s separation from service, (ii) the date of the Participant’s death, or (iii) such earlier date as complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

5

EXHIBIT 10.18

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES

2010 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT AWARD AGREEMENT

By letter (the “Grant Letter”), effective as of the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization (the “Grant Date”), LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (the “Company”), pursuant to the LyondellBasell Industries 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), has granted to the Participant Stock Appreciation Rights (the “SARs”) with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Plan) specified in the Grant Letter at the Grant Price per SAR specified in the Grant Letter. This grant is subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan, and the following terms and conditions (the “Award Agreement”):

1. Relationship to Plan and Company Agreements.

This Award Agreement is subject to all of the Plan terms, conditions, provisions and administrative interpretations, if any, adopted by the Committee. Except as defined in this Award Agreement, capitalized terms have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of any employment agreement between the Participant and the Company regarding an award of stock appreciation rights of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., this Award Agreement is with respect to shares of common stock of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. as required pursuant to the terms of the Company’s long term incentive program as in effect on the Grant Date. To the extent that this Award Agreement is intended to satisfy the Company’s obligations under any employment agreement between the Company and the Participant, the Participant agrees and acknowledges that this Award Agreement fulfills the Company’s obligations under the employment agreement, this Award Agreement shall be interpreted and construed to the fullest extent possible consistent with such employment agreement, and in the event of a conflict between the terms of such employment agreement and the terms of this Award Agreement, the terms of this Award Agreement shall control.

2. Vesting Schedule.

(a) The SARs shall become vested in three cumulative installments, with one-third of the SARs becoming vested on the second anniversary of the Grant Date, with an additional one-third of the SARs becoming vested on the third anniversary of the Grant Date, and with the final one-third of the SARs becoming vested on the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date. The Participant must be in continuous Employment from the Grant Date through the vesting date of each installment in order for the SARs to vest with respect to such date.

(b) The SARs shall become fully vested, irrespective of the limitations set forth in subparagraph (a) above, provided that the Participant has been in continuous Employment since the Grant Date, upon (1) an involuntary termination of Employment by the Company without Cause or a constructive termination of Employment by the Participant with good reason as defined in Section 10 of the Plan (a “Constructive Termination”), either of which occurs within one year after the occurrence of a Change of Control or (2) any termination of Employment due to death or Disability.

 

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(c) Irrespective of the limitations set forth in subparagraph (a) above, provided that the Participant has been in continuous Employment since the Grant Date, upon termination of Employment due to Retirement or involuntary termination not for Cause, to the extent not previously vested pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, each third of the SARs described in subparagraph (a) above that are unvested as of the date of termination of Employment shall become exercisable in a pro rata amount determined by a fraction with respect to each such unvested third of the SARs, the numerator of which shall be the number of months (with any partial months being considered a full month) of the Participant’s Employment from the Grant Date through the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment, and the denominator of which shall be the number of months for the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the corresponding anniversary date on which each such unvested third of the SARs would have vested pursuant to subparagraph (a) above.

(d) For purposes of this Award Agreement, the following definitions apply:

(i) “Disability” means a permanent and total disability as defined in the Company’s long-term disability plan in which the Participant is eligible to participate.

(ii) “Employment” means employment as an Employee with the Company or any Participating Employer. Neither the Participant’s transfer from Company employment to employment by any Participating Employer, the Participant’s transfer from employment by any Participating Employer to Company employment, nor the Participant’s transfer between Participating Employers shall be deemed to be a termination of the Participant’s employment. Moreover, a Participant’s employment shall not be deemed to terminate because the Participant is absent from active employment due to temporary illness, during authorized vacation, during temporary leaves of absence granted by the Company or a Participating Employer for professional advancement, education, health or government services, during military leave for any period if the Participant returns to active employment within 90 days after military leave terminates, or during any period required to be treated as a leave of absence by any valid law or agreement.

(iii) “Retirement” means a Participant’s voluntarily initiated termination of service on or after the earliest of (i) age 65, (ii) age 55 with 10 years of participation service credited under the qualified defined benefit pension plan maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate in which the Participant is eligible to participate, (iii) the time of retirement as defined in a written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Employer, or (iv) outside the U.S., the time when retirement is permitted and the Participant is eligible to receive a company retirement benefit under applicable law with respect to the Participant’s primary place of employment (as determined by the Committee in its sole judgment).

 

2


3. Termination of SAR.  The SARs hereby granted shall terminate and be of no force and effect to the extent not previously exercised by the Participant upon the first to occur of:

(a) the close of business on the date that is ten years from the Grant Date;

(b) with respect to

(i) the portion of the SARs exercisable upon termination of Employment (or which becomes exercisable upon termination due to death, Disability, Retirement, involuntary termination not for Cause or Constructive Termination), the expiration of (A) 90 days following the Participant’s voluntary termination of Employment, involuntary termination of Employment not for Cause or Constructive Termination, and not due to death, Disability or Retirement, (B) one year following the Participant’s termination of Employment by reason of death or Disability; and (C) five years following the Participant’s termination of Employment by reason of Retirement.

(ii) the portion of the SARs not exercisable upon termination of Employment, the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment; or

(c) the date of the Participant’s termination of Employment for any reason other than those described in (b) above.

4. Exercise of SAR.  Subject to the limitations set forth herein and in the Plan, SARs may be exercised by written notice provided to the Company as set forth in Section 5. Such written notice shall state the number of SARs being exercised. Upon exercise of SARs, the product of the number of SARs exercised multiplied by the excess of the Fair Market Value over the Grant Price shall become payable to the Participant in cash.

5. Notices.  Notice of exercise of SARs must be made in the following manner, using such forms as the Company may from time to time provide:

(a) by mail or overnight delivery service, postage prepaid, to LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Attn: Manager of Executive Services, 1221 McKinney Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77010, in which case the date of exercise shall be the date of mailing; or

(b) by hand delivery or otherwise to LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Attn: Manager of Executive Services, 1221 McKinney Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77010, in which case the date of exercise shall be the date when receipt is acknowledged by the Company.

(c) by electronic delivery to Manager of Executive Services via e-mail to execserv@lyondellbasell.com or fax to +1 713 309 3028, in which case the date of exercise shall be the date of the e-mail or fax.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Company’s address is changed before the exercise date of SARs, notice of exercise shall be made instead under the previous provisions at the Company’s current address, or (ii) if the Committee delegates the administration of option exercises to a third party administrator, notice of exercise shall be made instead according to the written instructions that the third party administrator gives to the Participant for the option exercise.

Any other notices provided for in this Award Agreement or in the Plan shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively delivered or given upon receipt or, in the case of notices delivered by the Company to the Participant, five days after deposit in the mail or delivery to an overnight delivery service, postage prepaid, addressed to the Participant at the address specified at the end of this Award Agreement or at such other address as the Participant hereafter designates by written notice to the Company.

6. Assignment of SAR. The Participant’s rights under the Plan and this Award Agreement are personal. No assignment or transfer of the Participant’s rights under and interest in the SARs may be made by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The SARs are exercisable during his lifetime only by the Participant, or, in the case of a Participant who is mentally incapacitated, the SARs shall be exercisable by his guardian or legal representative. After the death of the Participant, exercise of the SARs shall be permitted only by the Participant’s executor or the personal representative of the Participant’s estate (or by his assignee, in the event of a permitted assignment) and only to the extent that the SARs were exercisable on the date of the Participant’s death.

7. Withholding.  The Committee may make any provision it deems appropriate to withhold any taxes it determines are required in connection with the SARs.

8. Expatriate Participants.  Exercises by expatriate Participants will be, pursuant to the applicable expatriate assignment policy of the Participating Employer, tax normalized based on typical income taxes and social security taxes in the expatriate Participant’s home country relevant to the expatriate Participant’s domestic circumstances.

9. Currency Exchange Rates. For Participants who are not paid on a U.S. Dollar payroll, the currency exchange rate used to calculate the number of SARs was determined by the published intercompany exchange rate in effect for the month in which the Grant Date occurred; provided if such rate had not been determined at the Grant Date, the currency exchange rate was determined by using the published intercompany exchange rate for the month prior to the month in which the Grant Date occurred.

10. No Fractional SARs.  No fractional shares of Common Stock are permitted in connection with this Award Agreement. For purposes of vesting in Section 2(a), SARs vesting on the second anniversary of the Grant Date shall be increased by any fractional shares resulting from the vesting schedule with respect to subsequent vesting dates and SARs vesting thereafter shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share. For purposes of pro-ration in Section 2(c), SARs shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share of Common Stock. SARs are exercisable pursuant to Section 4 only with respect to whole SARs.

 

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11. Shareholder Rights.  The Participant shall have no rights of a shareholder with respect to shares of Common Stock covered by the SARs.

12. Successors and Assigns.  This Award Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participant, the Company and their respective permitted successors and assigns (including personal representatives, heirs and legatees), but the Participant may not assign any rights or obligations under this Award Agreement except to the extent and in the manner expressly permitted.

13. No Guaranteed Employment.  No provision of this Award Agreement shall confer any right upon the Participant to continued Employment.

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

 

5

EXHIBIT 10.19

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

$500,000,000

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of April 8, 2010

among

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.,

as the Company,

LBI ESCROW CORPORATION,

as the Escrow Borrower,

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY,

as a Borrower,

UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent,

UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH,

as Collateral Agent,

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

as Syndication Agent,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. and CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

as Co-Documentation Agents,

UBS SECURITIES LLC and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers

and

UBS SECURITIES LLC, BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Joint Bookrunners

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
Section 1.01.    Defined Terms.    2
Section 1.02.    Other Interpretive Provisions.    62
Section 1.03.    Accounting Terms.    63
Section 1.04.    Rounding.    63
Section 1.05.    References to Agreements, Laws, Etc.    63
Section 1.06.    Times of Day.    63
Section 1.07.    Timing of Payment or Performance.    63
Section 1.08.    Currency Equivalents Generally.    63
Section 1.09.    Change of Currency.    64
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
Section 2.01.    The Term Loans.    64
Section 2.02.    Credit Extensions, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.    64
Section 2.03.    Prepayments.    66
Section 2.04.    Termination of Commitments.    69
Section 2.05.    Repayment of Loans.    69
Section 2.06.    Interest.    69
Section 2.07.    Fees.    69
Section 2.08.    Computation of Interest and Fees.    70
Section 2.09.    Evidence of Indebtedness.    70
Section 2.10.    Payments Generally.    70
Section 2.11.    Sharing of Payments.    72
Section 2.12.    Incremental Term Loans.    73
Section 2.13.    Loan Repurchases.    74
Section 2.14.    Escrow of Term Loans.    76
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
Section 3.01.    Taxes.    76
Section 3.02.    Illegality.    79
Section 3.03.    Inability to Determine Rates.    79
Section 3.04.    Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.    80
Section 3.05.    Funding Losses.    81
Section 3.06.    Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.    81
Section 3.07.    Replacement of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances.    82

 

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Section 3.08.    Survival.    83
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
Section 4.01.    Conditions to the Closing Date.    83
Section 4.02.    Conditions to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date.    85
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 5.01.    Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.    87
Section 5.02.    Authorization; No Contravention.    87
Section 5.03.    Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.    88
Section 5.04.    Binding Effect.    88
Section 5.05.    Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.    88
Section 5.06.    Litigation.    89
Section 5.07.    Ownership of Property; Liens.    89
Section 5.08.    Environmental Matters.    89
Section 5.09.    Taxes.    90
Section 5.10.    ERISA Compliance.    90
Section 5.11.    Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.    91
Section 5.12.    Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.    91
Section 5.13.    Disclosure.    91
Section 5.14.    Anti-Terrorism Laws.    92
Section 5.15.    Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.    92
Section 5.16.    Solvency.    92
Section 5.17.    Use of Proceeds.    92
Section 5.18.    Security Documents.    93
Section 5.19.    No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments.    94
Section 5.20.    No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws.    94
Section 5.21.    No Conflict with OFAC Laws.    94
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Section 6.01.    Financial Statements.    95
Section 6.02.    Certificates; Other Information.    97
Section 6.03.    Notices.    97
Section 6.04.    Payment of Obligations.    98
Section 6.05.    Preservation of Existence, Etc.    98
Section 6.06.    Maintenance of Properties.    98
Section 6.07.    Maintenance of Insurance.    98
Section 6.08.    Compliance with Laws.    98
Section 6.09.    Compliance with Environmental Laws; Environmental Reports.    98
Section 6.10.    Books and Records.    99
Section 6.11.    Inspection Rights.    99

 

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Section 6.12.    Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors.    100
Section 6.13.    ERISA.    102
Section 6.14.    Further Assurances and Post-Closing Conditions.    102
Section 6.15.    Use of Proceeds.    103
Section 6.16.    Know Your Customer Requests.    103
Section 6.17.    Ratings Obligation.    104
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Section 7.01.    Indebtedness.    104
Section 7.02.    Restricted Payments.    112
Section 7.03.    Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.    116
Section 7.04.    Asset Sales.    118
Section 7.05.    Transactions with Affiliates.    118
Section 7.06.    Liens.    120
Section 7.07.    Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.    121
Section 7.08.    Prepayments, Etc. of Plan Roll-Up Notes and Foreign Capital Markets Debt.    124
Section 7.09.    Activities of Escrow Borrower Prior to the Lyondell Assumption.    124
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 8.01.    Events of Default.    125
Section 8.02.    Remedies upon Event of Default.    127
Section 8.03.    Application of Funds.    128
ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS
Section 9.01.    Appointment and Authorization of Agents.    128
Section 9.02.    Rights as a Lender.    129
Section 9.03.    Exculpatory Provisions.    129
Section 9.04.    Reliance by Agents.    130
Section 9.05.    Delegation of Duties.    130
Section 9.06.    Resignation of the Agents.    130
Section 9.07.    Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders.    131
Section 9.08.    Indemnification of Agents.    131
Section 9.09.    Withholding Tax.    132
Section 9.10.    No Other Duties, Etc.    132
Section 9.11.    Agents in Their Individual Capacities.    132
Section 9.12.    Collateral and Guaranty Matters.    133

 

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ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01.    Amendments, Etc.    137
Section 10.02.    Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.    138
Section 10.03.    No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.    139
Section 10.04.    Attorney Costs and Expenses.    139
Section 10.05.    Indemnification by the Borrower.    140
Section 10.06.    Payments Set Aside.    141
Section 10.07.    Successors and Assigns.    141
Section 10.08.    Confidentiality.    145
Section 10.09.    Setoff.    146
Section 10.10.    Interest Rate Limitation.    147
Section 10.11.    Counterparts.    147
Section 10.12.    Integration.    147
Section 10.13.    Survival of Representations and Warranties.    147
Section 10.14.    Severability.    147
Section 10.15.    Governing Law.    148
Section 10.16.    Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.    148
Section 10.17.    Binding Effect.    148
Section 10.18.    Judgment Currency.    149
Section 10.19.    Lender Action.    149
Section 10.20.    USA PATRIOT Act.    149
Section 10.21.    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.    149
Section 10.22.    Certain Dutch Matters.    150
Section 10.23.    Agent for Service of Process.    150
Section 10.24.    Limitation on Obligations of Lyondell Chemical.    150

 

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SCHEDULES
1.01A    Commitments as of the Closing Date
1.01B    Certain Disclosures and Summaries
1.01D    Mortgaged Properties
1.01G    Agreed Security Principles
1.01H    Security Agreements
5.08    Environmental Matters
5.11    Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
6.14(a)    Certain Security Documents
10.02    Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS
A    Form of Committed Loan Notice
B    Form of Term Note
C    Form of Compliance Certificate
D    Form of Assignment and Assumption
E    Form of U.S. Security Agreement
F-1    Form of Perfection Certificate
F-2    Form of Perfection Certificate Supplement
G-1    Form of Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
G-2    Form of Opinion of Gerald A. O’Brien, Deputy General Counsel of the Borrower
H    Form of Mortgage
I    Auction Procedures
J    Form of Affiliated Lender Assignment Agreement
K    Form of Guarantee Agreement
L    Form of Term Loan Escrow Agreement
M    Form of Tax Certificates

 

-v-


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 8, 2010, is entered into among LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands, LBI ESCROW CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company (the “ Escrow Borrower ”), LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, as Administrative Agent, UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, as Collateral Agent, BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Syndication Agent, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. and CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC, as Co-Documentation Agents, UBS SECURITIES LLC and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers, UBS SECURITIES LLC, BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, BARCLAYS BANK PLC, CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC., CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, as Joint Bookrunners, and each lender party hereto from time to time (collectively, the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender ”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

On January 6, 2009, the Borrower and certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates filed voluntary petitions with the Bankruptcy Court (as defined below) initiating their respective cases under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (as defined below) (each an “ Initial Case ” and, collectively, the “ Initial Cases ”) and certain other subsidiaries and affiliates subsequently filed voluntary petitions with the Bankruptcy Court initiating their respective cases under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and joining them with the Initial Cases (each an “ Additional Case ” and, together with the Initial Cases, each a “ Case ” and, collectively, the “ Cases ” and each petitioning entity a “ Debtor ” and, collectively, the “ Debtors ”).

On March 11, 2010, the Debtors’ Disclosure Statement was approved by the Bankruptcy Court.

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders make available a term loan credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000, the proceeds of which will be used as described herein.

The Lenders are willing to make such credit facility available upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereafter set forth.


Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Definitions and Accounting Terms

Section 1.01. Defined Terms .

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

2027 Notes ” means the 8.10% guaranteed notes due March 15, 2027 issued by Basell Finance Company B.V., a Dutch private company with limited liability ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) (formerly known as Montell Finance Company B.V.).

ABL Collateral Agent ” means the representative(s) from time to time administrating the collateral on behalf of the lenders under the ABL Facility.

ABL Facility ” means the asset based revolving credit agreement dated as of its effective date among the Borrower, Equistar Chemicals, L.P., Houston Refining L.P., LyondellBasell Acetyls LLC and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower from time to time designated as a “Borrower” thereunder, the lenders and agents party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent.

ABL Facility Collateral ” means all present and after-acquired inventory, accounts receivable, related contracts and other rights, deposit accounts into which proceeds of the foregoing are credited and books and records related thereto, together with all proceeds of the foregoing, in each case to the extent of the rights, title and interest therein of any “Borrower” under the ABL Facility.

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset at the time such asset is acquired by such specified Person.

Additional Case ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraphs to this Agreement.

Additional First Priority Lien Obligations ” means any First Priority Lien Obligations that are Incurred after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness Incurred under the Senior Notes Indenture) and secured by the Common Collateral on a first priority basis pursuant to the Security Documents.

Additional Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(c).

Administrative Agent ” means UBS AG, Stamford Branch, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under the Loan Documents, and its successors in such capacity.

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify (upon reasonable written notice) to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

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Administrative Questionnaire ” means with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent, completed by such Lender and returned to the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Affiliate Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.05.

Affiliated Lender ” means a Lender that is a Sponsor or Affiliate of a Sponsor (excluding, in each case, any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries).

Affiliated Lender Assignment Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).

Agent-Related Persons ” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, partners, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Syndication Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents.

Aggregate Commitments ” means at any time the aggregate Commitments of all the Lenders at such time.

Agreed Security Principles ” has the meaning set forth in Schedule 1.01G .

Agreement ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Anti-Terrorism Laws ” means:

(a) the Executive Order No. 13224 of September 23, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism (the “ Executive Order ”);

(b) the USA PATRIOT Act; and

(c) any similar law enacted in the United States of America subsequent to the date of this Agreement.

Applicable Amount ” means, at any time, an amount determined on a cumulative basis equal to, without duplication:

(i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period from March 31, 2012 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after March 31, 2012 (other than net

 

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cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7.01(n) from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions, and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(iii) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company received in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash after March 31, 2012 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, and Disqualified Stock and other than contributions to the extent such contributions have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7.01(n)), plus

(iv) 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof issued after March 31, 2012 (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof) or 100% of the principal amount of any debt securities of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof that are convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock issued after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (other than debt securities issued to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof) which, in any such case, has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company ( provided in the case of any parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished) after March 31, 2012, plus

(v) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after March 31, 2012 from:

(A) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to Section 7.02(7)) or

(B) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(vi) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in each case subsequent to March 31, 2012, the Fair Market Value of the Investment of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable), after deducting any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or combined or any Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred or conveyed (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to Section 7.02(7) or constituted a Permitted Investment).

 

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For the purpose of determining the Applicable Amount (x) for Section 7.02 at any time, such amount shall be equal to the Applicable Amount at such time minus the aggregate amount of prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of any Junior Financing made pursuant to Section 7.08(a)(v)(A) on or prior to such time and (y) for Section 7.08(a)(v)(A), such amount shall be equal to the Applicable Amount at such time minus the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.02(c) on or prior to such time, and in the case of each clause (x) and (y), minus the Applicable ECF Percentage of any amount included under clause (i) above (but only to the extent the payment is determined and paid by reference to the Applicable Amount) used to make payments other than principal and interest on Indebtedness after the Closing Date and prior to such time reducing Excess Cash Flow pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition thereof.

Applicable Amount Availability Condition ” means, (x) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof and (y) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the provisions of the first paragraph in Section 7.01.

Applicable ECF Percentage ” means, in respect of Excess Cash Flow attributable to a Fiscal Year, (a) 50%, if the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is greater than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00, (b) 25%, if the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is less than 1.75 to 1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00 and (c) 0%, if the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is less than 1.25 to 1.00.

Applicable Liquidity Level ” means (i) for each of Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012, $1,600,000,000, (ii) for Fiscal Year 2013, $1,000,000,000 and (iii) thereafter, $0.

Applicable Rate ” means a percentage per annum equal to (A) for Eurodollar Rate Loans, 4.00% and (B) for Base Rate Loans, 3.00%; provided that the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans and for Base Rate Loans will be automatically increased by 0.25% per annum on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date with retroactive effect from the Closing Date, if Plan Roll-Up Notes having any stated maturity that is on or prior to the final maturity of the Loans are issued in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,000 or more pursuant to a Reorganization Plan.

Appropriate Lender ” means, at any time, (a) with respect to the Term Loans, the Term Lenders, and (b) with respect to each tranche of Incremental Term Loans, if any, the applicable Lenders with respect to such tranche.

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages a Lender.

Asset Acquisition ” means:

(1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or shall be merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or

(2) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

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Asset Backed Credit Facility ” means (i) the ABL Facility; (ii) any credit facility provided on the basis of the value of inventory, accounts receivable or other current assets (and related documents and intangibles) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or similar instrument; and (iii) any similar credit support agreements or guarantees Incurred from time to time; provided that any credit facility that refinances or replaces an Asset Backed Credit Facility must comply with clause (ii) of this definition in order to be an Asset Backed Credit Facility; and provided , further , that, if at the time any such refinancing or replacement is necessary or advisable in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, and an Asset Backed Credit Facility that complies with clause (ii) of this definition is not available on terms considered commercially reasonable for facilities of this nature (as determined in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company), then the ABL Facility may be refinanced with or replaced by any Credit Facility and such Credit Facility shall be an Asset Backed Credit Facility for purposes hereof.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) outside the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (each referred to in this definition as a “ disposition ”) or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or redundant, surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described in Section 7.07 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 7.02;

(d) any sale, conveyance or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions), including by way of a Sale/ Leaseback Transaction, or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued have an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $50,000,000;

(e) any disposition of property or assets, or the issuance of securities, by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

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(f) (i) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company and (ii) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company;

(g) foreclosure or any similar action with respect to any property or other asset of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(h) any sale of Equity Interests in, or other ownership interest in or assets or property, including Indebtedness, or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) any lease, assignment, license or sublease which does not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(j) any grant of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property which does not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(k) any transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) in a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(l) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, including any Sale/Leaseback Transaction or asset securitization permitted by this Agreement;

(m) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

(n) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

(o) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

(p) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(q) pursuant to buy-sell arrangements or similar agreements between Lyondell China Holdings Limited of Ningbo ZRCC and Lyondell Chemical Company Ltd.; and

 

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(r) any sale, conveyance or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) in connection with the Emergence Transactions.

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(a).

Assignment and Assumption ” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

Assignment Tax ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Attorney Costs ” means and includes all reasonable fees, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP and (without duplication) a single external local counsel to the Joint Lead Arrangers in each jurisdiction reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

Auction Manager ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.13(a).

Auction Notice ” means an auction notice given by the Borrower in accordance with the Auction Procedures with respect to a Purchase Offer.

Auction Procedures ” means the auction procedures with respect to Purchase Offers set forth in Exhibit I .

Audited Financial Statements ” means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company’s predecessor, LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, which shall include results for Fiscal Years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Average Brent Crude Oil Price ” means, for any fiscal quarter, the average specified price per barrel of Brent blend crude oil for delivery on each day of such fiscal quarter, stated in Dollars, published under the heading “Crude Price Assessments: International: Brent (DTD)” in the Platts Marketwire that reports prices effective on such dates and certified to the Administrative Agent by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. The calculation of the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Bankruptcy Code ” means the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., as amended from time to time.

Bankruptcy Court ” means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Base Rate ” means, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus  1 / 2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its “prime rate” and (c) 1.0% per annum plus the Eurodollar Rate (for avoidance of doubt after giving effect to the proviso of the definition thereof) applicable to a Credit Extension with an Interest Period of one (1) month.

The “prime rate” is a rate set by the Administrative Agent based upon various factors including the Administrative Agent’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the prime rate established by the Administrative Agent or the Federal Funds Rate shall be effective on the date such change is effective. The prime rate is not necessarily the lowest rate charged by the Administrative Agent to its customers.

 

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Base Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Basell GmbH ” means Basell Germany Holdings GmbH.

Berre Facility ” means any receivables-backed credit or factoring facility entered into by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries (other than Basell GmbH) related to receivables of the refinery located in Berre, France, and any permitted refinancings thereof.

Board of Directors ” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or, supervisory board of such Person, or equivalent governing body (or, if such Person is a partnership or limited liability company, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person or manager) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Borrower ” means, (x) prior to the consummation of the Lyondell Assumption, the references to the “Borrower” in this Agreement refer only to the Escrow Borrower and (y) after the consummation of the Lyondell Assumption, the references to the “Borrower” in this Agreement refer only to Lyondell Chemical and not to any of its Subsidiaries.

Borrower Restricted Information ” shall mean material non-public information with respect to the Company, the Borrower or their respective Subsidiaries or with respect to the securities of any such Person.

Borrowing Base ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c)(ii).

Business Acquisition ” means the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state of New York and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Calculation Date ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.”

Capital Expenditures ” means, for any Person, any expenditure which, in accordance with GAAP, is treated as a capital expenditure in the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Capital Stock ” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;

(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;

 

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(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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Case ” means the proceedings of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. and certain of its Subsidiaries and affiliates, as debtors and debtors in possession under Chapter 11.

Cash Collateral Account ” means a blocked account in the name of the Collateral Agent as directed by the Administrative Agent.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) Dollars, pounds sterling, Euros, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union (other than Greece or Portugal) or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank or trust company having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations and reverse repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision 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 ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Sponsors or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

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(8) Dollar-denominated money market funds as defined in Rule 2a-7 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(9) tax-exempt floating rate option tender bonds backed by letters of credit issued by a national or state bank whose long-term unsecured debt has a rating of AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or the equivalent rating by any other internationally recognized rating agency; and

(10) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (9) above.

Casualty Event ” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in excess of $50,000,000 in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or Real Property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or Real Property.

Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means a Sale/Leaseback Transaction that relates to a catalyst containing one or more precious metals used by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

CERCLA ” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as subsequently amended.

Change in Law ” means, the introduction of, or any change in or in the interpretation of, any law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order or the compliance with any guideline, request or directive from any Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law).

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder; or

(2) the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer, conveyance or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company.

Chapter 11 ” means Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Closing Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent to the Closing Date are satisfied and this Agreement becomes effective, in each case, in accordance with Section 4.01.

 

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

Co-Documentation Agents ” means Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, in their capacity as co-documentation agents for the Lenders under the Loan Documents, and their successors in such capacity.

Collateral ” means all property subject or purported to be subject, from time to time, to a Lien under any Security Documents.

Collateral Agent ” means UBS AG, Stamford Branch in its capacity as collateral agent or pledgee under any of the Security Documents, and its successors in such capacity.

Collateral and Guaranty Requirement ” means, at any time, the requirement that, subject to Section 6.14(a) and the Agreed Security Principles:

(a) the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall have received each Security Document required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(i), on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date pursuant to Section 4.02(c) or subsequent to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date pursuant to Sections 6.12 or 6.14 at such time, duly executed by each Loan Party party thereto;

(b) all Obligations shall have been unconditionally guaranteed (together, the “ Guaranty ”) by (i) the Company and (ii) each Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) of the Company and the Borrower (each such Person described in this clause (b), a “ Guarantor ”), in each case on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date and to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation, in each case as reasonably determined by the Company; provided that any Subsidiary of the Company or the Borrower that shall guaranty the Senior Notes or the Plan Roll-Up Notes shall also be a Guarantor hereunder;

(c) the Guaranty and all Obligations shall have been secured by, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements and the Perfection Requirements, a first-priority security interest to the extent legally possible and to the extent required by the Security Documents in (i) all Equity Interests of each first-tier Domestic Subsidiary of (A) the Company, (B) each Guarantor domiciled in the U.S. and (C) the Borrower, and (ii) 65% of the voting Equity Interests and 100% of the non-voting Equity Interests of each first-tier Foreign Subsidiary of (X) the Company, (Y) each Guarantor domiciled in the U.S., and (Z) the Borrower, in the case of each clause (i) and (ii), other than the Equity Interests of (x) any securitization entity or (y) any Excluded Asset;

(d) to the extent otherwise legally possible and to the extent required by the Security Documents, the Guaranty shall have been secured by a first-priority security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets (other than the ABL Facility Collateral and the Excluded Assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Equity Interests not referred to in (c) above)) of each Guarantor (other than the Company);

(e) to the extent otherwise legally possible and to the extent required by the Security Documents, the Guaranty shall have been secured by a second-priority security interest in the ABL Facility Collateral of each Guarantor (other than the Excluded Assets);

(f) none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 7.06; and

 

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(g) the Collateral Agent shall have received:

(1) counterparts of a Mortgage or other appropriate security interest with respect to each owned or ground leased Real Property or pipeline easements and other similar Real Property (except any such easement or other Real Property of the type that would be excluded from the grant set forth in Section 2.1 of any Mortgage by the penultimate paragraph therein) described on Schedule 1.01D or required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 4.02, 6.12 or 6.14 at such time (the “ Mortgaged Properties ”) duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Real Property or, in the case of Real Property subject to a ground lease, the tenant holding the leasehold interest in such Real Property;

(2) in respect of any Mortgaged Property located in the United States (other than pipeline easements and other similar Real Property), a title policy or title policies issued by the title company insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid Lien on the property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 7.06; and

(3) such existing surveys, abstracts, certificates, existing title documents, existing appraisals, legal opinions (to the extent the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that there is an issue of state Law that should be addressed by a legal opinion) and other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in good faith with respect to any such Mortgaged Property (other than, in the case of each of the foregoing, pipeline easements and other similar Real Property), in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

Nothing in this definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement” shall require the creation or perfection of pledges or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to:

(a) any fee owned Real Property with a value of less than $25,000,000 and leasehold interests to the extent not included in Schedule 1.01D ;

(b) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and commercial tort claims;

(c) assets specifically requiring perfection through control agreements (i.e., deposit accounts, securities accounts, letter of credit rights, etc.) other than any ABL Facility Collateral that constitutes such an asset; and

(d) assets for which the creation or perfection of security interests is not required pursuant to the Security Documents.

The Administrative Agent shall grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance or other items required by the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Term Loan Escrow Release Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it determines, in consultation with the Company, that perfection cannot be accomplished using commercially reasonable efforts by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Security Documents.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents.

Commitment ” means a Term Commitment or an Incremental Term Commitment as the context may require.

Committed Loan Notice ” means a notice of (a) a request to borrow Loans, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

Common Collateral ” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of two or more series of First Priority Lien Obligations (or their respective authorized representatives) hold a valid and perfected security interest at such time. If more than two series of First Priority Lien Obligations are outstanding at any time and the holders of less than all series of First Priority Lien Obligations hold a valid and perfected security interest in any Collateral at such time then such Collateral shall constitute Common Collateral for those series of First Priority Lien Obligations that hold a valid security interest in such Collateral at such time and shall not constitute Common Collateral for any series which does not have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral at such time.

Company ” means LyondellBasell Industries N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (public limited liability corporation) formed under the laws of the Netherlands, and any successor in interest thereto.

Company Materials ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

Compensation Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c)(ii).

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

Confirmation Order ” means an order of the Bankruptcy Court (i) confirming the Plan of Reorganization in accordance with section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code and (ii) approving and authorizing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Plan of Reorganization and otherwise not inconsistent with the provision hereof and thereof, which order shall be in full force and effect, shall not have been stayed, reversed, vacated or otherwise modified (except as reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:

(1) Consolidated Net Income;

(2) to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby;

(a) taxes of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise, property and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations), or such equivalent items in any foreign jurisdiction;

(b) Consolidated Interest Expense;

 

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(c) Consolidated Non-cash Charges;

(d) the amount of net loss resulting from the payment of any premiums, fees or similar amounts that are required to be paid under the terms of the instrument(s) governing any Indebtedness upon the repayment, prepayment or other extinguishment of such Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of such Indebtedness,

(e) any expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Non-cash Charges) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, any Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or Incurrence, repayment, amendment or modification of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred or repaid by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) (in each case, whether or not successful), including, without limitation, (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Senior Notes and the Credit Facility Indebtedness and other Exit Financing, (ii) any amendment or other modification of this Agreement or other Indebtedness, (iii) any additional interest in respect of the Senior Notes and (iv) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Financing; and

(f) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, facility consolidations, retention, headcount reductions, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); and

(3) the amount of net cost savings projected by such Person in good faith to be realized by specified actions taken or to be taken prior to or during such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of such period); provided that (x) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and (y) such actions have been taken or are to be taken within twelve months of the date of determination to take such action and the benefit is expected to be realized within twelve (12) months of taking such action; minus

(4) any non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (excluding (i) the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period, (ii) items referenced in clause (e) of Consolidated Net Income and (iii) gains which have been offset against losses in determining Consolidated Net Income but for which the loss has not been added back as a Consolidated Non-cash Charge pursuant to the definition of Consolidated EBITDA);

all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Consolidated EBITDA for the fiscal quarter ending (i) June 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $551,000,000, (ii) September 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $757,000,000 and (iii) December 31, 2009 shall be deemed to be $578,000,000, before giving pro forma effect to any transaction occurring after the Closing Date, as permitted under the definitions of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” and “Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio.”

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income for such period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation:

(1) amortization of original issue discount,

 

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(2) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued,

(3) net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations,

(4) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, and

(5) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation,

but excluding, in each case, any amortization of fees, debt issuance costs and commissions incurred in connection with the Credit Facilities, any Receivables Financing, the issuance of the Senior Notes, the Plan Roll-Up Notes, the Euro Securitization and any other debt issuance.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period:

(1) the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis; plus

(2) cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person by any other Person (the “ Payor ”) other than a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income, which have not been derived from Indebtedness of the Payor to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such referent Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such referent Person;

provided that there shall be excluded therefrom, without duplication (but only to the extent included in the calculation of the foregoing):

(a) (i) any net after-tax income or loss from operating results of discontinued operations as defined by GAAP, and (ii) any net after-tax gains or losses from sales of discontinued operations;

(b) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses ( less all fees and expenses relating thereto or expenses or charges, any severance expenses, relocation expenses, curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, any expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses and fees, expenses or charges relating to facilities closing costs, acquisition integration costs, facilities opening costs, project start-up costs, business optimization costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or issuance, repayment, refinancing, amendment or modification of Indebtedness (in each case, whether or not successful), and all costs and expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred in connection with the Cases and the Exit Financings);

 

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(c) the Net Income of any Payor, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or Net Income of such Payor that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or to a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person by such Payor (or to the extent converted into cash);

(d) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not a guarantor to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is restricted; provided, however , that the Net Income of Restricted Subsidiaries shall only be excluded in any calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Company as a result of application of this clause (d) if the restriction on dividends or similar distributions results from consensual restrictions other than any restriction contained in clauses (1), (2) and (4) and, to the extent related to such clauses (1), (2) and (4), clause (15) under Section 7.03;

(e) (i) any restoration to income of any contingency reserve, except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made out of Consolidated Net Income accrued at any time following the Closing Date; and (ii) any restoration to or deduction from income for changes in estimates related to the post-emergence settlement of pre-petition claims obligations in relation with Chapter 11 following the Closing Date;

(f) in the case of a successor to such Person by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of such Person’s assets, any gains or losses of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets;

(g) any charges or credits relating to any purchase accounting adjustments or to the adoption of fresh start accounting principles;

(h) any (i) one-time non-cash compensation charges, and (ii) non-cash costs or expenses resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans, compensation charges or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or awards of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, Preferred Stock or other rights;

(i) Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(j) any net after-tax gains or losses ( less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by management of the Company) or reserves relating thereto;

(k) any net after-tax gains or losses ( less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered in relation with the Indebtedness extinguished;

 

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(l) any gain or loss for such period from currency translation gains or losses or net gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk entered in relation with Indebtedness); and

(m) any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 7.02 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under clause (iv) or (v) of the definition of “Applicable Amount”.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the Total Assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries less goodwill and intangibles (other than intangibles arising from, or relating to, intellectual property, licenses or permits (including, but not limited to, emissions rights) of such Person), in each case calculated in accordance with GAAP, provided , that in the event that such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries assumes or acquires any assets in connection with the acquisition by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries of another Person subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is made, then the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such assumption or acquisition of assets, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable period.

“Consolidated Non-cash Charges” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the consolidated depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits) (including any lower-of-cost-or-market adjustments of inventory) reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period.

“Consolidated Working Capital” means, as of any date, the excess of (a) the sum of all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date over (b) the sum of all amounts that would be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on such date, including deferred revenue but excluding, without duplication, the current portion of any Funded Debt and the current portion of any Asset Backed Credit Facilities (whether on or off balance sheet).

“Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

 

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(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

“Control” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Affiliate.”

“Credit Agreement Obligations” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Obligations.”

“Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Term Borrowing and (b) the making of Incremental Term Loans, if any.

“Credit Facilities” means:

(1) this Agreement,

(2) any Asset Backed Credit Facility;

(3) any debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other Indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 7.01) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders; and

(4) any such agreements, instruments or guarantees governing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance any Indebtedness or commitments referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above whether by the same or any other lender or group of lenders.

“Credit Facility Indebtedness” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Facilities as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization

 

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relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

“Currency Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency futures contract, currency option contract, currency derivative or other similar agreement to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.

“Debtor” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraphs of this Agreement.

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code, the Dutch Bankruptcy Act ( Faillissementswet ) and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, faillissement , surseance van betaling , onderbewindstelling , ontbinding , or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States, The Netherlands, or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.00% per annum; provided that with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate means an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2.00% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one (1) Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured (but only from when subsequently cured), (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one (1) Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured (but only from when subsequently cured), or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

“Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on the issue date thereof.

“DIP Facilities” means, collectively, that certain (i)   term loan agreement identified as the Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of March   3, 2009, entered by and among LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., Lyondell Chemical Company, Basell USA Inc., Equistar Chemicals, LP, Houston Refining LP, Millennium Chemicals Inc., Millennium Petrochemicals Inc., UBS

 

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AG, Stamford Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other parties party thereto from time to time and (ii) asset backed loan agreement identified as the Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2009, entered by and among LyondellBasell Industries AF, S.C.A., Lyondell Chemical Company, Basell USA Inc., Equistar Chemicals, LP, Houston Refining LP, Millennium Chemicals Inc., Millennium Petrochemicals Inc., Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other parties party thereto from time to time.

“DIP Roll-Up Claims” means the Roll-Up Loans and all related obligations of the Borrower and certain of its Affiliates under, and as is defined in, the Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2009 among LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., the other borrowers thereto (each, a debtor and debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11), the administrative agent and collateral agent, the syndication agent, joint lead arranger and sole bookrunner, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time, and as ordered by the Bankruptcy Court, as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date.

“Disclosure Statement” means that certain disclosure statement dated as of December 23, 2009 and filed with the Bankruptcy Court with respect to the Cases, as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

in each case prior to ninety-one (91) days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Senior Notes or the date the Senior Notes are no longer outstanding; provided , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided , further , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

“Dollar Equivalent Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.08.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

“Dutch Civil Code” means the Dutch Civil Code ( Burgerlijk Wetboek ).

 

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“EBITDA” means the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization for a Person, calculated in the same manner as Consolidated EBITDA (without giving effect to clause (3) of the definition thereof).

ECF Deferral Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(i)(4).

“Effect of Bankruptcy” means any default or other legal consequences with respect to any contractual obligation, contract or agreement of any Debtor in the Cases, including the implementation of any stay, or the rejection of any such contractual obligation, contract or agreement with the approval of the Bankruptcy Court (to the extent required to be effective).

“Emergence Transactions” means all transactions arising out of the Reorganization Plan and emergence from Chapter 11, including, but not limited to, Exit Financing.

“EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

“Environment” means indoor air, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, land surface, subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

“Environmental Laws” means the common law and any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, Laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution, the protection of the Environment, the generation, treatment, storage, transport, distribution, handling or recycling of Hazardous Materials or the presence, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials and, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health and workplace health and safety.

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of investigation and remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Loan Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or recycling of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

“Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

“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).

“Equity Offering” means any public or private sale after the Closing Date of common stock or Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (to the extent the proceeds thereof are contributed to the Company), as applicable, on a primary basis, other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or such direct or indirect parent entity’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company; and

 

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(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is under common control with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) with respect to a Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (c) the failure to make by its due date a required contribution under Section 412(m) of the Code (or Section 430(j) of the Code, as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006) with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) a withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension 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 that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (f) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of ERISA Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan or the occurrence of any event or condition which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of or the appointment of a trustee to administer any Pension Plan, in each case where ERISA Plan assets are not sufficient to pay all ERISA Plan liabilities; (g) the occurrence of an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate; or (i) the occurrence of a nonexempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could reasonably be expected to result in liability to a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the filing and continuation of the Cases and consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization shall not constitute ERISA Events.

“ERISA Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by any Loan Party or Subsidiary or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

“Escrow Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

“Euro” and “€” mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with EMU Legislation.

“Euro Securitization” means the transaction to be dated as of its effective date entered into in connection with the €450,000,000 revolving securitization facility of trade account receivables with Basell Sales and Marketing Company B.V. and Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., as sellers, and Basell Polyolefins Collections Ltd., as receivables purchaser, as such facility may be amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

“Eurocurrency Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board.

 

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Eurodollar Floor ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Eurodollar Rate.”

“Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Period in relation to any Loan, for any Interest Period, the rate obtained by dividing (i) the applicable LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained against Eurocurrency Liabilities (including any marginal, emergency, special or supplemental reserves); provided that, in no event shall the Eurodollar Rate be less than 1.50% (the “ Eurodollar Floor ”).

“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Loan, that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.

“Excess Cash Flow” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any Fiscal Year, an amount equal to:

(a) the sum, without duplication, of

(i) Consolidated Net Income,

(ii) an amount equal to all non-cash charges and losses to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income, and

(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital not paid into the Working Capital Reserve Account (other than any such decreases arising from changes from on balance sheet to off balance sheet treatment of Asset Backed Credit Facilities, Receivables Financings or acquisitions or dispositions by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period) minus

(b) the sum, without duplication, of

(i) an amount equal to all non-cash credits and gains to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges included in the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,”

(ii) the aggregate amount of (A) Capital Expenditures made in cash or accrued during such period, but only to the extent such Capital Expenditures were financed (without duplication) other than with the substantially concurrent receipt of Externally Generated Funds and (B) Capital Expenditures the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is obligated to make pursuant to a binding agreement but that are not made during such period; provided that such Capital Expenditure is made not later than 180 days after the end of such period and financed other than with the substantially concurrent receipt of Externally Generated Funds and that such Capital Expenditures when made shall not reduce Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period,

(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness and (to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income) fees, premiums and similar amounts of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries ( provided that fees, premiums and other payments in respect of Indebtedness, other than principal and interest, that reduces Excess Cash Flow pursuant to this clause (b)(iii) shall reduce the Applicable Amount), in each case, financed other than with the substantially concurrent receipt of Externally Generated Funds (including (A) the principal component of payments in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations and (B) the amount

 

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of any scheduled repayment of Loans pursuant to Section 2.05), but excluding all prepayments of any Asset Backed Credit Facility made during such period and excluding all voluntary prepayments of Loans made during such period in cash,

(iv) increases in Consolidated Working Capital for such period (other than any such increases arising from changes from off-balance sheet to on-balance sheet treatment of Asset Backed Credit Facilities, Receivables Financings or acquisitions or dispositions by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period),

(v) the amount of (A) Investments and acquisitions made in cash during such period to finance Investments permitted under clause (3) (but only to the extent reducing Consolidated Working Capital), (9), (10), (12) and (22) of “Permitted Investments” or Section 7.02(12)(a) to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed other than with the substantially concurrent receipt of Externally Generated Funds and (B) Investments and acquisitions the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is obligated to make in cash and are permitted by the Sections specified in clause (A) above pursuant to a binding agreement but that are not made during such period; provided that such Investment is made not later than 180 days after the end of such period and financed other than with the substantially concurrent receipt of Externally Generated Funds and that such Investments and/or acquisitions when made shall not reduce Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent period,

(vi) the amount of cash taxes paid in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, and

(vii) to the extent not otherwise deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income, all break fees, prepayment or make-whole premium or penalty payments, associated hedging break costs and premiums for replacement hedging fees, plus fees and expenses, in each case, to the extent paid in cash and reasonably incurred in connection with a Refinancing Indebtedness or any other prepayment of Refinancing Indebtedness during such period.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Excluded Assets” means (i) any fee-Owned Real Property with a value of less than $25,000,000 and all leasehold interests (other than interest in ground leases agreed on the Closing Date), (ii) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, letter of credit rights and commercial tort claims, (iii) assets specifically requiring perfection through control agreements ( i.e. , cash, deposit accounts or other bank or securities accounts, etc.), (iv) the Capital Stock of any Joint Venture, or of any special purpose subsidiary whose material assets are comprised solely of the Capital Stock of such Joint Venture, where the pledge of such Capital Stock would be prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement pertaining to such Joint Venture, (v) the ABL Facility Collateral, (vi) preferred stock issued in connection with a Structured Financing Transaction that is (x) on the Closing Date is subject to an existing Lien on the Closing Date or (y) prohibited from being pledged, and (vii) certain other exceptions described in the Security Documents.

“Excluded Contributions” means aggregate net cash proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

 

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(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be.

“Excluded Subsidiary” means (i) any Receivables Subsidiary, (ii) any Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (iii) any Special Purpose Subsidiary, (iv) any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary that is a subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary and (v) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Company as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date or at any time thereafter meeting any one of the following conditions that has been designated by the Borrower as an Excluded Subsidiary in a writing to the Administrative Agent (which designation may be rescinded by granting a Guarantee in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement): (a) the Total Assets of such Domestic Subsidiary determined as of the end of the fiscal year of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements are required to be delivered under this Agreement does not exceed $25,000,000, or (b) the Consolidated EBITDA of such Domestic Subsidiary does not exceed $25,000,000, for the period of four (4) consecutive quarters of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement; provided that if, at any time or from time to time after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, Domestic Subsidiaries (other than a Special Purpose Subsidiary) shall not be designated as Excluded Subsidiaries to the extent that such Domestic Subsidiaries under this clause (iii) would represent, in the aggregate, (a) 5% or more of Total Assets of the Company at the end of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Company or (b) 5% or more of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the most recently ended fiscal year, in each case, based upon the most recent financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement; provided, further , that, if the most recent financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement for any fiscal quarter occurring after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date indicate that, by reason of subsequent changes following the designation of any one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as an Excluded Subsidiary or Excluded Subsidiaries, the foregoing requirements of this definition would not be complied with (other than as a result of an impairment charge), individually or in the aggregate, then the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly (but in any event within 180 days after the date the financial statements are required), rescind such designations as are necessary, and provide such Guarantees as are necessary, so as to comply with the requirements of this Agreement. Any uncured Default shall not occur until the expiration of such 180-day period provided such efforts are used.

“Excluded Taxes” means, in the case of each Lender and Agent (including, for purposes of this definition, any sub-agent appointed pursuant to Section 9.05), (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income and franchise or capital taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by reason of any present or former connection between the jurisdiction imposing such tax and such Agent or Lender (or its applicable Lending Office) other than any connections arising solely from such Agent or Lender (or its applicable Lending Office) having executed, delivered, been party to, received or perfected a security interest under or performed its obligations under, received payment under or enforced, and/or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to any Loan Document; (b) any Tax in the nature of the branch profits tax imposed by Section 884(a) of the Code (or any successor provision) that is imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (a) above; (c) any U.S. federal withholding Tax on any amounts payable to a Lender that is imposed pursuant to any laws in effect at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new Lending Office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from a Loan Party with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01; (d) any withholding Tax attributable to such Agent or Lender’s failure to comply with clauses (d) and (e) of Section 3.01; (e) with respect to any fees payable to an Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, any U.S.

 

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federal withholding tax on such fees that is imposed pursuant to any laws in effect at the time such Agent becomes an Agent to this Agreement except to the extent that such Agent’s predecessor was entitled, immediately prior to such Agent becoming an Agent, to receive additional amounts from a Loan Party with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01, (f) any U.S. federal backup withholding Tax imposed pursuant to Section 3406 of the Code (or any successor provision), (g) any Tax imposed as a result of an Agent’s or Lender’s failure to satisfy the applicable requirements as set forth in Sections 1471, 1472, 1473 or 1474 of the Code (or any successor provision) or any regulation or administrative guidance promulgated thereunder and (h) any Tax imposed under Section 1411 of the Code (or any successor provision) or any regulation or administrative guidance promulgated thereuder.

“Executive Order” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Anti-Terrorism Laws.”

“Exit Financing” means that certain financing to finance the Reorganization Plan expected to be composed of the Loans, the ABL Facility, the Euro Securitization, the Plan Roll-Up Notes and the Senior Notes.

“Externally Generated Funds” means, only to the extent not increasing Consolidated Net Income, the net proceeds of (a) Financial Indebtedness, (b) issuance of or contribution to Equity Interests, (c) Asset Sales, or (d) Casualty Events, in each case of or by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction; provided that, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement, for purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of any property or assets, such Fair Market Value shall be determined by (x) the Company in good faith with respect to property or assets with a Fair Market Value not in excess of $250,000,000, (y) an opinion as to the Fair Market Value issued by a qualified accounting, appraisal, financial advisory or investment banking firm or (z) the Board of Directors of the Company, as evidenced by a certificate of an officer of the Company, with respect to property or assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of $250,000,000.

FCPA ” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

“Fee Letter” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Loan Documents.”

“Financial Indebtedness” means (without duplication), at any time, the principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding at such time, referred to in clauses (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d) and (2) of the definition of Indebtedness (but, as to such clause (2), only in respect of clauses (1)(a), (1)(b) and (1)(d) of such definition).

 

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“First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, among the Collateral Agent, the Senior Notes Trustee and the Senior Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Common Collateral, which may be amended from time to time without the consent of the Secured Parties to add other parties holding First Priority Lien Obligations permitted to be Incurred under the Senior Notes Indenture, this Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“First Priority Lien Obligations” means (i) all Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities (other than the Asset Backed Credit Facility and any other Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(2)(c)(ii)), (ii) the obligations under the Senior Notes, (iii) all other obligations of the Company, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Hedging Obligations or obligations in respect of cash management services in each case owing to a Person that is a holder of Credit Facility Indebtedness or an Affiliate of such holder at the time of entry into such Hedging Obligations or obligations in respect of cash management services, (iv) Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, if any, permitted to be Incurred under Section 7.01 and (v) Indebtedness under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(2)(c)(iii).

“Fiscal Year” means the twelve (12)-month fiscal period of the Company and its Subsidiaries commencing on January 1 of each calendar year and ending on December 31 of such calendar year as amended from time to time.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of revolving credit borrowings or revolving advances under any Receivables Financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date” ), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four (4)-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and operational changes (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four (4)-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period.

 

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For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event, and (2) all adjustments of the nature set forth as “Reorganization Adjustments” in Schedule 1.01B for the Company to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four (4)-quarter period.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

For the purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement.

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, and

(2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Foreign Capital Markets Debt” means Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary that constitutes a debt security or a syndicated loan.

“Foreign Lender” means, for purposes of the Tax in question, a Lender that is treated as foreign by the jurisdiction imposing such Tax.

“Foreign Plan” means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to by, or entered into with, a Loan Party or any Subsidiary with respect to employees employed outside the United States.

 

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“Foreign Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

“Funded Debt” means all Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States 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 have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date as adopted by the Company. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

“Granting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(g).

“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor” ) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or monetary other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee”

 

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shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case 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 under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“Guarantee Agreement” means the Guarantee Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit K .

“Guarantors” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement”.

“Guaranty” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement”.

“Hazardous Materials” means all materials, chemicals, substances, wastes, pollutants, contaminants, constituents and compounds of any nature or in any form, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas or mold that are regulated pursuant to, or can give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law.

“Hedge Bank” means any Person that is a Lender or a lender under the ABL Facility or an Affiliate of a Lender or a lender under the ABL Facility on the Closing Date or at the time it enters into a Secured Hedge Agreement or a Treasury Services Agreement, as applicable, in its capacity as a party thereto, and in the case of a Person that is not a Lender, that delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter agreement reasonably satisfactory to it (i) appointing the Collateral Agent as its agent under the applicable Loan Documents and (ii) agreeing to be bound by Sections 9.07 and 10.15 as if it were a Lender.

“Hedging Obligations” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, emission rights, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement” ), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

“Incremental Amendment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(d).

“Incremental Facility Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(d).

 

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Incremental Term Commitment ” means as to each Incremental Term Lender, its obligation to make an Incremental Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.12 in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount set forth in the applicable Incremental Amendment.

“Incremental Term Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has (i) a Commitment with respect to Incremental Term Loans or (ii) Incremental Term Loans, at such time.

“Incremental Term Loan Repayment Amount” means, with respect to any tranche of Incremental Term Loans, the installments of principal, if any, set forth in the applicable Incremental Amendment for such Incremental Term Loans.

“Incremental Term Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a).

“Incremental Term Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Incremental Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit B , evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Incremental Term Loans made by such Lender.

“Incur” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except any such balance that (i) constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (iii) liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the obligations referred to in clause (1) of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) 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); provided, however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

 

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provided, however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; or (4) obligations under or in respect of a Qualified Receivables Financing or Qualified Joint Venture Transaction.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Agreement as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Agreement but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Agreement.

“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

“Indemnified Taxes” means all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

“Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

“Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.08.

“Intercreditor Agreements” means, collectively, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

“Interest Payment Date” means (i) if the Term Loan Escrow Release Date does not occur, the date of the Special Mandatory Prepayment and (ii) if the Term Loan Escrow Release Date does occur, (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Term Loan Facility under which such Loan was made; provided that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three (3) months, the respective dates that fall every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Term Loan Facility under which such Loan was made.

“Interest Period” means the period commencing on the date each Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending (x) one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months thereafter (or any shorter period agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender) or (y) if agreed by each Lender of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, nine (9) or twelve (12) months thereafter, in the case of each (x) and (y), as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

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(ii) 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) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Term Loan Facility under which such Loan was made.

“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 a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Company and its Subsidiaries,

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4) 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.

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees (other than guarantees of performance made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Joint Venture)), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 7.02:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however , that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

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(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

IP Rights ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15.

Joint Bookrunners ” means UBS Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, Barclays Bank plc, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P.Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in their capacity as joint bookrunners for the Lenders under the Loan Documents.

Joint Lead Arrangers ” means UBS Securities LLC and Banc of America Securities LLC in their capacity as joint lead arrangers for the Lenders under the Loan Documents.

Joint Venture ” means any joint venture entity, whether a company, unincorporated firm, association, partnership or any other entity which, in each case, is not a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries but in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has a direct or indirect equity or similar interest.

Judgment Currency ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.18.

Junior Financing ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.08.

Junior Financing Documentation ” means any documentation governing any (a) Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) Junior Financing or (c) Refinancing Indebtedness of the forgoing.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, among the Collateral Agent, the Senior Notes Collateral Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent and the Plan Roll-Up Notes Trustee that sets forth the relative priority of the Liens securing any First Priority Lien Obligations, the Liens securing the ABL Facility and the Liens securing any Junior Lien Obligations.

Junior Lien Obligations ” means the Plan Roll-Up Notes and obligations with respect to other Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this Agreement, which is by its terms intended to be secured on a basis junior to the Liens securing the Loans and, to the extent required thereby, the ABL Facility; provided such Lien is permitted to be Incurred under the ABL Facility, the Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture, this Agreement and the Senior Notes Indenture.

Laws ” means, as to any Person, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case binding on such Person or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject.

Legal Reservations ” means:

(a) the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court;

 

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(b) the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganization, penalties and other similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors;

(c) the time barring of claims under the statutes of limitation;

(d) the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of stamp duties or to pay a penalty may be void; and

(e) defenses of set-off or counterclaim.

Lender ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement together with, in each case, any Affiliate of any such financial institution through which such financial institution elects, by notice to the Administrative Agent, to make any Loans available to the Borrower; provided that, for all purposes of voting or consenting with respect to (a) any amendment, supplementation or modification of any Loan Document, (b) any waiver of any requirements of any Loan Document or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences, or (c) any other matter as to which a Lender may vote or consent pursuant to Section 10.01 of this Agreement, the financial institution making such election shall be deemed the “Lender” rather than such Affiliate, which shall not be entitled to vote or consent (it being agreed that failure of any such Affiliate to fund an obligation under this Agreement shall not relieve its affiliated financial institution from funding).

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, such office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

LIBOR Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic mean of the offered rates for deposits in Dollars with a term comparable to such Interest Period that appears on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or such other page as may replace such page on such service for the purpose of displaying the rates at which Dollar deposits are offered by lending banks in London interbank deposit market) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the second full Business Day preceding the first day of such Interest Period; provided , however , that (i) if no comparable term for an Interest Period is available, the LIBOR Rate shall be determined using the weighted average of the offered rates for the two (2) terms most nearly corresponding to such Interest Period and (ii) if there shall at any time no longer exist a Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or such other page as may replace such page on such service for the purpose of displaying the rates at which Dollar deposits are offered by lending banks in London interbank deposit market), “LIBOR Rate” means, with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to Eurodollar Rate Loans comprising part of the same Credit Extension, the rate per annum equal to the rate at which the Administrative Agent is offered deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period in the London interbank market for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount comparable to its portion of the amount of such Credit Extension to be outstanding during such Interest Period.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or similar encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest); provided that in no event shall an operating lease, rights of set-off or netting arrangements in the ordinary course of business be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

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Limited Recourse Stock Pledge ” means the pledge of the Equity Interests in any Joint Venture (that is not a Restricted Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary to secure non-recourse debt of such Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary, which pledge is made by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the activities of which are limited to making and managing Investments, and owning Equity Interests, in such Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only for so long as its activities are so limited.

Liquidity Shortfall ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(i)(4).

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Intercreditor Agreements, (iii) the Notes, (iv) the Term Loan Escrow Agreement, (v) the Security Documents, (vi) the Guarantee Agreement, and (vii) for purposes of Section 8.01(c) only, the Fee Letter dated as of the Closing Date by and among the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (the “ Fee Letter ”).

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors.

Loans ” means, collectively the Term Loans and Incremental Term Loans.

Lyondell Assumption ” means the consummation of the transactions whereby (a) Lyondell Chemical will assume all of the obligations of the Escrow Borrower under this Agreement, (b) each of Lyondell Chemical’s Restricted Subsidiaries will guarantee the Obligations pursuant to the Guaranty to the extent such Restricted Subsidiaries are required to provide a Guaranty under the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement and (c) to the extent Lyondell Chemical assumes the obligations of the Escrow Borrower other than by merger, the Escrow Borrower is released from the Obligations.

Lyondell Chemical ” means Lyondell Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation.

Managed ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08(e).

Master Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “Hedging Obligations.”

Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Borrower or the Guarantors (taken as a whole) to perform their respective payment obligations under this Agreement and any other Loan Document to which any such Person is a party or (c) a deficiency in the rights and remedies of the Lenders under the Loan Documents (taken as a whole) that is materially adverse to the Lenders; provided that a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to exist as a result of the Cases or the Effect of Bankruptcy or circumstances and events leading up thereto.

Maturity Date ” means (i) with respect to the Term Loans, the sixth anniversary of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, and (ii) with respect to each tranche of Incremental Term Loans the Stated Maturity of such tranche set forth in the applicable Incremental Amendment.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.

Money Laundering Laws ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.20.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

 

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Mortgaged Properties ” has the meaning set forth in paragraph (g) of the definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement.”

Mortgages ” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions or otherwise could reasonably be expected to incur liability.

Negromex Receivables Dispositions ” means any disposition of accounts receivables arising from transactions with Industrias Negromex, S.A. de C.V.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, 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, 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) or Casualty Event, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale or Casualty Event and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, 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 (other than pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 7.04) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction; provided that, (i) if the Borrower or the Company shall deliver a certificate of a Principal Financial Officer to the Administrative Agent promptly following receipt of any such proceeds setting forth the Company’s intention to use any such proceeds to acquire, maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets useful in the business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries or to make acquisitions permitted by Section 7.02 or any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of, or all the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) in, 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 each case within fifteen (15) months of such receipt, such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not so used or contractually committed to be so used within fifteen (15) months of such receipt (it being understood that if any portion of such proceeds are not so used but are contractually committed within such fifteen (15)-month period to be used, then if such Net Proceeds are not so used within the later of the last day of such fifteen (15)-month period and the date that is 180 days from the entry into such Contractual Obligation, such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds as of the date of such expiry or termination); provided further that, in the event such contractual commitment is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are so applied, the

 

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Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another contractual commitment (a “ Second Commitment ”) within six months of such cancellation or termination of the prior binding commitment ( provided that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may only enter into a Second Commitment under the foregoing provision one time with respect to each Asset Sale or Casualty Event) and to the extent such Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied, then such remaining portion shall constitute Net Proceeds; provided further that no proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds until the aggregate amount of all such unapplied proceeds (excluding proceeds subject to investments pursuant to this clause (i)) accumulated from time to time exceeds $200,000,000 and (ii) Net Proceeds shall be reduced by the amount thereof required by the Senior Notes Indenture to be offered to repurchase Senior Notes pursuant to a Collateral Asset Sale Offer or an Asset Sale Offer (each as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture), as applicable; provided that such amount so reduced shall not exceed an amount equal to the total amount of Net Proceeds (prior to giving effect to such reduction) multiplied by a fraction (x) the numerator of which is the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes then outstanding and (y) the denominator of which is the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Loans and Senior Notes then outstanding.

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(c).

Note ” means a Term Note or an Incremental Term Note, as the context may require.

Obligations ” means all (x) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding (collectively, the “ Credit Agreement Obligations ”), and (y) obligations of any Loan Party arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Secured Treasury Services Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include (a) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party or Subsidiary under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party or Subsidiary to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary to the extent originally payable by that Loan Party or Subsidiary.

OFAC ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of any Person.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of any Person by an Officer of such Person, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Person, which meets the requirements set forth in this Agreement.

OID ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(b).

Oil Indexed Credit Facility ” means a working capital facility for which availability is conditioned upon the price per barrel of crude oil that is not less than $125 and the proceeds of which are

 

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utilized for working capital purposes and related fees and expenses; provided that the Loans and any other First Priority Lien Obligations are secured by a Lien ranking at least pari passu with any Lien on assets securing any Oil Indexed Credit Facility and the collateral agent under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall have been made party to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall be subject to the terms thereof.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Borrower or to the Administrative Agent.

Organization Documents ” means (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation, association or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Outstanding Amount ” means with respect to the Loans, the aggregate principal amount thereof, after giving effect to any borrowings, extensions of credit and prepayments or repayments of Loans, occurring on such date.

Owned Real Property ” means each parcel of Real Property that is owned in fee by the Company, the Borrower or any Pledgor that has an individual Fair Market Value of more than $25,000,000 ( provided that such $25,000,000 threshold shall not be applicable in the case of any Real Property that is integrally related to the ownership or operation of a Mortgaged Property or otherwise necessary for such Mortgaged Property to be in compliance with all requirements of law applicable to such Mortgaged Property); provided that, with respect to any Real Property that is partially owned in fee and partially leased by the Company, the Borrower or any Pledgor, Owned Real Property will include only that portion of such Real Property that is owned in fee and only if (i) such portion that is owned in fee has an individual Fair Market Value of more than $25,000,000 ( provided that such $25,000,000 threshold shall not be applicable in the case of Real Property that is integrally related to the ownership or operation of a Mortgaged Property or otherwise necessary for such Mortgaged Property to be in compliance with all requirements of law applicable to such Mortgaged Property) and (ii) a mortgage in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) is permitted on such portion of Real Property owned in fee by applicable law and by the terms of any lease or other applicable document governing any leased portion of such Real Property.

Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(e).

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(e).

Participating Member State ” means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.

Payor ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Net Income.”

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

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PBGC Settlement ” means the settlement agreement between the Borrower and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor in interest thereto) as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Pension Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years or with respect to which a Loan Party, Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate could reasonably be expected to incur liability (including under Section 4063 or 4069 of ERISA).

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit F-1 , as the same shall be supplemented from time to time by a supplement in the form of Exhibit F-2 or otherwise.

Perfection Requirements ” means the making or the procuring of the appropriate registrations, filings, endorsements, notarizations, stamping and/or notifications of the Security Documents and/or the Lien created hereunder, to the extent to be made other than by the Company or its Subsidiaries.

Permitted Holder Group ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Holders.”

Permitted Holders ” means, at any time, each of (i) the Sponsors, (ii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the Company and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof and (iii) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above and that, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company (a “ Permitted Holder Group ”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has sole voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member relative to the other members of the Permitted Holder Group with respect to voting in the election of the Board of Directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries generally and (2) no Person or other group (other than Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

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(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 7.04 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the Term Loan Escrow Release Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (x) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date or (y) as otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(6) loans and advances to officers, directors or employees (a) for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, including as part of a recruitment or retention plan, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company, (b) required by applicable employment laws loans and (c) other loans and advances not to exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(7) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 7.01(k);

(9) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business or in Joint Ventures having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $750,000,000 and (y) 3.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (9); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $250,000,000 and (y) 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (10);

 

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provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(11) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable; provided , however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (ii) or (iii) in the definition of “Applicable Amount”;

(12) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(13) Investments consisting of or to finance purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, services or equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property;

(14) any Investment in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments in a Receivables Subsidiary, of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness and, to the extent constituting an Investment, the acquisition of accounts receivable that have been sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a Receivables Financing, including the repurchase of accounts receivable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or other payment obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(15) any Investment in an entity or purchase of a business or assets in each case owned (or previously owned) by a customer of a Restricted Subsidiary as a condition or in connection with such customer (or any member of such customer’s group) contracting with a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(16) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 7.07 after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(17) any Investment in any Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;

(18) Investments through the licensing contribution in a Person that is or will be as a result of such Investment a Joint Venture or Investments through the licensing, contribution or transactions that economically result in a contribution in kind of intellectual property pursuant to Joint Venture arrangements, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(19) purchase of shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG required to satisfy Basell B.V.’s obligations under its stock option plans as such plans and stock appreciation rights were in effect on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date;

(20) a transaction the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 7.02(12) and (13);

(21) any Investment in connection with a Structured Financing Transaction;

(22) a transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with clause (38) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(23) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of Section 7.05 (except transactions described in clauses (2), (4), (5), (9)(b), (15) and (19) of such paragraph); and

(24) any Qualified Joint Venture Transaction.

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith pledges or deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of the issuers of performance bonds, surety bonds, bid bonds, letters of credit or similar instruments issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business or with respect to statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements;

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

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(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01; (B) Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 7.01(a), (c)(i) and (c)(iii) and (y) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness that, as of the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of proceeds therefrom on such date, would not cause the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company to exceed 2.00 to 1.00; provided that, with respect to Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations permitted under this subclause (B), the Loans are secured by Liens on the assets subject to such Liens on at least a pari passu basis with the Liens securing all such First Priority Lien Obligations, with the priority and subject to intercreditor arrangements, in each case not materially less favorable to the holders of the obligations than those described in the definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement”; (C) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 7.01(c)(ii), (e)(i), (e)(ii), (u) or (y) ( provided that (1) in the case of clause (c)(ii) any Lien on Collateral securing Indebtedness under the ABL Facility, or any refinancing or replacement thereof, must be expressly subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (2) in the case of clause (e)(i), such Lien extends only to the assets and/or Capital Stock, the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of which is financed thereby and any proceeds or products thereof, (3) in the case of clause (u), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of any Subsidiary of the Company other than a Foreign Subsidiary, (4) in the case of clause (e)(ii) such Lien applies solely to acquired property or asset of the acquired entity, as the case may be) and (5) in the case of clause (y), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than Australia) and (D) Liens securing the Obligations;

(7) Liens existing on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (other than Liens in favor of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents and under the ABL Facility);

(8) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 7.01;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not Incurred in violation of this Agreement; provided that with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Lien extends only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

 

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(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, tender, bid, judgment, appeal, performance or governmental contract bonds and completion guarantees, surety, standby letters of credit and warranty and contractual service obligations of a like nature, trade letters of credit and documentary letters of credit and similar bonds or guarantees provided by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(13) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or other precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings;

(15) Liens in favor of the Company, the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(16) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing to the extent permitted by Section 7.01;

(17) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided , however , that such Lien is limited to the applicable insurance carriers;

(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15); provided , however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien ( plus improvements on such property), (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Agreement, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums (including tender premiums) and original issue discount, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement and (z) Junior Lien Obligations shall not be refinanced with First Priority Lien Obligations (other than any Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing); provided , further , however , that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (6)(B) or (C), the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (6)(B) or (C) and not this clause (20) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (6)(B) or (C) and for purposes of the definition of Secured Credit Facility Indebtedness;

(21) Liens on equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

 

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(22) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens Incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(25) other Liens on assets not constituting Collateral securing obligations that do not exceed $50,000,000 in aggregate at any time;

(26) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any Joint Venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any Joint Venture or similar agreement;

(27) any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(28) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution;

(29) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts Incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking institution 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 industry;

(30) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Agreement;

(31) any netting or set-off arrangements entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash pooling arrangements) for the purposes of netting debit and credit balances of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, including pursuant to any Treasury Services Agreement;

(32) 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 in the ordinary course of business;

(33) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 7.01; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreements;

(34) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in or monies placed in escrow pursuant to an Investment permitted pursuant to the definition of

 

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“Permitted Investments” to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, (ii) over assets being acquired pursuant to Investments permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” pending payment in full of the purchase price, (iii) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a disposition permitted pursuant to the definition of “Asset Sale” and (iv) consisting of intellectual property licenses permitted by clause (18) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(35) Liens arising by reason of deposits necessary to qualify the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to conduct business, maintain self insurance or comply with any law and Liens securing the PBGC Settlement;

(36) any Lien arising as a result of a sale, transfer or other disposal which is an Asset Sale in compliance with Section 7.04;

(37) Liens relating to a Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(38) Liens relating to any Limited Recourse Stock Pledge; and

(39) Liens relating to any Treasury Services Agreement, Qualified Joint Venture Transaction or Structured Financing Transaction.

Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing ” means the issuance of other notes, and the Incurrence of additional term loans under any Credit Facilities, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,500,000,000 if the proceeds thereof are used to refinance Plan Roll-Up Notes (and related interest, premiums, if any, and expenses) so long as

(i) on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto (including a pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), (x) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company is at least 2.00 to 1.00, (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness is greater the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such Incurrence and (z) the requirements of subclauses (1) and (3) of Section 7.01(p) are satisfied with respect to such refinancing; and

(ii) to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of such other notes and term loans exceeds $1,000,000,000, the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.01(2)(c)(i) shall be reduced on a dollar for dollar basis (without duplication for Indebtedness Incurred as part of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing), until such time as such excess over $1,000,000,000 (x) would be permitted to be Incurred under the first paragraph of Section 7.01 and (y) would be permitted to be secured by a Lien as an Additional First Priority Lien Obligation pursuant to clause (6)(B)(y) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Plan of Reorganization ” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Plan of Reorganization of the Debtors filed with the Bankruptcy Court on March 15, 2010, as amended by the Confirmation Order and confirmed pursuant to section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Plan Roll-Up Notes ” means (a) third-priority senior secured notes of the Borrower and guaranteed by one or more Guarantors issued in respect of DIP Roll-Up Claims under the Reorganization

 

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Plan; provided that any Indebtedness issued in lieu of the Plan Roll-Up Notes in respect of DIP Roll-Up Claims will be deemed to be Plan Roll-Up Notes ( provided that any such indebtedness is Incurred in compliance with the terms of this Agreement applicable to refinancings and replacements of Plan Roll-Up Notes had they been issued pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization), or (b) any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part thereof.

Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture ” means the indenture under which the Plan Roll-Up Notes are issued, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time all in accordance with this Agreement; provided no such amendment or modification may shorten the maturity of the Plan-Roll-Up Notes.

Plan Roll-Up Notes Trustee ” means the trustee under the Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture.

Platform ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

Pledgor ” means any Guarantor other than the Company; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Subsidiary from its obligations to pledge its assets and property to secure the Loans in accordance with this Agreement or the Security Documents, such Subsidiary ceases to be a Pledgor.

Preferred Stock ” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Primary Offering ” means an Equity Offering on any investment exchange or any other sale or issue by way of flotation or public offering or any equivalent circumstances with aggregate net cash proceeds to the Company or contributed to the Company of at least $500,000,000.

Principal Financial Officer ” means the chief financial officer, any director (or equivalent) or officer from time to time of the Borrower or the Company (as the context may require) with actual knowledge of the financial affairs of the Borrower or the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as the context may require).

Pro Rata Share ” means, with respect to each Lender at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitments of such Lender under the applicable Term Loan Facility or Term Loan Facilities at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Term Loan Facility or Term Loan Facilities at such time; provided that if such Commitments have been terminated, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Prohibition ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.22.

Project Financings ” means, with respect to any project, the Incurrence of Indebtedness relating to the development, expansion, renovation, upgrade or other modification or construction of such project pursuant to which the providers of such Indebtedness or any trustee or other intermediary on their behalf or beneficiaries designated by any such provider, trustee or other intermediary are granted security over one or more assets relating to such project for repayment of principal, premium and interest or any other amount in respect of such Indebtedness, including Indebtedness to finance working capital requirements with respect to any project; provided that any working capital financing shall not be secured by any assets or property included in calculating the Borrowing Base for purposes of Section 7.01(c)(ii).

 

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Projections ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(c).

Public Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

Purchase Offer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.13(a).

Qualified Joint Venture Transaction ” means any transaction in which (i) Indebtedness is owed or incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary whose activities are limited to holding shares in Joint Ventures (but only to the extent that (a) the creditors under the relevant agreement have no recourse to the Company other than to such Restricted Subsidiary; and (b) the recourse those creditors have to such Restricted Subsidiary is limited to the proceeds (if any) of dividends received by such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Restricted Subsidiary’s investment in such Joint Ventures) or (ii) involving guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of a customer or a third party guarantor of such customer’s Indebtedness that are made to a governmental export credit agency, a state development bank or like governmental agency or organization to the extent that such guarantees are conditioned on a failure to perform by any of the Company, such Restricted Subsidiary or a joint venture under an engineering procurement or construction contract entered into with such customer or third party guarantor; provided that the aggregate amount of any Indebtedness referenced in this clause (ii) shall not at any time exceed 1.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.

Qualified Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness that (1) is (a) Incurred by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of property or the Equity Interests of any person owning such property and whether in a single acquisition or a series of related acquisitions) or (b) assumed by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (2) is non-recourse to the Company, the Borrower and any Pledgor and (3) is non-recourse to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary ” means (1) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Pledgor and that is formed or created after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date in order to finance an acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property or equipment (directly or through one of its Subsidiaries) that secures Qualified Non-Recourse Debt and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary of a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

Qualified Receivables Financing ” means any Receivables Financing that meets the following conditions (including, without limitation, the Euro Securitization, the Berre Facility and the Negromex Receivables Dispositions):

(1) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have 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 the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets are made at Fair Market Value; and

 

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(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure the ABL Facility, any Credit Facility Indebtedness or any Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Notes shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

Qualified Stock ” means any Equity Interest that is not a Disqualified Stock.

Real Property ” means, collectively, all right, title and interests (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned, leased or operated by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all buildings, structures, parking areas and improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Receivables Fees ” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Financing.

Receivables Financing ” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to any other Person, including to a Receivables Subsidiary, or may grant a security interest in, bank accounts, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, 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 Hedging Obligations entered into by the Company or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation ” means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising 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 Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Receivables Financing with the Company in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes an Investment and to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Company and its 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 the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to

 

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Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(b) with which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company; and

(c) to which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company 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 the Company shall be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Refinanced Loans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

Refinancing Indebtedness ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.01.

Refunding Capital Stock ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.02.

Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(d).

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing or migrating in, into, onto or through the Environment.

Reorganization Plan ” means a plan of reorganization in any of the Cases.

Repayment Amount ” means the Term Loan Repayment Amount and each Incremental Term Loan Repayment Amount, if any.

Replacement Loans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than events for which the thirty (30)-day notice period has been waived.

Request for Credit Extension ” means, with respect to a Credit Extension or a continuation or conversion of Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.

Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings, and (b) aggregate unused Commitments, provided that the unused Commitment, of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

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Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other similar officer of a Loan Party (including, in the case of each Loan Party, the authorized number of managing directors or a general attorney or an attorney under a power of attorney of such Loan Party) and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date or the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, any secretary of such Loan Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Cash ” means cash and Cash Equivalents held by Restricted Subsidiaries that is contractually restricted from being distributed to the Company, except for such cash and Cash Equivalents subject only to such restrictions that are contained in agreements governing Indebtedness permitted under this Agreement and that is secured by such cash or Cash Equivalents.

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Party ” means any person listed:

(a) in the Annex to the Executive Order;

(b) on the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list maintained by the OFAC;

(c) in any successor list to either of the foregoing;

(d) any Person or entity that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order; or

(e) any Person designated as the target of the Sanctions.

Restricted Payment ” means:

(1) a declaration or payment of any dividend or the making of any distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(2) the purchase or other acquisition or retirement for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company;

(3) the making of any principal payment on, or redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund

 

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obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one (1) year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01(h) or (j)); or

(4) make any Restricted Investment (all of the payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above are collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”).

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall at all times constitute a Restricted Subsidiary.

Retired Capital Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

Same Day Funds ” means, with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds.

Sanctions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency or commission.

Secured Credit Facility Indebtedness ” means any Credit Facility Indebtedness that is secured by a Permitted Lien Incurred or deemed Incurred pursuant to clause (6)(B) of the definition of Permitted Lien.

Secured Hedge Agreement ” means any Hedging Obligation permitted under Article VII entered into by and between the Borrower or any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank.

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the four (4) full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date of such calculation. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Secured Leverage Calculation Date ”), then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period; provided that the Borrower may elect pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate

 

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delivered to the Administrative Agent to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four (4)-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Leverage Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated Indebtedness and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four (4)-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and (2) all adjustments of the nature set forth as “Restructuring Adjustments” in Schedule 1.01B to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four (4)-quarter period.

For the purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve (12)-month period immediately prior to the date of determination or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement.

Secured Leverage Calculation Date ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio.”

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the Hedge Banks and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05.

Secured Treasury Services Agreement ” means any Treasury Services Agreement entered into by and between the Borrower or any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank.

 

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Security Agreements ” means the Security Agreements listed on Schedule 1.01H , or any other similar agreements that create a Lien or purport to create a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Security Documents ” means each of the Security Agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, the Term Loan Escrow Agreement, each of the Mortgages and related agreements or similar agreements, creating the security interests in the Collateral as contemplated by this Agreement.

Senior Notes ” means the notes issued under the Senior Notes Indenture.

Senior Notes Collateral Agent ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as collateral agent administrating collateral on behalf of the noteholders under the Senior Notes Indenture or any such successor agent.

Senior Notes Escrow Agent ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as escrow agent under the Senior Notes Escrow Agreement or any successor escrow agent as set forth in the Senior Notes Escrow Agreement.

Senior Notes Escrow Agreement ” means the Escrow Agreement dated as of April 8, 2010 among the Borrower, the Senior Notes Trustee and the Senior Notes Escrow Agent, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or part from time to time.

Senior Notes Indenture ” means the indenture under which the Senior Notes are issued, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed or restated in whole or in part from time to time, in accordance with the terms thereof.

Senior Notes Trustee ” means the party named as such in the Senior Notes Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision).

Similar Business ” means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date or any business or activity that is reasonably similar or complementary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.

Solvent ” and “ Solvency ” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

SPC ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(g).

 

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Special Mandatory Prepayment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).

Special Purpose Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company whose material assets are comprised solely of the Capital Stock of a Joint Venture, where the pledge of such Capital Stock would be prohibited by any contractual requirement pertaining to such Joint Venture.

Specified ABL Facility Assets means any ABL Facility Collateral, the net proceeds of an Asset Sale of which are required to be applied as a prepayment of any Asset Backed Credit Facility.

Specified Claims ” means claims made pursuant to the Bankruptcy Cases of the Debtors relating to (i) Priority Tax Claims, (ii) Priority Non-Tax Claims, (iii) Secured Tax Claims, (iv) Senior Secured Claims, (v) Bridge Loan Claims, (vi) Other Secured Claims, (vii) General Unsecured Claims Against Obligor Debtors, Non-Obligor Debtors, MSC, MPI and MPCO and Schedule III Debtors and (viii) 2015 Note Claims (as such terms are defined in the Plan of Reorganization); provided that (a) the foregoing shall include items relating to litigation against the lenders and the funding of environmental and other custodial and litigation trusts contemplated by the Reorganization Plan proposed as of the Closing Date and (b) in no event shall the foregoing include professional fees and expenses, financing fees and expenses, original issue discount or debtor-in-possession exit fees.

Specified Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.

Sponsor ” means Apollo Global Management, LLC and any of its Affiliates.

Standard Securitization Undertakings ” means representations, warranties, undertakings, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

Structured Financing Transaction ” means a sale of preferred shares of a Restricted Subsidiary, depositing the proceeds of such sale with a bank and pledging such deposit to guarantee a put and call with respect to such preferred shares.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means (a) with respect to the Borrower, any Indebtedness of the Borrower which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Loans and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to obligations in respect of the Loans.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting

 

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interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity; or (3) with respect to the Company, for so long as the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, has at least a 50% ownership interest in Lyondell Bayer Manufacturing Maasvlakle VOF, Lyondell Bayer Manufacturing Maasvlakle VOF. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are Guarantors.

Successor Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

Successor Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

Successor Pledgor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

Syndication Agent ” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as syndication agent under the Loan Documents, and its successors in such capacity.

Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges (including all interest, additions to tax and penalties related thereto) imposed by any Governmental Authority.

Temporary Paydown ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(i)(4).

Term Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

Term Commitment ” means, as to each Term Lender, its obligation to make a Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Appropriate Lender’s name on Schedule 1.01A under the caption “Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Appropriate Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. The initial aggregate amount of the Term Commitments is $500,000,000.

Term Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has (i) a Commitment with respect to Term Loans or (ii) a Term Loan, at such time.

Term Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.

Term Loan Escrow Account ” means that certain account maintained by the Term Loan Escrow Agent in the name of the Borrower, pursuant to the terms of Term Loan Escrow Agreement.

Term Loan Escrow Agent ” means UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as escrow agent under the Term Loan Escrow Agreement and any successor escrow agent thereunder.

 

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Term Loan Escrow Agreement ” means an escrow agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit L , entered among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Term Loan Escrow Agent.

Term Loan Escrow Collateral ” means the “Collateral” as defined in the Term Loan Escrow Agreement.

Term Loan Escrow Conditions Precedent Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).

Term Loan Escrow End Date ” means the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the Closing Date; provided that the Borrower may elect to extend the Term Loan Escrow End Date for an additional thirty (30) days on no more than two (2) occasions so long as, not later than five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Term Loan Escrow End Date, (i) it provides prior written notice to the Term Loan Escrow Agent and the Administrative Agent and has issued a press release stating that it has extended the Term Loan Escrow End Date and (ii) it has deposited cash into escrow with the Term Loan Escrow Agent, to be held pursuant to the terms of the Term Loan Escrow Agreement, in an amount sufficient to fund the prepayment price due on the latest possible date for the revised Special Mandatory Prepayment in respect of all outstanding Loans and has certified that such amounts will be satisfactory for such purpose.

Term Loan Escrow Investment ” means (1) Treasury Securities, (2) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing no later the Term Loan Escrow End Date in each case, entitled to U.S. federal deposit insurance for the full amount thereof or issued by a bank or trust company (including the Term Loan Escrow Agent or an affiliate of the Term Loan Escrow Agent) which is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof having capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $500,000,000 and (3) repurchase obligations maturing no later than the Term Loan Escrow End Date entered into with a nationally recognized broker-dealer, with respect to which the purchase securities are obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or any agency thereof, which repurchase obligations shall be entered into pursuant to written agreements.

Term Loan Escrow Prepayment Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).

Term Loan Escrow Proceeds ” means the principal amount of the funds deposited into the Term Loan Escrow Account on the Closing Date pursuant to the terms of the Term Loan Escrow Agreement.

Term Loan Escrow Redemption Date ” means a date that is no earlier than the Term Loan Escrow Conditions Precedent Date and no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Term Loan Escrow Conditions Precedent Date.

Term Loan Escrow Release Conditions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.

Term Loan Escrow Release Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date are satisfied in accordance with Section 4.02 and the Term Loans are advanced to the Borrower, which date shall not be more than 120 days after the Closing Date.

Term Loan Facilities ” means each of (a) the Commitments and the Term Loans made thereunder and (b) each tranche of Incremental Term Loans, if any.

Term Loan Repayment Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05.

 

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Term Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit B , evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Term Loans made by such Lender.

Threshold Amount ” means $100,000,000.

Threshold Indebtedness ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(e).

Total Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, without giving effect to any amortization of the amount of intangible assets since the Closing Date, (x) as shown on the most recent balance sheet of such Person, or (y) in regards to the Company only, as shown on the most recent balance sheet required to be delivered pursuant to the covenant in Section 6.01.

Total Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

Transaction ” means the consummation of the Plan of Reorganization and the availability for use by the Company and its Subsidiaries of proceeds of the Exit Financing, the making of the Loans on the Closing Date, the entry into the Term Loan Escrow Agreement and the Lyondell Assumption and the transactions related thereto.

Transaction Expenses ” means any premiums, interest, discount, fees, costs or expenses incurred or paid by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transaction (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions), this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transfer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

Treasury Securities ” means any Investment in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or agency thereof, in each case, maturing no later than the Term Loan Escrow End Date.

Treasury Services Agreement ” means any agreement between the Borrower, any Guarantor or Restricted Subsidiary and any commercial bank or other financial institution relating to treasury, depository, and cash management services, employee credit card arrangements or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds.

Type ” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

Unfunded Current Liability ” of any ERISA Plan means the amount, if any, by which the Accumulated Benefit Obligation (as defined under Statement of Financial Account Standards No. 87 (“ SFAS 87 ”)) under the ERISA Plan as of the close of its most recent year, determined in accordance with SFAS 87 as in effect on the Closing Date, exceeds the fair market vale of the assets allocable thereto.

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.

United States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of America.

 

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U.S. Security Agreement ” means the Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E .

Unrestricted Cash ” means cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company, the Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries other than Restricted Cash.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided, however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except as permitted under Section 7.01); provided, further, however , that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 7.02.

The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described under Section 7.01, or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by Company shall be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by promptly filing with the Administrative Agent a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

USA PATRIOT Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(f).

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

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Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required to be held by Foreign Subsidiaries) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Working Capital Reserve Account ” means a deposit account established by the Company and maintained with the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties; provided that such account shall be in the name of the Collateral Agent or shall be subject to a customary control agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

Section 1.02. Other Interpretive Provisions .

With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(f) 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.”

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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Section 1.03. Accounting Terms .

All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in accordance with, GAAP, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Unless otherwise stated herein and except with respect to Article VII, references to a Person with respect to accounting terms or items that appear in such Person’s financial statements shall be deemed a reference to that Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, except for references to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which will be deemed references to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

Section 1.04. Rounding .

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under 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 1.05. References to Agreements, Laws, Etc .

Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, restructurings, renewals, restatements, refinancings or replacements in whole or in part, but only to the extent that such amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, restructurings, renewals, restatements, refinancings or replacements are permitted by the Loan Documents; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

Section 1.06. 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 1.07. Timing of Payment or Performance .

Unless otherwise specified, when the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day; provided that, if such extension would cause payment of interest or principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

Section 1.08. Currency Equivalents Generally .

Any amount specified in this Agreement (other than in Articles II, IX and X) or any of the other Loan Documents to be in Dollars shall also include the equivalent of such amount in any currency other than Dollars, such equivalent amount (the “ Dollar Equivalent Amount ”) to be determined at the rate of exchange quoted by the Administrative Agent in New York, New York at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding any date of determination thereof, to prime banks in New York,

 

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New York for the spot purchase in the New York foreign exchange market of such amount in Dollars with such other currency. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 7.01, 7.02 and 7.06 with respect to any amount of any cash balance, Liens, Indebtedness or Investment in Euros (if any), no Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such cash balance is determined, Lien is created, Indebtedness is incurred or Investment is made; provided, however , that (x) if, any such cash balance, Lien, Indebtedness or Investment denominated in a different currency is subject to a currency Hedging Obligation (with respect to Dollars) covering principal amounts of such cash balance, Lien, Indebtedness or Investment, the amount of such cash balance, Lien, Indebtedness or Investment, as the case may be, expressed in Dollars will be adjusted to take into account the effect of such agreement; and (y) for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.08 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any cash balance, Lien, Indebtedness or Investment (not previously incurred on any date) may be incurred under such Sections.

Section 1.09. Change of Currency .

Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify with the Company’s consent to appropriately reflect a change in currency of any country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to such change in currency.

ARTICLE II.

The Commitments and Credit Extensions

Section 2.01. The Term Loans .

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Lender severally agrees to make Term Loans on the Closing Date to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Term Lender’s Commitment, the proceeds of which shall be deposited into the Term Loan Escrow Account in accordance with the terms of the Term Loan Escrow Agreement and Section 2.14. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01 and repaid may not be reborrowed.

Section 2.02. Credit Extensions, Conversions and Continuations of Loans .

(a) Each Credit Extension, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (i) 12:30 p.m. (New York, New York time) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Credit Extension or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans and (ii) 11:00 a.m. (New York, New York time) on the requested date of any Credit Extension of Base Rate Loans or any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice (except in the case of the initial Term Loan borrowing on the Closing Date), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Except as provided in Section 2.12(b), each Credit Extension of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.12(b), each Credit Extension of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Credit

 

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Extension, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Credit Extension, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If with respect to Loans the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Credit Extension of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.

(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of the initial Credit Extension of the Term Loans, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Term Loan available to the Term Loan Escrow Agent by wire transfer in Same Day Funds for deposit into the Term Loan Escrow Account pursuant to the Term Loan Escrow Agreement and Section 2.14. In the case of each other Credit Extension, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the applicable currency not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York, New York time) in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. The Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of UBS AG, Stamford Branch, with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan unless the Borrower pays the amount due, if any, under Section 3.05 in connection therewith. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Required Lenders may require that no Loans denominated in Dollars may be converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Appropriate Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurodollar Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Appropriate Lenders of any change in the Administrative Agent’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Credit Extensions, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than thirty (30) Interest Periods in effect.

(f) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Credit Extension shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Credit Extension, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Credit Extension.

 

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Section 2.03. Prepayments .

(a) Optional . The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:30 p.m. (New York, New York time) (A) two (2) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (2) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; and (3) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such prepayment. The Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein; provided that a notice of prepayment of the Loans delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditional upon the effectiveness of another financing or a Change of Control, and in either such case, such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by written notice to the Administrative Agent a reasonable time prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each prepayment of principal of, and interest on, Loans shall be made in Dollars. In the case of each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(a), the Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Loans (and the order of maturity of principal payments), to be repaid, and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(b) Mandatory . (i) Within fifteen (15) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) (commencing with Fiscal Year 2011) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the Company shall cause to be prepaid Loans equal to (A) the Applicable ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the Fiscal Year covered by such financial statements minus (B) the sum of:

(1) all voluntary prepayments of Loans during such Fiscal Year, in each case to the extent such prepayments are not funded with Externally Generated Funds;

(2) all voluntary prepayments of loans under the Asset Backed Credit Facilities and the Receivables Financings during such Fiscal Year, in each case to the extent the related commitments are concurrently and permanently reduced and in each case to the extent such prepayments are not funded with Externally Generated Funds;

(3) if both (x) there is a decrease in Consolidated Working Capital in such Fiscal Year and (y) the Average Brent Crude Oil Price for the last fiscal quarter of such Fiscal Year is lower than the Average Brent Crude Oil Price for the last fiscal quarter of the previous Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the product of (I) the amount of such decrease in Consolidated Working Capital and (II) the Applicable ECF Percentage for such Fiscal Year; provided that the Borrower shall deposit an amount equal to the amount of such decrease in Consolidated Working Capital into the Working Capital Reserve Account and none of such decrease in Consolidated Working Capital so deposited shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Excess Cash Flow required to be applied

 

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pursuant to this Section 2.03(b)(i)), unless the Average Brent Crude Oil Price over the last fiscal quarter of the relevant Fiscal Year is between zero and 5% lower than the Average Brent Crude Oil Price over the last fiscal quarter of the previous Fiscal Year, in which case 50% of such decrease in Consolidated Working Capital shall be deposited into the Working Capital Reserve Account (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the other 50% shall continue to be included in the calculation of Excess Cash Flow); provided that all amounts deposited in the Working Capital Reserve Account shall only be used (x) to fund any net increase in Consolidated Working Capital during the following Fiscal Year; and/or (y) to prepay the Loans in accordance with Section 2.03(b)(i) as if the amount prepaid had not been excluded from Excess Cash Flow in such relevant Fiscal Year pursuant to this Section 2.03(b)(i), and must be so applied in full by the end of the following Fiscal Year; and any payment out of the Working Capital Reserve Account shall be certified at the end of the fiscal quarter during which such payment is made by the Principal Financial Officer as being made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement; and

(4) if both (x) after giving pro forma effect to any prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.03(b)(i), the projections then most recently delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) show the Unrestricted Cash at any point during the next two Fiscal Years covered by such projections to be less than the Applicable Liquidity Level for the Fiscal Year with respect to which Excess Cash Flow is calculated (the then Applicable Liquidity Level less such Unrestricted Cash, the “ Liquidity Shortfall ”) and (y) the outstanding amount under the ABL Facility and the Euro Securitization (taken as a whole) at the end of the Fiscal Year with respect to which Excess Cash Flow is calculated is less than such amount at the end of the previous Fiscal Year without any corresponding permanent reduction in associated commitments (a “ Temporary Paydown ”), then an amount equal to the product of (I) the lesser of the Liquidity Shortfall and the amount of the Temporary Paydown and (II) the Applicable ECF Percentage for such Fiscal Year (such product, the “ ECF Deferral Amount ”); provided that (A) the prepayment obligation pursuant to this Section 2.03(b)(i) in the next succeeding Fiscal Year shall be increased by the ECF Deferral Amount unless and to the extent there is also a Liquidity Shortfall for such next succeeding Fiscal Year and (B) no Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.02(8)(i) shall be permitted until the earlier of (1) the payment of such ECF Deferral Amount in accordance with Section 2.03(b)(i) with respect to the next succeeding Fiscal Year or (2) deposit of an amount in cash equal to the ECF Deferral Amount in the Working Capital Reserve Account.

(ii) If (A) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries disposes of any property or assets in an Asset Sale after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (other than any Asset Sale of any property or assets permitted under clauses (a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (i) or (k) of the definition of “Asset Sale”) or (B) any Casualty Event occurs after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, in each case that results in the realization or receipt by the Company or such Subsidiary of Net Proceeds, the Company shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate amount of Loans equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds; provided that, with respect to any Net Proceeds of Asset Sales or Casualty Events realized or received by any Foreign Subsidiary, the aggregate amount of such Net Proceeds required to be applied pursuant to this Section 2.03(b)(ii) to the prepayment of the Loans and the permanent reduction of the Commitments shall be subject to reduction to the extent the expatriation of such Net Proceeds (1) would result in material adverse tax consequences or adverse legal consequences, (2) would be reasonably likely to result in adverse personal liability of any director of the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary or (3) would result in the insolvency of the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

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(iii) If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs or issues any Indebtedness after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (other than Indebtedness not prohibited under Section 7.01), the Company shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate amount of Loans equal to 100% of all cash proceeds of such Indebtedness (net of all Taxes, fees, costs and expenses which are incurred by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such incurrence or issuance) received therefrom on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the receipt by such Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary of such cash proceeds; provided that, with respect to any such Net Proceeds realized or received by a Foreign Subsidiary, such Net Proceeds shall not be required to be applied as a prepayment under this Section 2.03(b)(iii) to the extent they are subject to reduction to the extent the expatriation of such Net Proceeds (1) would result in material adverse consequences or adverse legal consequences, (2) would be reasonably likely to result in adverse personal liability of any director of the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary or (3) would result in the insolvency of the Company or a Foreign Subsidiary.

(iv) Each prepayment of Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(b) shall be applied pro rata among the Term Loan Facilities. Each prepayment of any tranche of Loans pursuant to Section 2.03(b) shall be applied to such tranche first , to accrued interest and fees due on the amount of the prepayment under such Term Loan Facility, and second , to the applicable remaining Repayment Amounts due pursuant to Section 2.05 on a pro rata basis, in each case, to be allocated among the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with such Appropriate Lenders’ respective Pro Rata Shares.

(c) Special Mandatory Prepayment . If the Term Loan Escrow Release Date has not occurred upon the earlier of (x) the date on which the Borrower determines in its sole discretion that any of the Term Loan Escrow Release Conditions cannot be satisfied and (y) the Term Loan Escrow End Date (the earlier of such dates, the “ Term Loan Escrow Conditions Precedent Date ”), the Escrow Borrower will prepay on the Term Loan Escrow Redemption Date, the gross proceeds of the Term Loans funded into the Term Loan Escrow Account, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and all accreted original issue discount on such Term Loans, from the Closing Date to but excluding the Term Loan Escrow Conditions Precedent Date and all other expenses or other amounts then due and owing under any Loan Document (collectively, the “ Term Loan Escrow Prepayment Amount ”). In accordance with the provisions of the Term Loan Escrow Agreement, funds in excess of the Term Loan Escrow Prepayment Amount shall be released to Lyondell Chemical.

(d) Funding Losses, Etc . All prepayments under this Section 2.03 shall be made together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurodollar Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of Section 2.03(b), so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans is required to be made under Section 2.03(b) other than on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Company or the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit the amount of any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder into a Cash Collateral Account until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Company or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with Section 2.03(b). Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Company or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Loans in accordance with Section 2.03(b).

 

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Section 2.04. Termination of Commitments .

The Commitment of each Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such Term Lender’s Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.01.

Section 2.05. Repayment of Loans .

The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent, in Dollars, for the ratable account of the Term Lenders, in consecutive, quarterly installments on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first full quarter after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, a principal amount in respect of the Term Loans equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan (each such scheduled installment payment, including the final installment payment on the Maturity Date, a “ T erm Loan Repayment Amount ”), with the final installment on the Maturity Date equal to the remaining Outstanding Amount of the Term Loans. In the event that any Loans are purchased by the Borrower pursuant to Purchase Offers under Section 2.13, then the Term Loan Repayment Amounts that were outstanding prior to and that remains outstanding after such Purchase Offer will not be reduced or otherwise affected by such transactions (i.e., the scheduled quarterly installment payments will continue to be 0.25% of the initial amount of such Loan on the date it was made).

Section 2.06. Interest .

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.06(b), (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount or face amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) During the continuance of a Default pursuant to Section 8.01(a), the Borrower shall pay interest on amounts due hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Accrued and unpaid interest on such amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

Section 2.07. Fees .

(a) Funding Fees . On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to each Lender a fee in Dollars in an amount equal to 1.0% of the amount of such Lender’s Loans funded on the Closing Date, which payment obligation shall be satisfied by such Lender net funding the gross amount of the Loan to be funded by such Lender against the amount of such fee payable to such Lender.

(b) Other Fees . The Borrower shall pay in Dollars to the Agents such other fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Agent).

 

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Section 2.08. Computation of Interest and Fees .

All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the Administrative Agent’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days, or three hundred and sixty-six (366) days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred and sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.10(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Section 2.09. Evidence of Indebtedness .

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c), as agent for the Borrower, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent upon reasonable notice, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) Entries made by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to Section 2.09(a), and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Section 2.09(a) shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, absent manifest error; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Section 2.10. Payments Generally .

(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York, New York time) on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Appropriate Lender its Pro

 

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Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s applicable Lending Office, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 2.13. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the immediately succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

(c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the time any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds, then:

(i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the applicable Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect; and

(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “ Compensation Period ”) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Credit Extension. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Credit Extension. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.10(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the applicable conditions to such Loan are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

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(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation.

(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(g) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 8.03. If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law), but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

Section 2.11. Sharing of Payments .

Except to the extent this Agreement provides for payments to be disproportionately allocated to or retained by a particular Lender or group of Lenders (including in connection with purchases of the Loans pursuant to Purchase Offers contemplated by Section 2.13), if, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.11 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests,

 

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demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

Section 2.12. Incremental Term Loans .

(a) The Borrower may at any time or from time to time after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request one or more additional tranches of term loans (the “Incremental Term Loans ”) in accordance with this Section 2.12.

(b) Each tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of not less than $50,000,000 ( provided that such amount may be less if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in the next sentence). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the aggregate amount of all Incremental Term Loans shall not exceed $500,000,000. The Incremental Term Loans may only be in Dollars. Each tranche of the Incremental Term Loans (i) shall rank pari passu in right of payment and have the equal benefit of guarantees and security with the Loans, (ii) shall not have a final maturity date earlier than the Maturity Date and (iii) except as set forth in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of the proviso hereto, shall be treated substantially the same as the Term Loans (in each case, including with respect to mandatory and voluntary prepayments); provided that (A) except as provided herein, the terms and conditions applicable to any tranche of Incremental Term Loans may be materially different from those of the Term Loans to the extent such differences are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (B) in the event that the Applicable Rate for any Incremental Term Loans is more than 50 basis points greater than the Applicable Rate for the Term Loans, then the Applicable Rates for the Term Loans shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the Applicable Rate for the Incremental Term Loans is no more than 50 basis points greater than the Applicable Rate for the Term Loans; provided further , that in determining the Applicable Rate applicable to the Term Loans and the Incremental Term Loans, (x) original issue discount (“ OID ”) or upfront fees (which shall be deemed to constitute like amounts of OID) payable by the Borrower to the Lenders of the Term Loans or the Incremental Term Loans in the primary syndication thereof shall be included (with OID being equated to interest based on an assumed four (4)-year life to maturity), (y) customary arrangement or commitment fees payable to the Joint Lead Arrangers (or their affiliates) in connection with the Term Loans or to one or more arrangers (or their affiliates) of the Incremental Term Loans shall be excluded and (z) if the Eurodollar Rate floor applicable to the Incremental Term Loans is higher than the Eurodollar Floor applicable to the Term Loans, the amount of such difference shall be deemed to be an increase to the Applicable Rate for the Incremental Term Loans for the purposes of determining compliance with this clause (B); and (C) the amortization schedule applicable to any tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall be determined by the Borrower and the lenders thereof, in each case so long as the Weighted Average Life to Maturity for any tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall not be shorter than the then remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans. Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans .

(c) Incremental Term Loans may be made, by any existing Lender (and each existing Term Lender shall have the right, but not an obligation, to make a portion of any Incremental Term Loan, on terms permitted in this Section 2.12 and otherwise on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) or by any other bank or other financial institution (any such other bank or other financial institution, an “ A dditional Lender ”); provided that the Administrative Agent shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld) to such Lender’s or Additional Lender’s making such Incremental Term Loans if such consent would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Loans as applicable, to such Lender or Additional Lender.

 

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(d) Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans shall become Commitments under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “I ncremental Amendment ”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Lender agreeing to provide such Commitment, if any, each Additional Lender, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Agents or Lenders, 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 Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.12. The effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (each, an “I ncremental Facility Closing Date ”) of each of the following conditions (i) no Default shall exist or would result from such proposed Incremental Term Loans and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided further that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects on such respective dates. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement.

(e) This Section 2.12 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.11 or 10.01 to the contrary.

Section 2.13. Loan Repurchases .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth or referred to below, the Borrower may from time to time, at its discretion, conduct modified Dutch auctions in order to offer to purchase Loans from each Lender on a pro rata basis (each, a “ Purchase Offer ”), each such Purchase Offer to be managed exclusively by UBS Securities, LLC or another investment bank of recognized standing selected by the Borrower following consultation with the Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Auction Manager ”), so long as the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) each Purchase Offer shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures, terms and conditions set forth in this Section 2.13 and the Auction Procedures;

(ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the delivery of each Auction Notice and at the time of purchase of any Loans in connection with any Purchase Offer;

(iii) the maximum principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of the Loans that the Borrower offers to purchase in any such Purchase Offer shall be no less than $10,000,000 (unless another amount is agreed to by the Administrative Agent);

(iv) after giving effect to any purchase of Loans pursuant to this Section 2.13, the sum of (x) the amount of availability under the Asset Backed Credit Facilities and (y) the aggregate amount of all Unrestricted Cash shall not be less than the Applicable Liquidity Level;

(v) the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of all of the Loans so purchased by the Borrower shall automatically be cancelled and retired by the Borrower on the settlement date of the relevant purchase (and may not be resold);

(vi) no more than one Purchase Offer may be ongoing at any one time and no more than four (4) Purchase Offers may be made in any one (1) year;

 

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(vii) the Borrower represents and warrants that no Loan Party shall have any Borrower Restricted Information that (A) has not been previously disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (other than because certain Lenders do not wish to receive such Borrower Restricted Information) prior to such time and (B) could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon, or otherwise be material to, a Lender’s decision to participate in the Purchase Offer;

(viii) at the time of each purchase of Loans through a Purchase Offer, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Auction Manager an officer’s certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying as to compliance with preceding clause (vii); and

(ix) not fewer than ten (10) days prior to launching any Purchase Offer, the Borrower shall have informed each of S&P and Moody’s of such proposed Purchase Offer and at the time such Purchase Offer is launched neither S&P nor Moody’s shall have announced that the proposed Purchase Offer shall be deemed a “distressed exchange”; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has already launched a Purchase Offer in accordance with this Section 2.13 at the time such a rating is assigned, then the Borrower shall be permitted to complete such Purchase Offer.

(b) The Borrower must terminate any Purchase Offer if it fails to satisfy one or more of the conditions set forth above that are required to be met at the time which otherwise would have been the time of purchase of Loans pursuant to such Purchase Offer. If the Borrower commences any Purchase Offer (and all relevant requirements set forth above that are required to be satisfied at the time of the commencement of such Purchase Offer have in fact been satisfied), and if at such time of commencement the Borrower reasonably believes that all required conditions set forth above that are required to be satisfied at the time of the consummation of such Purchase Offer shall be satisfied, then the Borrower shall have no liability to any Lender for any termination of such Purchase Offer as a result of its failure to satisfy one or more of the conditions set forth above that are required to be met at the time, which otherwise would have been the time of consummation of such Purchase Offer, and any such failure shall not result in any Default or Event of Default hereunder. With respect to all purchases of Loans made by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.13, (x) the Borrower shall pay on the settlement date of each such purchase all accrued and unpaid interest (except to the extent otherwise set forth in the relevant offering documents), if any, on the purchased Loans up to the settlement date of such purchase and (y) such purchases (and the payments made by the Borrower and the cancellation of the purchased Loans, in each case in connection therewith) shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes of Section 2.03 hereof.

(c) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the Purchase Offers and the other transactions effected pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.13 (provided that no Lender shall have an obligation to participate in any such Purchase Offer). For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that the provisions of Section 2.10, Section 2.11 and Section 10.07 will not apply to the purchases of Loans pursuant to Purchase Offers made pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.13. The Auction Manager acting in its capacity as such hereunder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of Article IX and Section 10.05 to the same extent as if each reference therein to the “Administrative Agent” were a reference to the Auction Manager, and the Administrative Agent shall cooperate with the Auction Manager as reasonably requested by the Auction Manager in order to enable it to perform its responsibilities and duties in connection with each Purchase Offer.

 

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Section 2.14. Escrow of Term Loans .

(a) On the Closing Date, the Escrow Borrower shall enter into the Term Loan Escrow Agreement, pursuant to which the Escrow Borrower will deposit, or will cause to be deposited, the proceeds of the Term Loans into the Term Loan Escrow Account, together with sufficient cash and/or Cash Equivalents and other Term Loan Escrow Investments equal to (i) the estimated amount of interest to accrue and (ii) the original issue discount to accrete, in each case, from the Closing Date to but excluding the initial Term Loan Escrow End Date. The Escrow Borrower shall grant the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a first priority security interest in the Term Loan Escrow Collateral.

(b) The funds held in the Term Loan Escrow Account will be (i) released to Lyondell Chemical or such other Person as Lyondell Chemical directs upon (x) delivery by Lyondell Chemical to the Term Loan Escrow Agent and the Administrative Agent of an Officers’ Certificate certifying that, prior to or concurrently with the release of funds from the Term Loan Escrow Account that the Term Loan Escrow Release Conditions have been satisfied and (y) the consummation of the Lyondell Assumption, or (ii) used to make the Special Mandatory Prepayment in accordance with Section 2.03(c).

ARTICLE III.

Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

Section 3.01. Taxes .

(a) Except as required by law, any and all payments by or on behalf of any Loan Party to or for the account of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes. If a Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall be required by any Laws to withhold or deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to or for the account of any Agent or any Lender, (i) the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all required withholdings or deductions of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including withholdings or deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) have been made, each Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholdings or deductions of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes been made, (ii) such Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall make such withholdings or deductions, (iii) such Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Law and (iv) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment (or, if receipts or evidence are not available within thirty (30) days, as soon as possible thereafter), if a Loan Party made the withholding or deduction, such Loan Party shall furnish to the Administrative Agent or affected Lender (as the case may be) the original or a copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence reasonably acceptable to such Agent or Lender.

(b) The Loan Parties agree to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise, property, intangible, mortgage recording or similar taxes or charges or levies which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”) except for any such tax resulting from an assignment or participation by a Lender or Participant (“ Assignment Tax ”), but only if such Assignment Taxes result from a connection between the jurisdiction imposing such tax and such Lender or Participant other than any connections arising solely from such Lender or Participant having executed, delivered, been a party to, received or perfected a security interest under or performed its obligations under, received payment under, enforced, or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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(c) Each Loan Party jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) payable by such Agent or such Lender (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed directly on the Agent or Lender) whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority and (ii) any expenses (excluding any Excluded Taxes) arising therefrom or with respect thereto.

(d) Any Lender entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax or backup withholding Tax, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (and the Administrative Agent) at any time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or otherwise reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to permit such payments to be made without such withholding Tax or at a reduced rate.

Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, (i) on or prior to the Closing Date in the case of each Lender that is a signatory hereto, (ii) on or prior to the date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a Lender, (iii) on or prior to the date on which any such form or certification expires or becomes obsolete or incorrect, (iv) after the occurrence of any event involving such Lender that requires a change in the most recent form or certification previously delivered by it to Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (v) from time to time if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with two completed originals of each of the following, as applicable:

(i) in the case of a Lender that is not a Foreign Lender, a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor forms thereto) certifying that it is not subject to U.S. federal backup withholding under Section 3406 of the Code;

(ii) a complete and executed of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;

(iii) a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms);

(iv) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit M , or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and that no payments in connection with the Credit Agreement are effectively connected with such Foreign Lender’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and (y) a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor forms);

 

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(v) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Foreign Lender is a partnership or participating Lender granting a typical participation), a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, a certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit M , Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that, if the Foreign Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender shall provide a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit M , on behalf of such beneficial owner(s) in lieu of requiring each beneficial owner to provide its own certificate; or

(vi) any other form prescribed by any applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by any applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(e) (i) The Administrative Agent hereby represents that it is a U.S. branch of a foreign bank subject to regulatory supervision by the Federal Reserve Board. The Borrower and the Administrative Agent hereby agree that the Borrower will treat the U.S. branch of the Administrative Agent as a U.S. person for withholding tax purposes within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) and 1.1441-1(e)(3)(v). Accordingly, the Administrative Agent shall have complied with clause (ii) of this paragraph by providing a Form W-8IMY with the certifications provided for in (A), (B) and (C) of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1441-1(e)(3)(v) and shall not be required to provide any information or forms with respect to any of the Lenders;

(ii) each Agent shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, provide the Borrower with, (a) with respect to any amount received on behalf of the Lenders, one completed original of IRS Form W-9 or W-8IMY, as applicable, (b) with respect to any fee received by such Agent under the Loan Documents for its own account, one completed original of IRS Form W-9 or applicable W-8 and (c) any other documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit any payment of such fee to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding; provided that on the Closing Date the Agents shall provide to the Borrower the following correct, complete and duly executed documents, as applicable: (A) an IRS Form W-9 or W-8ECI that eliminates all U.S. federal withholding and backup withholding taxes with respect to any fees to be received by the Agent under the Loan Documents, and (B) in the case of the Administrative Agent, an IRS Form W-8IMY with boxes 11 and 12 marked and that otherwise satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) and 1.1441-1(e)(3)(v) as applicable to a U.S. branch that has agreed to be treated as a U.S. person for withholding tax purposes. Thereafter and from time to time, each Agent shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, provide the Borrower such additional duly completed and signed copies of one or more of such forms (or such successor forms) or documentations on or prior to the date on which any such form or documentation expires or becomes obsolete or incorrect.

(f) Any Lender or Agent claiming any additional amounts or indemnification payments pursuant to this Section 3.01 shall use its reasonable efforts (if requested by the Borrower) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office or take other steps (in each case, at Borrower’s expense) if such a change or other steps would reduce any such additional amounts or indemnification payments (or any similar amount that may thereafter accrue) and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender or Agent, be materially disadvantageous to such Lender or Agent.

 

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(g) If any Lender or Agent determines, in its sole good faith discretion, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit the portion of such refund to the applicable Loan Party that will leave it in no better or worse after-tax position (taking into account all out-of-pocket expenses of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, than if the Indemnified Tax or Other Tax giving rise to such refund had not been imposed in the first instance); provided that the Loan Parties, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agree promptly to return such refund ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant taxing authority) to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority. This clause (g) shall not be construed to require any Lender or Agent to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

(h) For the avoidance of doubt, any payments made by the Administrative Agent to a Lender shall be treated as payments made by the applicable Loan Party for purposes of this Section 3.01.

Section 3.02. Illegality .

If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful or otherwise prohibited, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful or otherwise prohibited, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may in compliance with applicable Law continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or promptly, if such Lender may not in compliance with applicable Law continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted and all amounts due, if any, in connection with such prepayment or conversion under Section 3.05. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

Section 3.03. Inability to Determine Rates .

If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the applicable Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan, or that the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, or that Dollar or other applicable deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar, or other applicable, market for the applicable amount and the Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending Request for Credit Extension of, conversion to or continuation of such Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request, if applicable, into a Request for Credit Extension of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

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Section 3.04. Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans .

(a) If any Lender determines that as a result of a Change in Law after the Closing Date, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loans or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.04(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes or Excluded Taxes and (ii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c), then from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction.

(b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the Closing Date, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such demand.

(c) The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurodollar funds or deposits, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each applicable Eurodollar Rate Loan of the Borrower equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error) and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of any Eurodollar Rate Loans of the Borrower, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or cost from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or cost shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.

(e) If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.04, then such Lender will, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Lending Office for any Loan affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Offices to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided further that nothing in this Section 3.04(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.04(a), (b), (c) or (d).

 

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Section 3.05. Funding Losses .

Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense actually incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Rate Loan of the Borrower on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise); or

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurodollar Rate Loan of the Borrower on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank Eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

Section 3.06. Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation .

(a) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III shall deliver a certificate to the Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(b) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04 or 3.05 the Borrower shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that, if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such one hundred and twenty (120)-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section 3.04, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans, or, if applicable, to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Eurodollar Rate Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans (or, if such conversion is not possible, repaid) on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by

 

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Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04 or 3.05 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans (if possible), and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of any of such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant to this Section 3.06 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurodollar Rate Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurodollar Rate Loans are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

Section 3.07. Replacement of Lenders Under Certain Circumstances .

(a) If at any time (i) the Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments described in Section 3.01 or 3.04 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make any Eurodollar Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, on ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, replace such Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign without recourse pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in each such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Assignees; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided further that (A) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Assignees shall have agreed to, and shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of, the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, (x) the Lender being replaced shall have the option of withdrawing such claims, in which case such Lender shall not be required to make such assignment and (y) such assignment, if effected, will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments.

(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s applicable Commitment and outstanding Loans and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or to the Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans, (B) all obligations of the Borrower owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans or Commitments so assigned (including any amounts owed under Section 2.03, assuming for this purpose (in the case of a Lender being replaced

 

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pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(iii)) that the Loans of such Lender were being voluntarily prepaid) shall be paid in full at par by the assignee Lender to such assigning Lender concurrently with such Assignment and Assumption and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, delivery to the assignee Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrower, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans or Commitments, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. In connection with any such replacement, if any such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such replacement within five (5) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender, then such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on the part of the Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender.

(c) In the event that (i) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested that the Lenders consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (iii) the Required Lenders have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “ Non-Consenting Lender.

Section 3.08. Survival .

All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other payment Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV.

Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions

Section 4.01. Conditions to the Closing Date .

The effectiveness of this Agreement and the availability of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party to the extent such Loan Party is a party thereto, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement (including by all Lenders party hereto), the Term Loan Escrow Agreement and each other Loan Document (other than the Security Documents (excluding the Term Loan Escrow Agreement), the Guarantee Agreement (except as executed by the Company) and documents to be delivered after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date pursuant to Section 6.14(a));

(ii) a Term Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender that has requested a Term Note more than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date;

(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party executing

 

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documents on the Closing Date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require (and as have been notified to the Borrower no later than three (3) Business Days before the Closing Date) evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date;

(iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated as of a recent date from the Secretary of State or other appropriate authority, evidencing the good standing of the Borrower and each other Loan Party in the jurisdiction of its organization (to the extent legally applicable in such jurisdiction);

(v) (A) the executed legal opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, special U.S. counsel to the Company and the other Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 with respect to the Loan Documents delivered as of the Closing Date; and

(B) the executed legal opinion of Gerald A. O’Brien, Deputy General Counsel to the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 with respect to the Loan Documents delivered as of the Closing Date; and

(vi) a certificate signed by a Principal Financial Officer attesting to the Solvency of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) after giving effect pro forma to the Transactions.

(b) The Senior Notes shall have been issued and funded in a face amount not to exceed the sum of $2,256,212,500 plus €375,000,000 and the proceeds thereof shall have been (or shall be substantially contemporaneously herewith) deposited into an escrow account.

(c) The ABL Facility shall be (or shall contemporaneously herewith become) effective, with a commitment not to exceed $1,750,000,000, pursuant to duly executed documents reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

(d) The Euro Securitization shall be (or shall contemporaneously herewith become) committed, subject to final documentation.

(e) Certified copies of UCC, United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, tax and judgment lien searches or equivalent reports or searches, each of a recent date listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents that name any Loan Party as debtor and that are filed in those state and county jurisdictions, as applicable, in which any Loan Party is organized or maintains its principal place of business and such other searches that are required by the Perfection Certificate or that the Collateral Agent deems reasonably necessary or appropriate, none of which encumber the Collateral covered or intended to be covered by the Security Documents (other than Liens to be satisfied or discharged on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization or Permitted Liens).

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information mutually agreed to be required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the United States PATRIOT Act (Title III of Public Law 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ USA PATRIOT Act ”), including the information described in Section 10.20, at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(g) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V (other than with respect to the Security Documents (excluding the Term Loan Escrow Agreement)) shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided further that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects on such respective dates.

(h) Except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, since December 31, 2009, no event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect.

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received prior to or substantially simultaneously with the Closing Date, reimbursement for the expenses to be received on the Closing Date pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (to the extent invoices for such expenses have been provided at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, Schedules 1.01(D) , 5.08 and 5.11 delivered by the Loan Parties for the Loan Documents on the Closing Date may be subsequently, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified on or prior to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date to reflect changes arising from the transactions described in the Plan of Reorganization including to make administrative adjustments to such schedules required to accurately reflect the information set forth therein.

Section 4.02. Conditions to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date .

The Borrower will only be entitled to direct the Term Loan Escrow Agent to release the Term Loan Escrow Proceeds upon satisfaction of the following conditions, which shall be certified in writing by the Company in a Responsible Officer’s certificate contemporaneously with the release of the Term Loan Escrow Proceeds on or prior to the Term Loan Escrow End Date (such date, the “ Term Loan Release Date ”):

(a) The issuance by the Bankruptcy Court of a final order that has not been stayed pending appeal confirming a Reorganization Plan and, other than release of the Term Loan Escrow Proceeds and other conditions to be satisfied substantially simultaneously with release of Term Loan Escrow Proceeds, satisfaction of all conditions precedent to effectiveness of such Reorganization Plan.

(b) Except as contemplated by the Reorganization Plan proposed by the Company as of the March 15, 2010, including transfers to certain litigation and environmental trusts, except as contemplated by the Reorganization Plan, (i) the Company shall directly or indirectly own subsidiaries that own all of the assets and businesses directly or indirectly owned by LyondellBasell AF S.C.A. and its subsidiaries immediately prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Reorganization Plan, (ii) the Borrower shall directly or indirectly own subsidiaries that own all or substantially all of the U.S.-based assets and businesses directly or indirectly owned by the Company and its subsidiaries immediately following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Reorganization Plan, and (iii) the cash expenditures to be made in respect of Specified Claims pursuant to such Reorganization Plan shall not exceed $1,200,000,000.

 

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(c) The execution and delivery of Security Documents and intercreditor agreements providing a first priority security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the Collateral and a second priority security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the ABL Facility Collateral, in each case, in accordance with the Collateral and Guaranty Requirements, and in each case, subject to Permitted Liens.

(d) No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under this Agreement;

(e) Prior to or substantially simultaneously with the release of Term Loan Escrow Proceeds, receipt of proceeds by the Company from the issuance of common equity, pursuant to a rights offering or otherwise, of not less than $2,800,000,000.

(f) Substantially simultaneously with the release of Term Loan Escrow Proceeds, the respective parties shall have executed and delivered documents relating to the other elements of the Exit Financing, and the conditions to effectiveness thereunder shall have been satisfied or waived by the parties thereto, and funds shall have been borrowed or received pursuant to offerings (as necessary to consummate the Reorganization Plan), as follows:

(i) the Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed approximately the sum of $2,256,212,500 plus €375,000,000;

(ii) the ABL Facility, which shall provide for commitments in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed approximately $1,750,000,000 (availability is subject to borrowing base and advance rate calculations);

(iii) the Euro Securitization, which shall be substantially similar in terms of facility size to the existing European securitization facility of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that the conditions to effectiveness may be satisfied and initial funding under the Euro Securitization may occur after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date; and

(iv) Plan Roll-Up Notes in an aggregate principal amount of not more than approximately $3,250,000,000, with the obligors, collateral, interest rate, maturity, amortization, principal amount and other material terms summarized under Schedule 1.01B ; provided that the terms of the Plan Roll-Up Notes (including any replacement or refinancing thereof) may differ from those described in Schedule 1.01B at the Term Loan Escrow Release Date in any manner that would be permissible under the Senior Notes Indenture following the Closing Date;

(g) After giving effect to the consummation of the Reorganization Plan, a Change of Control will not have occurred.

(h) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of (i) customary legal opinions and (ii) customary officers’ certificates.

 

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(i) The Collateral Agent shall have received a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, the insurance policies required by Section 6.07 (including, without limitation, flood insurance coverage) and the applicable provisions of the Security Documents, each of which shall be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a “standard” or “New York” lender’s loss payable or mortgagee endorsement (as applicable) and shall name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured (other than with respect to policies issued by OIL Insurance Limited), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received an executed “Acknowledgement of Receipt of Notice” for each such acknowledgement provided to the Borrower not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Term Loan Release Date in connection with any “Notice of Special Flood Hazards, Flood Insurance Purchase Requirements, and Availability of Federal Disaster Relief Assistance” or similar notice required to be delivered by a Lender pursuant to 12 C.F.R. 339.9(a) (as amended from time to time) with respect to loans secured by a building or mobile home located or to be located in a special flood hazard area.

ARTICLE V.

Representations and Warranties

Each of the Company and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Agents and the Lenders that:

Section 5.01. Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws .

Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and Legal Reservations, each Loan Party and each Significant Subsidiary (a) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing, in each case where such concept exists, under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite constitutional, corporate or other similar power and authority to (i) own or lease its material assets and carry on its business substantially as currently conducted and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing, in each case where such concept exists, under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws, orders, writs and injunctions and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case referred to in clause (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.02. Authorization; No Contravention .

The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transaction, are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) in any material way, conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.06), or require any payment to be made under, (i) except payments as set forth in the funds flow memorandum dated the Term Loan Escrow Release Date and delivered to the Administrative Agent, any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order in any material way, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject in any material way; or (c) violate any material Law in any material way; except

 

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with respect to any conflict, breach or contravention or payment (but not creation of Liens) referred to in clause (b)(i), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention, violation or payment could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.03. Governmental Authorization; Other Consents .

Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and Legal Reservations, no material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary for or required of a Loan Party in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Security Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Security Documents (including the priority thereof subject to the Intercreditor Agreements) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents, except for (i) filings, notices, consents and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.04. Binding Effect .

This Agreement and each other Loan Document dated on or prior to the date this representation is made has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document dated on or prior to the date this representation is made constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity and the Legal Reservations, (ii) the need for filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties and (iii) the effect of foreign Laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries (other than those pledges made under the Laws of the jurisdiction of formation of the applicable Foreign Subsidiary).

Section 5.05. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect .

(a) On the Closing Date, the Audited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein. During the period from December 31, 2009 to and including the Closing Date, there has been (x) no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any material part of the business or property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (y) no purchase or other acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any business or property (including any Equity Interest of any other Person) material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, which is not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or in the notes thereto or has not otherwise been disclosed in writing to the Lenders prior to the Closing Date.

(b) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such forecasts, it being understood that actual results may vary from such forecasts and that such variations may be material.

 

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(c) Since December 31, 2009, there has been no event or circumstance that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.06. Litigation .

There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.07. Ownership of Property; Liens .

(a) Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good record fee simple title (or otherwise holds full legal (and, if applicable, beneficial) ownership under applicable Law) to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all material Real Property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except for (x) minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes and (y) Liens permitted under Section 7.06 (other than such Liens permitted pursuant to clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Liens) and except where the failure to have such title could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) As of the Closing Date and Term Loan Escrow Release Date after giving effect to the transactions described in the Plan of Reorganization, Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate dated the Closing Date contains a true and complete list of each interest in material Real Property owned or ground leased by the Loan Parties and describes the type of interest therein held by each such entity.

Section 5.08. Environmental Matters .

In each case, except as set forth on Schedule 5.08 ,

(a) There are no claims, actions, suits, proceedings, demands, notices or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, investigations alleging actual or potential liability of any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries under or for violation of, or otherwise relating to, any Environmental Law that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except for items that could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Loan Party and each of their respective Subsidiaries and each of their Real Property, other assets and operations are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, including all Environmental Permits; (ii) none of the properties currently or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, formerly, owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or formally proposed for listing on the National Priority List under CERCLA, or the German register of contaminated sites (Altlaster register) or any analogous list maintained pursuant to any Environmental Law; (iii) all asbestos or asbestos-containing material on, at or in any property or facility currently owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with Environmental Laws; and (iv) to the knowledge of each Loan Party, there has

 

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been no Release of Hazardous Materials by any Person on, at, under or from any property or facility currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries at any other location.

(c) The properties and facilities owned, leased or operated by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries do not contain any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute a violation of, (ii) require investigation or other response or corrective action under or (iii) could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which violations, actions and/or liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) None of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries is undertaking or financing, in whole or in part, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation, response or other corrective action relating to any actual or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at any property, facility or location pursuant to any Environmental Law except for such investigation, response or other corrective action that, individually or in the aggregate, could not, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) All Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored (collectively, “ Managed ”) by any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries at, or transported by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries to or from, any property or facility currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been Managed or transported in a manner which could not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries has contractually assumed, and is not subject or a party to any judgment, order, decree or agreement which imposes, any liability or obligation under or relating to any Environmental Law.

Section 5.09. Taxes .

Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Loan Parties and each of their respective Subsidiaries has (i) timely filed all Tax returns required to be filed and each such Tax return is true and correct in all respects and (ii) timely paid all Taxes levied or imposed upon it or its properties (whether or not shown on a Tax return) and satisfied all of its Tax withholding obligations, except (a) Taxes that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in compliance with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on its books and (b) Taxes or Tax returns of a Loan Party or one of its Subsidiaries the obligation of which to pay or file has been discharged or deferred in bankruptcy.

Section 5.10. ERISA Compliance .

(a) Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each ERISA Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws.

(b) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur and (ii) neither any Loan Party, any Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.10(b), as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(c) Except where noncompliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Foreign Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities and (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan.

Section 5.11. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests .

As of the Closing Date and the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (after giving effect to the transactions described in the Plan of Reorganization and any part of the Transaction that is consummated on or prior to the Closing Date and the Term Loan Escrow Release Date), no Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than dormant or inactive entities and those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.11 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and all Equity Interests owned by a Loan Party (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Security Documents and (ii) any Lien that is permitted under Section 7.06. As of the Closing Date and the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, Schedules 1(a) and 9(a) and (b) to the Perfection Certificate set forth the name, jurisdiction and ownership interest of each Loan Party in each direct Domestic Subsidiary or any direct, material Foreign Subsidiary which is not dormant or inactive, including the percentage of such ownership, and no such entities have any direct or indirect Significant Subsidiaries.

Section 5.12. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

(a) The Borrower is not engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of any Credit Extensions will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U.

(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 5.13. Disclosure .

As of the Closing Date, to the best of the Loan Parties’ knowledge, no report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) when taken as a whole contains any material misstatement of fact or, as at the Closing Date only, omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Borrower represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.

 

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Section 5.14. Anti-Terrorism Laws .

(a) To the best knowledge of the Loan Parties organized in the United States, no such Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof: (i) is, or is controlled by or is acting on behalf of, a Restricted Party; (ii) has received funds or other property from a Restricted Party; or (iii) is in breach of or is the subject of any action or investigation under any Anti-Terrorism Law.

(b) Each of the Loan Parties organized in the United States and, to the best of such Loan Parties’ knowledge, each Subsidiary thereof has taken reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws.

Section 5.15. Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc .

Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries own, license or otherwise possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, know-how, database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are material to the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, without conflict with the rights of any Person, except to the extent such conflicts could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best of the Loan Parties actual knowledge, the operation of the businesses as currently conducted by each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries does not infringe upon any IP Rights held by any Person and no other Person is infringing on their IP Rights except for such infringements, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation brought against any Loan Party alleging the infringement or misuse of any IP Rights or otherwise relating to IP Rights is pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Except pursuant to licenses and other user agreements entered into by each Loan Party in the ordinary course of business, (i) each Loan Party owns and possesses the right to use the IP Rights identified with such Loan Party’s name on Schedule 11(a) or 11(b), as applicable, to the Perfection Certificate, and (ii) the registrations and applications listed on Schedule 11(a) and 11(b) are valid and in full force and effect, except, in each case, to the extent failure to own or possess such right to use or of such registrations to be valid and in full force and effect could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.16. Solvency .

On the Closing Date, the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) after giving effect to the Transaction, are Solvent.

Section 5.17. Use of Proceeds .

The proceeds of Loans made on the Closing Date, together with the proceeds of the other Exit Financings funded on the Closing Date, shall be used on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (i) to refinance the Euro Securitization, certain existing Indebtedness or other obligations of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. and certain Subsidiaries under the DIP Facilities and (ii) to pay Transaction Expenses. In addition, the Company represents and covenants that it, any director, officer, agent, employee, parent or affiliate will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any affiliate, subsidiary, officer, agent employee, joint venture partner or other Person, to make any offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the

 

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payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value directly or indirectly to or for the benefit of any public official including any foreign official as such terms is defined in the FCPA or any foreign political party of official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office or for a third party to benefit any of the foregoing, if doing so would or might violate the law of any relevant jurisdiction including in particular, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Convention Combating Bribery of Public Officials in International Transactions, the FCPA, and the U.K. Prevention of Corruption Act of 1906.

Section 5.18. Security Documents .

(a) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and Legal Reservations, the Security Documents are or in the case of each Security Document (other than the Term Loan Escrow Agreement) delivered pursuant to Sections 4.02, 6.12 and 6.14, upon execution and delivery thereof, will be effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (or in favor of the relevant Secured Parties directly, as applicable), legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent intended to be created thereby and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate and registration achieved (if applicable), (ii) when all appropriate filings, recordings, endorsements, notarizations, stamping, registrations and/or notifications are made as required under applicable Law and (iii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent possession or control by the Collateral Agent is required by the Security Agreements), the Liens created by the Security Documents shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in (to the extent intended to be created thereby), all right, title and interest of the grantors in such Collateral, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder and with the priority required by the Security Documents (subject to the Intercreditor Agreements).

(b) When the Security Agreement governed by U.S. Law or a short form thereof is properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, the Liens created by such Security Agreement shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder (to the extent intended to be created thereby) in the IP Rights to the extent that a security interest can be created under Article 9 of the UCC and can be perfected by the filing of a financing statement in accordance therewith, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of rights of creditors generally and except to the extent that enforcement of rights and remedies set forth therein may be limited by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a court of law or a proceeding in equity), in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a Lien on registered patents and copyrights acquired by the grantors thereof after the Closing Date).

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 5.18) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, no 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 (other than with respect to those pledges and security interests made under the Laws of the jurisdiction of formation of the applicable Foreign Subsidiary) in any Equity Interest of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign Law.

(d) The Term Loan Escrow Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Term Loan Escrow Collateral described therein and proceeds thereof subject to no Liens and with the priority required by the Security Documents.

 

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Section 5.19. No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments .

As of the Closing Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B , neither the Company, Lyondell Chemical nor any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, the Borrower, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Borrower or any of their subsidiaries, is aware of or, has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and any applicable anti-corruption law. Except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B , to the knowledge of the Company, the Borrower, and their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

Section 5.20. No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws .

As of the Closing Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B , the operations of the Company, Lyondell Chemical and their subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Borrower, are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, threatened.

Section 5.21. No Conflict with OFAC Laws .

As of the Closing Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B , neither the Company, Lyondell Chemical nor any of their subsidiaries (collectively (for purposes of this paragraph only), the “ Company ”) or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company (each, a “ Specified Person ”) is an individual or entity currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions. The Company represents and covenants that it will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Specified Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Specified Person, or in Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or any other country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Specified Person (including any Specified Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

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ARTICLE VI.

Affirmative Covenants

From and after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than Secured Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements not yet due and payable and contingent obligations not yet accrued and payable) that is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, each of the Company and the Borrower shall, and the Company shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

Section 6.01. Financial Statements .

(a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days (or such earlier date on which the Company is required to make any public filing of such information) after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company beginning with the Fiscal Year 2010, a consolidated (and to the extent that any Subsidiaries of the Company are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries at the time of delivery, a consolidating) balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related consolidated (and consolidating, if applicable) statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on without material qualification (including any “going concern” or like qualification) by an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing;

(b) (1) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender (as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days (ninety (90) days in the case of the first two fiscal quarters of the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2010) (or, in any case, such earlier date on which the Company is required to make any public filing of such information), after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated (and to the extent that any Subsidiaries of the Company are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries at the time of delivery, consolidating) balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated (and consolidating, if applicable) statements of income and cash flows, each for such fiscal quarter and the portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all certified (subject to normal quarterly and year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation and consistency by a Principal Financial Officer as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal quarterly and year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (2) deliver to the Administrative Agent for each Lender, promptly, any other information, documents and other reports which the Company or any Subsidiary is (when registered) required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

(c) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, promptly, and in any event no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated budget for the following Fiscal Year prepared by the Company for approval by its Board of Directors and the following two Fiscal Years (including (A) a projected consolidated cashflow statement and profit and loss account of financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of each such Fiscal Year, (B) in respect of each principal operating division of the Company and its Subsidiaries, an income statement beginning with EBITDA by business group and (C) a summary of the material underlying assumptions applicable thereto) (collectively, the “ Projections ”).

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations to deliver financial statements pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.01 will be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Company by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of the Company or (B) the Company’s Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC or prior to (or in lieu of any such requirement to file with the SEC, such equivalent information is made public by the Company in compliance with such corresponding obligations under the Senior Notes) plus consolidating financial information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) or (b), as applicable, provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), all such materials to be reported on without material qualification (including any “going concern” or like qualification) by an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01 and 6.02(a) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Company (or any direct or indirect parent of the Company) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Company’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another website identified in the notice provided pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph of this Section 6.01, 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, the Company shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Company shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a)(i) to the Administrative Agent; provided , however , that if such Compliance Certificate is first delivered by electronic means, the date of such delivery by electronic means shall constitute the date of delivery for purposes of compliance with Section 6.02(a)(i). Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Joint Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Company hereunder (collectively, “ Company Materials ”) by posting the Company Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “ 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 the Company or its securities) (each, a “ Public Lender ”). The Company hereby agrees that it will identify that portion of the Company Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Company 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; (x) by marking Company Materials “PUBLIC,” the Company shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Company Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws ( provided , however , that to the extent such Company Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.08); (y) all Company Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Company 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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Section 6.02. Certificates; Other Information .

(a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(i) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements required by Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Principal Financial Officer;

(ii) together with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate delivered in connection with the delivery of financial statements required under Section 6.01(a) pursuant to clause (i) above, (A) a description of each event, condition or circumstance during the last fiscal quarter covered by such Compliance Certificate requiring a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.03(b) and (B) a list of each Subsidiary of the Company that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or confirming there has been no change since the date of the last such certificate; and

(iii) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may from time to time reasonably request. Any such information furnished to the Administrative Agent shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of Section 10.08 hereof and shall be identified as “PUBLIC,” as appropriate, in accordance with Section 6.01.

(b) Upon request by the Administrative Agent (which request shall be provided not later than the date on which the financial statements are due pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 6.01), representatives of senior management of the Company reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Company shall give a presentation in each Fiscal Year (commencing with Fiscal Year 2011) to the Lenders within thirty (30) days after the Company has delivered its financial statements pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 6.01 about the business, financial performance and prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Section 6.03. Notices .

Promptly after a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party has obtained knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default; and

(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company (x) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(a) or (b) (as applicable) and (y) setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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Section 6.04. Payment of Obligations .

Timely pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable in the normal conduct of its business, all its obligations and liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, to the extent the failure to pay or discharge the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.05. Preservation of Existence, Etc .

(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing, where such concept exists), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except in the case of each of clause (a) and (b) above, (i) to the extent that failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.07.

Section 6.06. Maintenance of Properties .

Except if the failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted.

Section 6.07. Maintenance of Insurance .

Maintain with reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its assets, properties and business against loss or damage to the extent available on commercially reasonable terms of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons of similar size engaged in the same or similar industry, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance (including captive industry insurance) reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons of similar size engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances (including flood insurance) by such other Persons to the extent available to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on commercially reasonable terms. Each such insurance policy shall name the Collateral Agent as additional insured (other than with respect to policies issued by Oil Insurance Limited) and “loss payee,” as applicable.

Section 6.08. Compliance with Laws .

Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except to the extent the failure to comply therewith could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.09. Compliance with Environmental Laws; Environmental Reports .

(a) Comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons occupying Real Property to comply with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits applicable to its operations, facilities and Real Property, except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; obtain and renew all material Environmental Permits applicable to its operations, facilities and Real Property, except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse

 

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Effect; and conduct all responses required by, and in accordance with, Environmental Laws, except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any response to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and, as appropriate, by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

(b) If a Default caused by reason of a breach of Section 5.08 or Section 6.09(a) shall have occurred and be continuing for more than twenty (20) days without the Company commencing activities reasonably likely to cure such Default in accordance with Environmental Laws, at the written request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders through the Administrative Agent, provide to the Lenders within forty-five (45) days after such request, at the expense of the Company or the Borrower, an environmental assessment report regarding the matters which are subject of such Default, including, where appropriate, soil and/or groundwater sampling, prepared by environmental consulting firm and, in the form and substance, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and indicating the presence or absence of Hazardous Materials and the estimated cost of any compliance or response to address them.

Section 6.10. Books and Records .

Maintain proper books of record and account, which reflect all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Loan Parties or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that certain Foreign Subsidiaries maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder).

Section 6.11. Inspection Rights .

Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders or, as provided in the second proviso below, any Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records as is reasonably specified, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.11 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two (2) times during any calendar year at the Borrower’s expense; provided further that when an Event of Default exists, 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 the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Company the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Company’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.11, at all times during such visits and inspections, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) must comply with all applicable site regulations as the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or employees may require by reasonable notice of the same.

 

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Section 6.12. Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors .

(a) Subject to this Section 6.12 and Section 6.14(b) and to the Agreed Security Principles, with respect to (x) any property located in the United States (excluding Equity Interests not subject to the delivery obligations of Section 6.12(b) pursuant to the terms thereof, to the extent such Equity Interests are deemed “located in the United States” for any reason) or (y) material property, in respect of IP Rights, in the case of (x) or (y), acquired after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date by any Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary that is intended to be subject to the Lien created by any of the Security Documents but is not so subject, promptly (and in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the acquisition thereof or such later time as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, acting reasonably and in good faith, agrees to) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent such amendments or supplements to the relevant Security Documents or such other documents as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably deem necessary or advisable in good faith to grant to the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties or to the relevant Secured Parties directly, as applicable, a Lien on such property subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.06, and (ii) take all commercially reasonable actions necessary to cause such Lien to be duly perfected to the extent required by such Security Document in accordance with all applicable Law, including the filing of financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be reasonably requested in good faith by the Collateral Agent. The Borrower shall otherwise take such commercially reasonable actions and execute and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent such documents as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably require to confirm the validity, perfection and priority (subject to the Intercreditor Agreements) of the Lien of the Security Documents on such after-acquired properties.

(b) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles with respect to any Person that is or becomes a direct, first-tier Subsidiary of the Company or a Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than a securitization entity of a Loan Party) after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, promptly (and in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after such Person becomes such a Subsidiary or such later time as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, acting reasonably and in good faith, agrees to) (i) deliver to the Collateral Agent all certificates representing the Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) of such Subsidiary owned by such Loan Party that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement and together with undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized officer of the holder(s) of such Equity Interests, and all existing intercompany notes other than (x) held by any securitization entity or Basell Sales & Marketing B.V. or (y) which on an individual basis do not exceed €10,000,000 owing from such Subsidiary to any Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary and required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement, together with instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized officer of such Loan Party or, if necessary to perfect a Lien under applicable Law, by means of an applicable Security Document, create a Lien on such Equity Interests and intercompany notes in favor of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties and (ii) cause any such new Subsidiary that is required to be a Guarantor under the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement (A) to execute a joinder agreement reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent or such comparable documentation to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a joinder agreement to the applicable Security Documents (including the applicable Security Agreement) and the Guarantee Agreement , substantially in the form annexed thereto, and (B) to take all actions necessary or advisable in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent to cause the Lien created by the applicable Security Documents (including the Security Agreement) to be duly perfected to the extent required by such agreement in accordance with all applicable Law, including the filing of financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be reasonably requested in good faith by the Collateral Agent.

 

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(c) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, in the case of a Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary, promptly grant to the Collateral Agent, within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the acquisition thereof or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may determine, acting reasonably and in good faith, a Mortgage on each parcel of Real Property located in the U.S. and owned in fee or otherwise with legal title in, or ground leased by, such Loan Party as is acquired by such Loan Party after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date and that, together with any improvements thereon, individually has a fair market value of at least $25,000,000 as additional security for the Obligations (unless the subject property is already mortgaged to a third party to the extent permitted hereunder).

(i) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, in the case of a Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary promptly grant to the Collateral Agent, within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the acquisition thereof or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may determine acting reasonably and in good faith, a Mortgage in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent on each pipeline easement and other similar Real Property (except any such easement or other similar Real Property as would be excluded from the grant set forth in Section 2.1 of the applicable Mortgage in the penultimate paragraph therein) as is acquired by such Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date as additional security for the Obligations (unless the subject property is already mortgaged to a third party to the extent permitted hereunder).

(ii) Such Mortgages shall be subject to the Agreed Security Principles and the Legal Reservations, and the Mortgages or instruments related thereto shall be duly recorded or filed in such manner and in such places as are required by Law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent and/or the Secured Parties required to be granted pursuant to the Mortgages and all taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith shall be paid in full. Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, such Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary shall otherwise take such commercially reasonable actions and execute and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent such documents as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably require to confirm the validity, perfection and priority of the Lien of any existing Mortgage or new Mortgage against such after-acquired Real Property (including a title policy), a survey and local counsel opinion (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent) in respect of such Mortgage); provided that, no title policy, survey or legal counsel opinion shall be required with respect to any pipeline easement or similar Real Property.

(d) The foregoing shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if and for so long as (i) in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom or (ii) the creation or perfection of such pledges or security interests would violate third party contracts existing as of the Closing Date or applicable Law. The Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that perfection cannot be accomplished using commercially reasonable efforts by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Security Documents.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.12 or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to this Section 6.12 shall be subject to the Agreed Security Principles, the Legal Reservations

 

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and exceptions and limitations set forth in the Security Documents as in effect on the Closing Date and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as agreed between the Collateral Agent and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.12 or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, any direct, first-tier Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any other Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that Guarantees any Junior Financing shall be a Guarantor hereunder for so long as it Guarantees such Indebtedness.

Section 6.13. ERISA .

Promptly after any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following events that, individually or in the aggregate (including in the aggregate such events previously disclosed or exempt from disclosure hereunder, to the extent the liability therefor remains outstanding), would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, deliver to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders a certificate of a Principal Financial Officer setting forth details as to such occurrence and the action, if any, that the Loan Party or such ERISA Affiliate is required or proposes to take, together with any notices (required, proposed or otherwise) given to or filed with or by the Loan Party, such ERISA Affiliate, the PBGC, an ERISA Plan participant (other than notices relating to any individual participant’s benefits) or the ERISA Plan administrator with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has occurred; that an accumulated funding deficiency has been incurred or an application is to be made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding standard (including any required installment payments) or an extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code (or Section 430 of the Code as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006) with respect to an ERISA Plan; that an ERISA Plan having an Unfunded Current Liability has been or is to be terminated, reorganized, partitioned or declared insolvent under Title IV of ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof); that an ERISA Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability that has or will result in a lien under ERISA or the Code; that proceedings will be or have been instituted to terminate an ERISA Plan having an Unfunded Current Liability (including the giving of written notice thereof); that a proceeding has been instituted against a Loan Party or an ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 515 of ERISA to collect a delinquent contribution to an ERISA Plan; that the PBGC has notified a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of its intention to appoint a trustee to administer any ERISA Plan; that a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate has failed to make a required installment or other payment pursuant to Section 412 of the Code with respect to an ERISA Plan; or that a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or will incur (or has been notified in writing that it will incur) any liability (including any contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of an ERISA Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code.

Section 6.14. Further Assurances and Post-Closing Conditions .

(a) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, within the time periods set forth in Schedule 6.14(a) (subject to extension by the Administrative Agent in its discretion), perform each obligation and deliver each Security Document, in each case as set forth on Schedule 6.14(a) , with respect to the matters set forth therein, duly executed by each Loan Party party thereto, together with all documents and instruments required to perfect the security interest of the Collateral Agent in and otherwise comply with the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement with respect to the Collateral (if any) free of any other pledges, security interests or mortgages, except Liens permitted hereunder.

(b) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Security Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file,

 

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register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in good faith from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Security Documents. If the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders determine that they are required by applicable Law to have appraisals prepared in respect of the Real Property of any Loan Party constituting Collateral, the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent appraisals that satisfy the applicable requirements of the Real Estate Appraisal Reform Amendments of FIRREA and are otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

(c) The Borrower agrees promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days of such change) to notify the Collateral Agent in writing of any change (i) in legal name of the Borrower or any Loan Party that is a grantor under the Security Agreement, (ii) in the identity or type of organization or corporate structure of the Borrower or any Guarantor domiciled in any jurisdiction of the United States, or (iii) in the jurisdiction of organization or organizational identification number of the Borrower or any other Loan Party that is a grantor under the Security Agreement.

Section 6.15. Use of Proceeds .

Use the proceeds of the Loans only for the purposes set forth in Section 5.17.

Section 6.16. Know Your Customer Requests .

(a) If:

(1) there is a Change in Law after the Closing Date;

(2) any change in the status of a Loan Party or the composition of the shareholders of a Loan Party after the Closing Date; or

(3) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

and such event, condition or circumstance obliges the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (3) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, then each Loan Party shall promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender or on behalf of any Lender, to the Company supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested in good faith by the Administrative Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender, or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (3) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Administrative Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (3) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Loan Documents.

(b) Following any notification of requirement to add a Loan Party pursuant to Section 6.12, if the joinder of such additional Guarantor obliges the Administrative Agent or any Lender to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Company shall promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender or any prospective new Lender) supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested in good faith by

 

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the Administrative Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender or any prospective new Lender) in order for the Administrative Agent or such Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the joinder of such Subsidiary to this Agreement as an additional Guarantor.

Section 6.17. Ratings Obligation .

The Borrower will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain a corporate rating from either Moody’s or S&P.

ARTICLE VII.

Negative Covenants

To the extent the Company, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred Indebtedness (treating Indebtedness not discharged pursuant to the Reorganization Plan and remaining outstanding on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date as having been Incurred as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date), made any Restricted Payments, consummated any Asset Sale or otherwise taken any action or engaged in any activities during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, such actions and activities shall be treated and classified under this Agreement (including but not limited to impacting relevant baskets and determining whether a Default or Event of Default would have occurred as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date for purposes of Section 4.02(d)), as if this Agreement and the covenants set forth herein had applied to the Company, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period. For purposes of the foregoing, (i) the Company will be deemed to have been the direct or indirect owner of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Borrower will be deemed to have been the direct or indirect owner of all of the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company (or their intermediate holding companies between the Company and the Borrower) for all relevant periods and (ii) all Subsidiaries of the Company shall be deemed to be Restricted Subsidiaries for the period from the Closing Date through the Term Loan Escrow Release Date.

From and after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than Secured Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements not yet due and payable and contingent obligations not yet accrued and payable) that is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, each of the Company and the Borrower shall not, nor shall the Company permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

Section 7.01. Indebtedness .

(1) Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and

(2) other than the Borrower or any Guarantor, to issue any shares of Preferred Stock;

provided, however , that the Borrower and any Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and, subject to the third paragraph of this Section 7.01, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four (4) full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued

 

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would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net cash proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four (4)-quarter period.

The foregoing limitations do not apply to:

(a) (i) Indebtedness under the Senior Notes issued on the Closing Date, and the guarantees thereof, and (ii) an aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding in the form of any other series of notes representing First Priority Lien Obligations (“ other notes ”) issued in one or more tranches under the Senior Notes Indenture, and the guarantees by the Guarantors thereof, if, (x) on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto (including a pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.00 to 1.00 or (y) pursuant to a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing;

(b) Indebtedness under the Plan Roll-Up Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3,250,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(c) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Credit Facilities, as follows:

(i) Indebtedness under any Credit Facilities (other than Asset Backed Credit Facilities) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,000 plus an aggregate additional principal amount of Indebtedness secured by a Lien outstanding at any one time such that on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the proceeds therefrom) the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.00 to 1.00; provided that (x) regardless of whether such Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is satisfied, term loans may be Incurred under this subclause (c)(i) as part of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing and (y) the availability of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities shall be reduced for a period of time as a result of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing as provided in the definition thereof, provided further that the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this subclause (i) shall be reduced by the amount of any (x) prepayments of term loans under Credit Facilities or (y) permanent reductions of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility (other than any such prepayments of the ABL Facility), in the case of each of (x) and (y) with the proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than any Asset Sale in respect of Specified ABL Facility Assets)

(ii) Indebtedness under Asset Backed Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (A) $1,750,000,000 and (B) the sum of 85% of the net book value of the accounts receivable of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and 65% of the net book value of the inventory of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (the “ Borrowing Base ”) less (x) in the case of the calculation of the Borrowing Base under this subclause (ii)(B), the amount of the Borrowing Base that is the subject of an on balance sheet Qualified Receivables Financing (it being understood that any of the Borrowing Base that is subject to arrangements for disposition or transfer in connection with an off-balance sheet Qualified Receivables Financing shall not be included in the Borrowing Base) and (y) in the case of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this subclause (ii)(B), the amount of any Indebtedness Incurred under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility; provided that any assets or property securing any Project Financing Incurred pursuant to clause (e)(ii) below shall be excluded when determining the Borrowing Base; provided further that Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this subclause (ii) shall be reduced by the amount of any permanent reductions of

 

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Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility (other than any such prepayments of revolving credit facilities Incurred pursuant to clause (c)(i) above) with the proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than any Asset Sale in respect of Specified ABL Facility Assets); provided further that, in the event of an Asset Acquisition, Indebtedness may be Incurred against the Borrowing Base pursuant to the foregoing in anticipation of the completion of such Asset Acquisition on the assumption that the Borrowing Base of the subject of the Asset Acquisition has been acquired;

(iii) Indebtedness under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $750,000,000; provided that amounts Incurred pursuant to an Oil Indexed Credit Facility will be required to reduce the amount of Indebtedness Incurred under the Borrowing Base to the extent Indebtedness in such amount as would no longer be permitted to be Incurred under subclause (ii) above (without duplication for the requirements of subclause (ii) above);

(d) Indebtedness existing on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (other than the Senior Notes and Indebtedness described in clauses (b) and (c) above) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $400,000,000, after giving effect to the consummation of the Reorganization Plan, which shall have the obligors, collateral, maturity and amortization features summarized under “Description of Other Indebtedness and Financing Arrangements” in Schedule 1.01B , and guarantees of Indebtedness of Joint Ventures outstanding on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, and operating leases of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date to the extent characterized as a Capitalized Lease Obligation after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date;

(e) (i) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, Disqualified Stock issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to finance (whether prior to or within two hundred seventy (270) days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets); provided that Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (e)(i) is not Incurred to finance a Business Acquisition, (ii) Indebtedness Incurred in connection with any Project Financing or (iii) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to a Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(f) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or similar requirements, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental or other permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(g) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with any acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

 

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(h) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries) any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Borrower or a Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Company under the Loans; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (h);

(i) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (i);

(j) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the Borrower or a Guarantor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not the Borrower or a Guarantor (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, in respect of the Loans; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (j);

(k) Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred for speculative purposes but for the purpose of (1) fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Agreement to be outstanding; (2) fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; (3) fixing or hedging commodity price risk, including the price or cost of raw materials, emission rights, manufactured products or related commodities, with respect to any commodity purchases or sales; or (4) hedging the potential exposure in respect of certain executives’ and employees’ options over, or stock appreciation rights in relation to, shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG;

(l) (i) obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, tender, bid, judgment, appeal, performance or governmental contract bonds and completion guarantees, surety, standby letters of credit and warranty and contractual service obligations of a like nature, trade letters of credit and documentary letters of credit and similar bonds or guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or (ii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to any of the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

 

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(m) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or, subject to the third paragraph of this Section 7.01, Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (m), does not exceed the greater of $750,000,000 and 3.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (m) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (m) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 from and after the first date on which the Company, or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 without reliance upon this clause (m));

(n) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor and Preferred Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference not greater than 200% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since immediately after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (which proceeds are contributed to the Company) or cash contributed to the capital of the Company (in each case other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to, or contributions received from, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (ii) and (iii) of the definition of “Applicable Amount” to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof);

(o) any guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Agreement; provided that (i) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Loans or the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Loans, as applicable, any such guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligations with respect to the Loans substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Loans or the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Loans, as applicable, and (ii) if such guarantee is of Indebtedness of the Company, such guarantee is Incurred in accordance with Section 6.12(b)(ii) solely to the extent such covenant is applicable;

(p) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 and clauses (a), (d), (e), (n) and (q) of this Section 7.01 or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums) and original issue discount, expenses, defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith; provided that any such Indebtedness until reclassified in accordance with this Agreement shall remain Incurred pursuant to clauses (a), (d), (e), (n) and (q), as applicable (subject to the following proviso, “ Refinancing Indebtedness ”), prior to its maturity; provided, however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Loans then outstanding were instead due on such date;

 

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(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Loans or the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Loans, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Loans or such obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, to at least same extent or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same issuer; and

(3) shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

provided further that subclause (1) of this clause (p) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations;

(q) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Company or, subject to the third paragraph of this Section 7.01, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (A) Incurred to finance an Asset Acquisition or (B) Incurred by a Person in connection with or anticipation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of an Asset Acquisition or to finance an Asset Acquisition or (y) a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of an Asset Acquisition or assumed in connection with an Asset Acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and, in any such case under this subclause (y), not Incurred in connection with or in anticipation of, such Asset Acquisition; provided that, in the case of clause (y), the holders of any such Indebtedness do not, at any time, have direct or indirect recourse to any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property or assets that are the subject of such Asset Acquisition; provided that after giving effect to such Asset Acquisition, either:

(1) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of this covenant; or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than immediately prior to such Asset Acquisition;

(r) Indebtedness Incurred in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is without recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

(s) 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; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days of its Incurrence;

 

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(t) Indebtedness under any Treasury Services Agreement or any Structured Financing Transaction;

(u) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries; provided, however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (u), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (u), does not exceed the greater of $350,000,000 and 3.50% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (u) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (u) but shall be deemed Incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which such Foreign Subsidiary could have Incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance upon this clause (u));

(v) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (1) the financing of insurance premiums or (2) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(w) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company to the extent described in Section 7.02(4);

(x) Indebtedness Incurred on behalf of, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness of, Joint Ventures of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of $250,000,000 and 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company; and

(y) Indebtedness Incurred by Lyondell Basell Australia Pty Ltd. and its successors in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $80,000,000; provided that such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than Australia.

Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not Incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 or clauses (m) or (q)(x) (or clause (o) to the extent constituting a guarantee of Indebtedness Incurred under the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 or clauses (m) or (q)(x)) of the second paragraph of this Section 7.01 if, after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net cash proceeds therefrom), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors Incurred or issued pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (m) and (q)(x) (or clause (o) to the extent constituting a guarantee of Indebtedness Incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or clauses (m) or (q)(x)) of the second paragraph of this Section 7.01, collectively, would exceed the greater of $400,000,000 and 4.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01:

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (y) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 7.01, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 7.01; provided that Indebtedness Incurred, or committed for, under the Credit Facilities and the Plan Roll-Up Notes on or before the Term Loan Escrow Release Date or pursuant to an Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall at all times be deemed to be Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(b) and (c); and

(2) at the time of Incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs above without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the second paragraph above when calculating the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph above.

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of liquidation preference 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 or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this covenant. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall 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 covenant.

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; or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement; 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 shall 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.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7.01, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur pursuant to this Section 7.01 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness, solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

 

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Section 7.02. Restricted Payments .

Make any Restricted Payment, unless at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the provisions of the first paragraph of Section 7.01; and

(c) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, including the Fair Market Value of non-cash amounts constituting Restricted Payments and Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (2), (6)(b), (8), (12)(b) and (16) of the following paragraph, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next paragraph below, shall not exceed the Applicable Amount at such time.

The foregoing provisions do not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“ Retired Capital Stock ”) of the Company or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of Equity Interests of the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company) (collectively, including any such contributions, “ Refunding Capital Stock ”), (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of Refunding Capital Stock, and (c) if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (6) of this paragraph and not made pursuant to clause (2)(b), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which are used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Company) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(3) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, the Borrower or any Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of the Borrower, the Company or any Guarantor that is Incurred in accordance with Section 7.01 so long as:

(a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired, any tender premiums, plus any defeasance costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith),

 

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(b) such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Loans or such Guarantor’s obligations in respect of the Loans, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value,

(c) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and (y) ninety-one (91) days following the last maturity date of any Senior Notes then outstanding, and

(d) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Subordinated Indebtedness being redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date that is ninety-one (91) days following the last maturity date of any Senior Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided , however , that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed $35,000,000 in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $70,000,000 in any calendar year; provided further , however , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(a) the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company that occurs after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 7.02(3)) or be used as the basis for the Incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 7.01(n), plus

(b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity (to the extent contributed to the Company) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date,

provided that the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (a) and (b) above in any calendar year; and provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes this Section 7.02 or any other provision of this Agreement;

 

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(5) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or Incurred in accordance with Section 7.01 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(6) (a) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date; and (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this paragraph; provided, however , in the case of each of (a) and (b) above of this clause (6), that for the most recently ended four (4) full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Company would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(7) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $250,000,000 and 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (7);

(8) (i) Restricted Payments by the Company in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000 per annum, and (ii) following a Primary Offering only, the payment of dividends on the listed Equity Interests at a rate not to exceed 6% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by the Company or the Borrower in connection with such a Primary Offering or any subsequent Primary Offering;

(9) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(10) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $350,000,000 and 1.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time made;

(11) the payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower that files a consolidated tax return that includes the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, by virtue of such parent being the common parent of a consolidated or combined tax group of which the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries are members) in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes (as the case may be) if the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid such taxes as a standalone taxpayer (or standalone group);

(12) the payment of Restricted Payments, if applicable:

(a) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to pay fees and expenses (including legal, audit, tax, including franchise tax, expenses) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower and general corporate operating and overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in each case to the extent such fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries;

 

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(b) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and that has been guaranteed by and treated as Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, Incurred in accordance with Section 7.01 (it being agreed that (i) all interest expense shall be included in the calculation of the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” of the Company and (ii) no contribution of such proceeds may be included in the calculation of Restricted Payments capacity or in the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred based on contributions to the Company); and

(c) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company to pay fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Company, related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent that has been undertaken to finance the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(13) repurchases of Equity Interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries 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;

(14) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;

(15) Restricted Payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(16) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.06 and 4.08 of the Senior Notes Indenture; provided that, all Senior Notes tendered by the holders of the Senior Notes in connection with a Change of Control Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer (each as defined in Senior Notes Indenture), as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value in accordance with the requirements of the Senior Notes Indenture;

(17) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 7.07; provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, no Event of Default under Section 8.01(j) shall have occurred and be continuing;

(18) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Emergence Transactions;

(19) distributions by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture of chemicals to a holder of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture if such distributions are made pursuant to a provision in a Joint Venture agreement or other arrangement entered into in connection with the establishment of such Joint Venture or Restricted Subsidiary that requires such holder to pay a price for such chemicals equal to that which would be paid in a comparable transaction negotiated on an arm’s-length basis (or pursuant to a provision that imposes a substantially equivalent requirement); and

(20) any Restricted Payments under any Treasury Services Agreement or any Structured Financing Transaction;

 

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provided, however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (3), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (12)(b) above, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding clause (10) of the second paragraph of this Section 7.02, prior to March 31, 2012 the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay any cash dividend or make any cash distribution on, or in respect of, the Company’s Capital Stock or purchase for cash or otherwise acquire for cash any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company for the purpose of paying any cash dividend or making any cash distribution to, or acquiring Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent of the Company for cash from, the Sponsors, or guarantee any Indebtedness of any Affiliate of the Company for the purpose of paying such dividend, making such distribution or so acquiring such Capital Stock to or from the Sponsors, in each case by means of the exception provided by clause (10) of the second paragraph of this Section 7.02, if at the time and after giving effect to such payment, the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than 2.00 to 1.00.

Section 7.03. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries .

Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock; or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements existing and contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, including pursuant to this Agreement, the ABL Facility, the Plan Roll-Up Notes, the Euro Securitization and the other Credit Facilities;

(2) the Senior Notes Indenture, the Senior Notes or the other notes permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(a) (including, without limitation, any Liens permitted by this Agreement or the indenture for such other notes);

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

 

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(4) any agreement or other instrument (including those governing Capital Stock) of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 7.01 and 7.06 that limit the right of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(8) customary provisions in Joint Venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, subleases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) any encumbrance or restriction in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided such restrictions only apply to the applicable receivables and related intangibles;

(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (a) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary, (b) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary so long as such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Loans (as determined in good faith by the Company) or (c) of any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in connection with any Project Financing, provided that in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date by Section 7.01;

(13) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 7.02 and any Permitted Investment;

(14) customary provisions in Hedging Obligations permitted under this Agreement and entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

(15) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (14) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, as determined in good faith by the Company, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, (1) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (2) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

Section 7.04. Asset Sales .

Cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Loans or such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligations in respect of the Loans) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

(b) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company into cash within one hundred eighty (180) days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

(c) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of 3.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and $600,000,000 at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (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) shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this provision.

Section 7.05. Transactions with Affiliates .

Make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000,000, unless:

(a) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

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(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $75,000,000, the Company delivers to the Administrative Agent a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (a) above.

The foregoing provisions do not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) and any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Borrower and any direct parent of the Borrower;

(2) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.02 and Permitted Investments;

(3) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, managers, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company;

(4) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (a) of the preceding paragraph;

(5) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to officers, directors, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith;

(6) any agreement as in effect as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by the Company;

(7) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any registration rights agreement to which it is a party as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, and, any amendment thereto or similar agreements or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date shall only be permitted by this clause (7) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date;

(8) the Emergence Transactions, including the payment of fees and expenses paid in connection therewith;

(9) (a) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have

 

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been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (b) transactions with Joint Ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry norm;

(10) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(11) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Person;

(12) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as appropriate, in good faith;

(13) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement that complies with Section 7.02(12);

(14) any contribution to the capital of the Company;

(15) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries solely because a director of such Person is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(16) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(17) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(18) any employment agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(19) transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company in an Officer’s Certificate) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth in this Agreement; and

(20) transactions entered into by a Person prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary ( provided such transaction is not entered into in contemplation of such event).

Section 7.06. Liens .

Create, Incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, other than Liens securing Indebtedness that are junior in priority to the Liens on such property or assets securing the Loans, on terms no less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders than those set forth in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Section 7.07. Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets .

(a) Solely with respect to the Company, the Company may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) the Company is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, Canada or any province thereof or any state which was a member of the European Union on December 31, 2003 (other than Greece) (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company” ); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Loans is a corporation;

(2) the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and the obligations pursuant to an assumption agreement or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in compliance with the Intercreditor Agreements;

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either (a) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of Section 7.01; or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer complies with this Agreement.

The Successor Company (if other than the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under the Loan Documents and the Loans, and in such event the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Loan Documents and the Loans. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this covenant, without complying with the foregoing clause (4), the Company may (A) merge with an Affiliate that has no material assets or liabilities and that is incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Borrower in any state of the

 

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U.S., the District of Columbia, Canada or any province thereof or any state which was a member state of the European Union on December 31, 2003 (other than Greece) and (B) may otherwise convert its legal form under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.

(b) Solely with respect to the Borrower, the Borrower may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Borrower is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) the Borrower is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Borrower) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (the Borrower or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Borrower ”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Loans is a corporation;

(2) the Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents and the Loans pursuant to an assumption agreement or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in compliance with the Intercreditor Agreements;

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either (a) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of Section 7.01; or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

(5) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Agreement.

The Successor Borrower (if other than the Borrower) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under the Loan Documents and the Loans, and in such event the Borrower will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Loan Documents and the Loans. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this covenant, without complying with the foregoing clause (4), the Borrower may (A) merge with an Affiliate that has no material assets or liabilities and that is incorporated or organized

 

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solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing the Borrower, as the case may be, in any state of the U.S. or the District of Columbia and (B) may otherwise convert its legal form under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization so long as there remains a corporate co-obligor. This Section 7.07 will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lyondell Assumption and the related transactions shall be permitted under this Agreement.

(c) Solely with respect to any Pledgor, subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement governing release of assets and property securing the Loans upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Pledgor, no Pledgor will, and the Company will not permit any Pledgor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Pledgor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(1) either (a) such Pledgor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Pledgor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Pledgor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Pledgor ”) and the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Pledgor under the Loan Documents and the Security Documents pursuant to documents or instruments in form required by the Loan Documents and in compliance with the Intercreditor Agreements, or (b) such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 7.04; and

(2) the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Agreement.

Subject to certain limitations described in the Loan Documents, the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Pledgor under the Loan Documents and such Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Loans, and such Pledgor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Loan Documents and such Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing such Pledgor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Pledgor is not increased thereby and (2) a Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Pledgor or the Company or may convert its legal form under the laws of reorganization of its jurisdiction.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Pledgor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (collectively, a “ Transfer ”) to the Company or any Pledgor.

 

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Section 7.08. Prepayments, Etc. of Plan Roll-Up Notes and Foreign Capital Markets Debt .

(a) Voluntarily prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled interest shall be permitted) the Plan Roll-Up Notes, any Foreign Capital Markets Debt, and any other Indebtedness of a Loan Party incurred after the Closing Date that is permitted to be Incurred under this Agreement and is by its terms unsecured or secured on a basis junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, or any Refinancing Indebtedness thereof (such Indebtedness, collectively, “ Junior Financing ”), except (i) the refinancing thereof with the net proceeds of any Indebtedness (net of all Taxes, fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such incurrence or issuance), in each case to the extent not required to prepay any Loans pursuant to Section 2.03(b), (ii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Qualified Stock of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower, (iii) any Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing or Refinancing Indebtedness, (iv) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect Foreign Capital Markets Debt (other than the Euro Securitization and the 2027 Notes) to the extent that the aggregate amount of all such Foreign Capital Markets Debt satisfactions pursuant to this clause (iv) during the term of this Agreement does not exceed, after giving effect to such satisfaction, an aggregate principal amount equal to $300,000,000 plus the amount of Net Proceeds permitted to be retained by a Foreign Subsidiary as a result of material adverse tax consequences or adverse legal consequences pursuant to the proviso of Section 2.03(b)(ii), and (v) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to (A) if the Applicable Amount Availability Condition shall have been satisfied on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other payment, with the portion, if any, of the Applicable Amount on the date of such payment that the Borrower elects to apply to this Section 7.08(a), such election to be specified in a written notice of a Principal Financial Officer calculating in reasonable detail the amount of Applicable Amount immediately prior to such election and the amount thereof elected to be so applied plus (B) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02(10).

(b) Amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders any term or condition of any Junior Financing Documentation without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

Section 7.09. Activities of Escrow Borrower Prior to the Lyondell Assumption .

Prior to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, the Borrower shall be a corporation, whose primary activities are restricted to issuing the Senior Notes and the Term Loans, issuing capital to, and receiving capital contributions from, the Company, performing its obligations in respect of (i) the Senior Notes under the Senior Notes Indenture and the Senior Notes Escrow Agreement, (ii) the Loans under the Term Loan Escrow Agreement, and (iii) consummating the Lyondell Assumption or redeeming the Senior Notes and prepaying the Loans on the Term Loan Escrow Redemption Date, and conducting such other activities as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the activities described in this sentence. Prior to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, the Escrow Borrower shall not issue or incur any Indebtedness other than the Senior Notes and Term Loans, or own, hold or otherwise have any interest in any material assets other than the account referenced in the Senior Notes Escrow Agreement and the Term Loan Escrow Account, and cash or Cash Equivalents.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.

Events of Default and Remedies

Section 8.01. Events of Default .

The occurrence of any of the following on or after the Term Loan Escrow Release Date shall constitute an event of default (an “ Event of Default ”):

(a) Non-Payment . Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants . Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 6.03(a), 6.05 (solely with respect to the Company and the Borrower) or Article VII; or

(c) Other Defaults . Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Company or the Borrower; or

(d) Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document that is an exhibit to a Loan Document (or any certification by a Principal Financial Officer or the Borrower expressly contemplated by this Agreement) shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default . Any Loan Party or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary if each member of such group were in default of this clause (e) at any one time) (i) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder or owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) having an aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount or (ii) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness of not less than the Threshold Amount (any such Indebtedness, “ Threshold Indebtedness ”), or any other event occurs (other than, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of Hedging Obligations, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Hedging Obligations), the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders of beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise) prior to its Stated Maturity; provided that this clause (e)(ii) shall 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 failure is unremedied and is not waived or subject to forbearance, by the holders of such Indebtedness prior to any termination of the Commitments or acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 8.02; or

 

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(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc . Any of the Company, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary if each member of such group were in default of this clause (f) at any one time) to the fullest extent permitted under applicable mandatory provisions of law institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or files for the opening of insolvency proceedings, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors generally; or a third person files for the opening of insolvency proceedings that result in the entry of an order for relief or remains undismissed, undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee (not being a custodian), custodian, conservator, liquidator (not being a bewindvoerder ), rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property under any applicable Debtor Relief Laws; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment . (i) Any of the Company, the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary if each member of such group were in default of this clause (g) at any one time) becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts in excess of the Threshold Amount as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy in each case, for the purposes of any Subsidiary domiciled in the United Kingdom, ignoring the deeming provisions of Section 123(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986; or

(h) Judgments . There is entered against any Loan Party or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary if each member of such group were in default of this clause (h) at any one time) one or more final judgments or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied coverage) and such judgments or orders shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

(i) Invalidity of Guaranties . Any material portion of the Guaranties of the Loans, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or 7.05) or as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent or any Lender or the satisfaction in full of all the Obligations (subject, in the case of the Company, to the Agreed Security Principles and the Legal Reservations), ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document or the validity or priority of a Lien as required by the Security Documents (subject to the Intercreditor Agreements) on a material portion of the Collateral; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the payment Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Commitments), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Loan Document; or it becomes unlawful for any Loan Party to perform any of its payment Obligations under the Loan Documents; or

 

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(j) Change of Control . There occurs or shall exist any Change of Control; or

(k) Security Documents . Subject in the case of the Company to the Agreed Security Principles and the Legal Reservations, any Security Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02, 6.12 or 6.14 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof or solely as a result of acts or omissions of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender) ceases to create a valid and perfected Lien, with the priority required by the Security Documents (subject to the Intercreditor Agreements) on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01, except (i) to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to (a) maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Security Documents or (b) file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements, (ii) as to Collateral consisting of Real Property to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied or failed to acknowledge coverage, or (iii) any of the Equity Interests of the Borrower ceasing to be pledged pursuant to any Security Agreement free of Liens other than Liens created by such Security Agreement or any nonconsensual Liens arising solely by operation of Law; or

(l) ERISA . An ERISA Event or any similar event with respect to a Foreign Plan occurs which, together with all other ERISA Events (or similar events with respect to Foreign Plans) that have occurred, has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 8.02. Remedies upon Event of Default . If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions:

(i) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments shall be terminated;

(ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

(iii) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Company under any Debtor Relief Law, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

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Section 8.03. Application of Funds .

After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law), subject in all respects to the applicable provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements:

First , to payment of that portion of the payment Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such;

Second , to payment of that portion of the payment Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third , to payment of that portion of the payment Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, and any fees, premiums and scheduled periodic payments due under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth , to payment of that portion of the payment Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, and any breakage, termination or other payments under Treasury Services Agreements or Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth , to the payment of all other payment Obligations of the Borrower that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

Last , the balance, if any, after all of the payment Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

ARTICLE IX.

Administrative Agent and Other Agents

Section 9.01. Appointment and Authorization of Agents .

(a) Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints UBS AG, Stamford Branch, to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes such Agents to execute on its behalf any Security Document and to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to such Agents by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

 

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Section 9.02. Rights as a Lender .

Each Person serving as an Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include each Person serving as an Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders

Section 9.03. Exculpatory Provisions .

No Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Agent:

(i) shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(ii) shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that such Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its judgment or the judgment of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law; and

(iii) shall, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as such Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

No Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (x) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as such Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.01) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. No Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice describing such Default is given to such Agent by the Borrower or a Lender. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders upon receipt of any such notice.

No Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of the term “agent” in this Agreement with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

 

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Section 9.04. Reliance by Agents .

Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. Each Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. 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, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for a Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

Section 9.05. Delegation of Duties .

Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through, or delegate any and all such rights and powers to, any one or more sub-agents appointed by such Agent; provided that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no Agent shall delegate such rights and powers to a foreign sub-agent or designate a new foreign agent if such delegation or designation would result in a tax gross-up or indemnification payment under Section 3.01 unless (i) such Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such designation is necessary to avoid material adverse economic, legal or regulatory consequences, (ii) the designation is at the request of the Borrower or (iii) the designation is required by law. Each Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Agent-Related Persons. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Agent-Related Persons of each 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 Agent.

Section 9.06. Resignation of the Agents .

Each Agent may at any time give thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall be consented to by the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(f) and (g) (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States; provided that such successor shall comply with the requirements of Section 3.01(d) prior to becoming the successor under this Agreement; provided further that the Required Lenders shall not appoint a foreign agent as successor if such appointment would result in a tax gross-up or indemnification payment under Section 3.01 unless (i) the Required Lenders determine, in their reasonable discretion, that such appointment is necessary to avoid material adverse economic, legal or regulatory consequences, (ii) the appointment is at the request of the Borrower or (iii) the appointment is required by law. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth

 

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above provided that if the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Collateral Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security as nominee until such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through an Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this paragraph. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article IX, Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Agent-Related Persons in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as Agent.

Section 9.07. Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders .

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender 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 further represents and warrants that it has reviewed the Company Materials and each other document made available to it on the Platform in connection with this Agreement and has acknowledged and accepted the terms and conditions applicable to the recipients thereof. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender 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. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Lender also acknowledges that the Liens and security interests granted pursuant to the Security Documents and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent thereunder are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements and the Security Documents, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements shall govern and control.

Section 9.08. Indemnification of Agents .

Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.08. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.08 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse each of the Administrative Agent and the

 

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Collateral Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Loan Parties. The undertaking in this Section 9.08 shall survive termination of the Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

Section 9.09. Withholding Tax .

To the extent required by any applicable law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax. Without limiting or expanding the provisions of Section 3.01, each Lender shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent against, and shall make payable in respect thereof within thirty (30) days after demand therefor, any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities and expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent by the Internal Revenue Service or any other Governmental Authority as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent to properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including, without limitation, because the appropriate form was not delivered or not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective). A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.09 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

Section 9.10. No Other Duties, Etc .

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Syndication Agent, the Joint Bookrunners or the Co-Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or a Lender.

Section 9.11. Agents in Their Individual Capacities .

UBS AG, Stamford Branch and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower and their respective Affiliates as though UBS AG, Stamford Branch were not the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, UBS AG, Stamford Branch or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrower or their respective Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of any the Borrower or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, UBS AG, Stamford Branch and its Affiliates shall have the same

 

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rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include UBS AG, Stamford Branch in its individual capacity. Any successor to UBS AG, Stamford Branch as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall also have the rights attributed to UBS AG, Stamford Branch under this paragraph.

Section 9.12. Collateral and Guaranty Matters .

(a) The Lenders irrevocably agree:

(A) on the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, the Escrow Borrower will be released from all of the Obligations and the Liens on the Term Loan Escrow Account and the Term Loan Escrow Collateral shall be released; and

(B) from and after the Term Loans Escrow Release Date:

(i) Subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, Liens on Collateral securing the Term Loan will be automatically and unconditionally released

(A) as to any property or asset (including Capital Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company), to enable the Company, the Borrower and the Pledgors to consummate the disposition of such property or asset to the extent not prohibited by clause (E) below or under Section 7.02 or Section 7.04;

(B) to release Excess Proceeds and Collateral Excess Proceeds (each as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture) to the Borrower that remain unexpended after the conclusion of an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer (each as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture) conducted in accordance with the Senior Notes Indenture and not required to be made a part of the Collateral;

(C) in respect of the property and assets of a Pledgor, upon the designation of such Pledgor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.02 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(D) in respect of the property and assets of a Guarantor upon release of the Guaranty of such Guarantor;

(E) in the case of the property and assets of a specific Pledgor, upon such Pledgor making a Transfer of such assets to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Pledgor; provided that (1) such Transfer is not subject to Section 7.07 and (2) the aggregate net book value of the assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are at any time Collateral (excluding cash proceeds of accounts receivable, inventory and related assets) that are so transferred pursuant to this clause (E) subsequent to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date shall not exceed 5% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries per year and shall not be in an amount that will result in an Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to qualify as an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with the definition thereof; provided further , that Liens on all property and assets of any Subsidiary of Lyondell Europe Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be automatically and unconditionally released upon any transfer of such Subsidiary;

(F) as permitted under Section 10.01;

 

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(G) as to the pledge of Capital Stock of first-tier Foreign Subsidiaries, in connection with a reorganization, change or modification of the direct or indirect ownership of Foreign Subsidiaries by the Company, the Borrower or a Pledgor, as applicable, in compliance with this Agreement, a release may be obtained as to such Capital Stock in connection with the substitution of pledge of 65% of the voting Capital Stock and 100% of the non-voting Capital Stock of any one or more new or replacement first-tier Foreign Subsidiaries pursuant to valid Security Documents; or

(H) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Credit Agreement Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable).

(ii) to release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted under clauses (16) and (23) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(iii) that any Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty (A) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Credit Agreement Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable) or (B) if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of any Junior Financing or the ABL Facility; and

(iv) to release any Lien on any pipeline easement and other similar Real Property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document in connection with an Asset Sale of pipeline easements pursuant to clause (f) of the definition of “Asset Sale” subject to and in accordance with the following:

(A) the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent have been furnished evidence satisfactory to them that the swap of assets contemplated in clause (f) of the definition of “Asset Sale” relating to the release being requested satisfies the requirements of clause (f) of the definition of “Asset Sale” and

(B) in connection with such disposition and as a condition to the granting of such release, (I) the Loan Party acquiring the new pipeline easements and other similar Real Property has obtained titled to such Real Property, (II) the Collateral Agent has received a Mortgage duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party with respect to such Real Property, such Mortgage being free of any Liens except as expressly permitted by Section Section 7.06, and (III) such Loan Party has delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent such existing surveys, existing abstracts, certificates, title documents, existing appraisals, legal opinions and other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in good faith with respect to any such Real Property.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.12. In each case as specified in this Section 9.12, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent will (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and

 

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deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as the Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents, or to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.12.

(b) (i) In this clause (b):

(A) “ Collateral Agent Claim ” means any amount which a Loan Party owes to the Collateral Agent under this clause; and

(B) “ Secured Party Claim ” means any amount which a Loan Party owes to a Secured Party under or in connection with the Loan Documents.

(ii) Unless expressly provided to the contrary in any Loan Document, the Collateral Agent holds:

(A) the benefit of any Collateral Agent Claims; and

(B) any proceeds of security,

for the benefit, and as the property, of the Secured Parties and so that they are not available to the personal creditors of the Collateral Agent.

(iii) The Collateral Agent will separately identify in its records the property rights referred to in paragraph (ii) above.

(iv) Paragraphs (ii) to (iii) above do not apply to any security created by a Security Document governed by Dutch law.

(v) Each Loan Party must pay the Collateral Agent, as an independent and separate creditor, an amount equal to each Secured Party Claim on its due date.

(vi) The Collateral Agent may enforce performance of any Collateral Agent Claim in its own name as an independent and separate right. This includes any suit, execution, enforcement of security, recovery of guarantees and applications for and voting in respect of any kind of insolvency proceeding.

(vii) Each Secured Party must, at the request of the Collateral Agent, perform any act required in connection with the enforcement of any Collateral Agent Claim. This includes joining in any proceedings as co-claimant with the Collateral Agent.

(viii) Unless the Collateral Agent fails to enforce a Collateral Agent Claim within a reasonable time after its due date, a Secured Party may not take any action to enforce the corresponding Secured Party Claim unless it is requested to do so by the Collateral Agent.

(ix) Discharge by a Loan Party of a Secured Party Claim will discharge the corresponding Collateral Agent Claim in the same amount.

(x) Discharge by a Loan Party of a Collateral Agent Claim will discharge the corresponding Secured Party Claim in the same amount.

 

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(xi) The aggregate amount of the Collateral Agent Claims will never exceed the aggregate amount of Secured Party Claims.

(xii) A defect affecting a Collateral Agent Claim against a Loan Party will not affect any Secured Party Claim.

(xiii) A defect affecting a Secured Party Claim against a Loan Party will not affect any Collateral Agent Claim.

(xiv) Each Collateral Agent Claim is created on the understanding that and provided that the Collateral Agent will:

(A) share the benefit, including in particular the proceeds of the Collateral Agent Claim, with the other Secured Parties; and

(B) pay those proceeds to the Secured Parties, in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreements.

(xv) Each party agrees that the Collateral Agent:

(A) will be the joint and several creditor (together with the relevant Secured Party) of each and every obligation of each Loan Party towards each Secured Party under this Agreement; and

(B) will have its own independent right to demand performance by each Loan Party of those obligations.

(xvi) Discharge by a Loan Party of any obligation owed to the Collateral Agent or another Secured Party shall, to the same extent, discharge the corresponding obligation owing to the other.

(xvii) Without limiting or affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights against each Loan Party (whether under this paragraph or under any other provision of the Loan Documents), the Collateral Agent agrees with each other Secured Party (on a several and divided basis) that, subject to the paragraph below, it will not exercise its rights as joint and several creditor with a Secured Party except in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreements.

Nothing in this clause (b) shall in any way limit the Collateral Agent’s right to act in the protection or preservation of rights under or to enforce any Security Document or the Guarantee Agreement as contemplated by this Agreement and/or the relevant Security Document (or to do any act reasonably incidental to any of the above).

(c) The Collateral Agent may accept, without enquiry, the title (if any) a Loan Party may have to any asset over which security is intended to be created by any Security Document.

 

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ARTICLE X.

Miscellaneous

Section 10.01. Amendments, Etc.

Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and such Loan Party and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that a waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any condition precedent or of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce or forgive the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under Section 2.05 or 2.06 without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest);

(c) reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein (except in connection with the waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates (which waiver shall be effective with the consent of the Required Lenders)) on, any Loan or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document (or change the timing of payments of such fees or other amounts) without the written consent of each Lender holding such Loan or to whom such fee or other amount is owed;

(d) change any provision of this Section 10.01, the definition of “Required Lenders,” or “Pro Rata Share” or Section 8.03 without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(e) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions (for the avoidance of doubt no transaction permitted by Section 7.05 shall be deemed a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral) without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranties (for the avoidance of doubt no release of Guaranties permitted by the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed a release of all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranties) without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) make any change to, or extend the time for performance under, the conditions described in Section 4.02 without the consent of 75% of the sum of the Total Outstandings and aggregate unused Commitments; provided that the unused Commitment of, and the purportion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of such 75% consenting proportion;

and provided further that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in addition to the Lenders required above,

 

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affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (ii) Section 10.07(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 2.12, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (a) 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 Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Loans, to permit the refinancing of all outstanding Loans (any such refinanced Loans, “ Refinanced Loans ”), with one or more term loans denominated in Dollars, (any such replacement Loans, “ Replacement Loans ”); provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of the corresponding tranche of Refinanced Loans, (b) the Applicable Rate for such Replacement Loans shall not be higher than the Applicable Rate for the corresponding tranche of Refinanced Loans, (c) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Replacement Loans, shall not be shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Refinanced Loans at the time of such refinancing (except to the extent of nominal amortization for periods where amortization has been eliminated as a result of prepayment of the applicable Loans) and (d) all other terms applicable to such Replacement Loans shall be substantially identical to, or no less favorable to the Lenders providing such Replacement Loans than those applicable to the corresponding tranche of Refinanced Loans, except to the extent necessary to provide for covenants and other terms applicable to any period after the latest final maturity of the corresponding tranche of Loans in effect immediately prior to such refinancing.

Section 10.02. Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies .

(a) General . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission or other form of electronic communication). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.

 

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All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii)(A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(c)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.

(b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures . Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile or other form of electronic communication. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan Parties, the Agents and the Lenders.

(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders . The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

Section 10.03. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies .

No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by applicable Law.

Section 10.04. Attorney Costs and Expenses .

The Borrower agrees (a) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers for all reasonable invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses (other than Indemnified Taxes or Excluded Taxes, which are governed by Section 3.01) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs, and (b) if the Term Loan Escrow Release Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and each Lender for all invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, and including all respective Attorney Costs of counsel to

 

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the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent); provided that, such costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of the Commitment Fee obligations shall be reimbursed by the Borrower without the requirement that the Term Loan Escrow Release Date occur. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other (reasonable, in the case of Section 10.04(a)) out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid promptly after receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses, or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

Section 10.05. Indemnification by the Borrower .

Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Joint Lead Arranger, Joint Bookrunner, Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, and directors, officers, partners, employees, counsel, agents, trustees, investment advisors and attorneys-in-fact of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including attorney costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment or Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, or (c) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any property or facility currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary, or (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”), in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any affiliate, director, officer, partner, employee, agent or attorney-in-fact of such Indemnitee, as determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee or the Borrower or any Subsidiary have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date). In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, any Loan Party’s directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents are consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor; provided, however , that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund such amount to the extent that there is a final judicial or arbitral determination that such Indemnitee was

 

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not entitled to indemnification rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. This Section 10.05 shall not apply with respect to any Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or any Other Taxes indemnifiable under Section 3.01) other than Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim excluding Taxes for which the Indemnitee has been indemnified under Section 3.01.

Section 10.06. Payments Set Aside .

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall, to the fullest extent possible under provisions of applicable Law, be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.

Section 10.07. Successors and Assigns .

(a) 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 the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (except as permitted by Section 7.04) and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee pursuant to an assignment made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b) (an “ Assignee ”), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(e), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(g) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(h) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto 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 Section 10.07(e) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Assignees, after consultation with (but not the consent of) the Borrower ( provided that no such consultation of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (f) or (g) has occurred and is continuing, any Assignee), all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the Administrative Agent.

 

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(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) 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 Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent), shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000, and shall be in increments of $500,000, in excess thereof unless each of the Borrower ( provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (f) or (g) has occurred and is continuing) and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents, provided that such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that only one such fee shall be payable in the event of simultaneous assignments to or from two (2) or more Approved Funds;

(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender (or the Borrower in connection with acquisitions or repurchases of Loans by the Borrower pursuant to Purchase Offers under Section 2.13), shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire; and

(D) no assignments shall be made to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than acquisitions or repurchases of Loans by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.13.

This paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Term Loan Facilities on a non-pro rata basis among such Term Loan Facilities.

(c) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(d) (other than in connection with the acquisition or repurchase of Loans by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.13), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, 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 Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption 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 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note, if any, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph (c) or paragraph (d) below 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 Section 10.07(e).

(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans, owing to, each Lender pursuant to

 

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the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents 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, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Agent, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 10.07(d) shall be construed so that the obligations under this Agreement and the Loan Documents are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any related regulations (or any other relevant or successor provisions of the Code or such regulations).

(e) Any Lender may at any time, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or 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 Borrower, the Agents 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 or instrument 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 or the other Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in clauses (a) through (c) and (e) through (f) of the first proviso to Section 10.01 that requires the affirmative vote of such Lender. Subject to Section 10.07(f), the Borrower agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits (subject to the requirements and limitations, including requirements to provide any applicable forms under Section 3.01) of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(c). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Sections 2.09(b) and 2.11 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation with respect to a Commitment or Loan to the Borrower shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of each Participant’s interest in the Commitment and/or Loan (the “ Participant Register ”). 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. Such Lender shall permit the Loan Parties to review such information as reasonably needed for Borrower to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or under any applicable law.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant unless the participation was made with the Borrower’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(g) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, 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 this Section 10.07 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. In order to facilitate such pledge or assignment or for any other reason, the Borrower hereby agree that,

 

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upon request of any Lender at any time and from time to time after the Borrower has made its initial borrowing hereunder, the Borrower shall provide to such Lender, at the Borrower’s own expense, a promissory note, substantially in the form of Exhibit B , as applicable, to this Agreement, evidencing the Loans, owing to such Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “ Granting Lender ”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Company (an “ SPC ”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including requirements to provide any applicable forms under Section 3.01), but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder and (iv) the Granting Lender shall keep a register substantially in the form of Participant Register described above of each SPC which has funded all or any part of any Loan that such Lender would have otherwise been obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (1) any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it and (2) any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

(i) (A) Notwithstanding the definition of “Assignee” or anything else to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may assign all or a portion of its Loans to any Person who, after giving effect to such assignment, would be an Affiliated Lender (with the consent of Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)); provided that:

(i) the assigning Lender and the Affiliated Lender purchasing such Lender’s Loans shall execute and deliver to Administrative Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto (an “ Affiliated Lender Assignment Agreement ”); and

(ii) at the time of such assignment on a pro forma basis after giving affect to such assignment, the aggregate principal amount of all Loans held by Affiliated Lenders shall not exceed 25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans outstanding under this Agreement.

 

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(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Affiliated Lender shall have any right to (i) attend (including by telephone) any meeting or discussions (or portion thereof) among Administrative Agent or any Lender to which representatives of the Loan Parties are not invited, (ii) receive any information or material prepared by Administrative Agent or any Lender or any communication by or among Administrative Agent and/or one or more Lenders, except to the extent such information or materials have been made available to any Loan Party or its representatives or (iii) 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 any 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.

(C) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 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, an Affiliated Lender shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender without discretion in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Affiliated Lenders; provided that no amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any Loan Document shall deprive such Affiliated Lender of its Pro Rata Share of any payments to which such Affiliated Lender is entitled under the Loan Documents without such Affiliated Lender providing its consent; provided , further , that such Affiliated Lender shall have the right to approve any amendment, modification, waiver or consent of the type described in Section 10.01(a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Agreement to the extent that such Affiliated Lender is directly and adversely affected thereby; and in furtherance of the foregoing, (x) the Affiliated Lender agrees to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent any instrument reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to evidence the voting of its interest as a Lender in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.07(i); provided that if the Affiliated Lender fails to promptly execute such instrument such failure shall in no way prejudice any of the Administrative Agent’s rights under this paragraph and (y) the Administrative Agent is hereby appointed (such appointment being coupled with an interest) by the Affiliated Lender as the Affiliated Lender’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of the Affiliated Lender and in the name of the Affiliated Lender, from time to time in Administrative Agent’s discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument that Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this paragraph (i)(C).

Section 10.08. Confidentiality .

Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the

 

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confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential) solely for purposes of this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby; (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority; (c) to the extent required by applicable Law or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Company), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(g), counterparty to a Hedging Obligation, Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement; (f) with the written consent of the Company; (g) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; (h) to any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any Lender; (i) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries received by it from such Lender); or (j) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder, under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement or rights hereunder or thereunder. In addition, the Agents and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and publicly available information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “ Information ” means all information received from the Loan Parties relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or its business, other than any such information that is publicly available to any Agent or any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; provided that, in the case of information received from a Loan Party after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential or is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03.

Section 10.09. Setoff .

In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and its Affiliates (the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in respect of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses payable hereunder) is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Company and the Borrower, any such notice being waived by the Company and the Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and such Lender may have.

 

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Section 10.10. Interest Rate Limitation .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If any Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

Section 10.11. Counterparts .

This Agreement and each other Loan Document (where applicable under the relevant laws) may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by electronic mail or telecopier of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier.

Section 10.12. Integration .

This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter except for any such prior agreements which by the express terms thereof survive the execution of this Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control unless, in the case of such other Loan Documents governed by any Law other than a state of the United States, such control would result, such other Loan Document being invalid or unenforceable, in which case, the relevant provision of the Loan Document will prevail; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

Section 10.13. Survival of Representations and Warranties .

Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as of the time made as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

Section 10.14. Severability .

If any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and such other Loan Document shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

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Section 10.15. GOVERNING LAW .

THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (OTHER THAN ANY LOAN DOCUMENT EXPRESSLY GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES (OTHER THAN TELECOPIER) IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Section 10.16. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY .

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 THE 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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 10.17. Binding Effect .

This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender, that each such Lender, has executed it, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Loan Parties, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in accordance with Section 10.07 (if applicable), and except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.

 

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Section 10.18. 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 from Dollars into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase Dollars with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than Dollars be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase Dollars with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of Dollars so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent from the Borrower in Dollars, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of Dollars so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable Law).

Section 10.19. Lender Action .

Each Lender agrees that it shall not take or institute any actions or proceedings, judicial or otherwise, for any right or remedy against any Loan Party or any other obligor under any of the Loan Documents or the Secured Hedge Agreements (including the exercise of any right of setoff, rights on account of any banker’s lien or similar claim or other rights of self-help), or institute any actions or proceedings, or otherwise commence any remedial procedures, with respect to any Collateral or any other property of any such Loan Party, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The provisions of this Section 10.19 are for the sole benefit of the Lenders and shall not afford any right to, or constitute a defense available to, any Loan Party.

Section 10.20. USA PATRIOT Act .

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 each Loan Party that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of such Loan Party and other information regarding such Loan Party that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA Patriot Act. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and is effective as to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

Section 10.21. 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 Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agents and the Joint Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Company and the Borrower and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each Loan Party has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate and (C) each Loan Party is

 

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capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each Agent, each Joint Lead Arranger, and each Joint Bookrunner 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 the Company and the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Joint Lead Arranger nor any Joint Bookrunner has any obligation to the Company and the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of each Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, and no Agent or Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties or their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Agents and the Joint Lead Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

Section 10.22. Certain Dutch Matters .

Any obligation, guaranty or undertaking granted or assumed by a Person incorporated or organized under the laws of The Netherlands pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be deemed not to be undertaken or incurred by such Person to the extent that the same would constitute unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of Section 2:207c or 2:98c of the Dutch Civil Code or any other applicable financial assistance rules under any relevant jurisdiction (the “ Prohibition ”) and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt it is expressly acknowledged that the relevant Persons incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands will continue to guaranty and secure all such obligations which, if included, do not constitute a violation of the Prohibition.

Section 10.23. Agent for Service of Process .

The Company agrees that promptly following request by the Administrative Agent it will appoint and maintain an agent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to receive service of process in New York City.

Section 10.24. Limitation on Obligations of Lyondell Chemical .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, from the Closing Date up to, but not including the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, Lyondell Chemical’s obligations under this Agreement shall be limited to the obligations to (a) make the representations set forth in Article V that are applicable to Lyondell Chemical in its capacity as a Borrower, consistent with the terms thereof and at such times as required under this agreement and (b) provide the indemnifications set forth in Section 10.05, consistent with the terms thereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
LBI ESCROW CORPORATION
LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY
By:  

/s/ C. Kent Potter

  Name:   C. Kent Potter
  Title:   Authorized Person

UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, as

Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Mary E. Evans

  Name:   Mary E. Evans
  Title:   Associate Director
By:  

/s/ Irja R. Otsa

  Name:   Irja R. Otsa
  Title:   Associate Director

 

S-1


UBS SECURITIES LLC, as a Joint Lead Arranger
By:  

/s/ Mary E. Evans

  Name:   Mary E. Evans
  Title:   Attorney in Fact
By:  

/s/ Irja R. Otsa

  Name:   Irja R. Otsa
  Title:   Associate Director

 

S-2


BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as

Syndication Agent and a Joint Lead Arranger

By:  

/s/ Robert Schleusner

  Name:   Robert Schleusner
  Title:   Managing Director

 

S-3


CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC, as a

Co-Documentation Agent

By:  

/s/ Timothy Hunt

  Name:   Timothy Hunt
  Title:   Director

 

S-4


DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as a

Co-Documentation Agent

By:  

/s/ Stephen Cunningham

  Name:   Stephen Cunningham
  Title:   MD
By:  

/s/ Frank Fazio

  Name:   Frank Fazio
  Title:   MD

 

S-5


MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

as a Co-Documentation Agent

By:  

/s/ Kevin Emerson

  Name:   Kevin Emerson
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

S-6


UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, as a Lender
By:  

/s/ Mary E. Evans

  Name:   Mary E. Evans
  Title:   Associate Director
By:  

/s/ Irja R. Otsa

  Name:   Irja R. Otsa
  Title:   Associate Director

 

S-7

EXHIBIT 10.20

U.S. SECURITY AGREEMENT

dated as of

April 30, 2010

among

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY,

as a Grantor and as the Borrower

and

THE OTHER GRANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Grantors

and

UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH,

as Collateral Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

     P AGE

SECTION 1 .     Definitions

   1

SECTION 2 .     Grant of Transaction Liens

   7

SECTION 3 .     General Representations and Warranties

   9

SECTION 4 .     Further Assurances; General Covenants

   12

SECTION 5 .     Investment Property

   13

SECTION 6 .     Restricted Accounts

   15

SECTION 7 .     Transfer Of Record Ownership

   15

SECTION 8 .     Right to Vote Securities

   15

SECTION 9 .     Remedies upon Event of Default

   16

SECTION 10 .     Application of Proceeds

   19

SECTION 11 .     Authority to Administer Collateral

   19

SECTION 12 .     Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral

   21

SECTION 13 .     General Provisions Concerning the Collateral Agent

   21

SECTION 14 .     Termination of Transaction Liens; Release of Collateral

   22

SECTION 15 .     Additional Grantors

   23

SECTION 16 .    Notices

   23

SECTION 17 .     No Implied Waivers; Remedies Not Exclusive

   23

SECTION 18 .     Successors and Assigns

   23

SECTION 19 .     Amendments and Waivers

   24

SECTION 20 .     Choice of Law

   24

SECTION 21 .     Waiver of Jury Trial

   24

SECTION 22 .     Severability

   24

SECTION 23 .     Intercreditor Agreement Controlling

   25

SECTION 24 .     Control by or Delivery to Notes Collateral Agent or ABL Collateral Agent

   25

SECTION 25 .     Agreement to be Bound by Credit Agreement

   25


EXHIBITS :

Exhibit A         Security Agreement Supplement

 

ii


SECURITY AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT dated as of April 30, 2010 among LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as a Grantor and as the Borrower, LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES, N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands (the “ Company ”) and the other Grantors party hereto, each as a Grantor and UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, as Collateral Agent.

WHEREAS, the Borrower has entered into the Credit Agreement described in Section 1 hereof, pursuant to which the Borrower intends to borrow funds for the purposes set forth therein;

WHEREAS, the Borrower is willing to secure its obligations under the Credit Agreement, by granting Liens on its assets to the Collateral Agent as provided in the Security Documents;

WHEREAS, each Guarantor is an affiliate of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and has guaranteed the foregoing obligations of the Borrower and is willing to secure its guarantee thereof by granting Liens on its assets to the Collateral Agent as provided in the Security Documents;

WHEREAS, the Lenders are not willing to permit loans made under the Credit Agreement to be released pursuant to Section 4.02 thereof unless (i) the foregoing obligations of the Borrower are secured as described above and (ii) each guarantee thereof is secured by Liens on assets of the relevant Guarantor as provided in the Security Documents;

WHEREAS, concurrently herewith the Grantors are entering into certain other security agreements with respect to the Collateral to secure their obligations under the ABL Facility, the Senior Notes and the Plan Roll-Up Notes and priority under each of these security agreements will be regulated by the Intercreditor Agreements;

WHEREAS, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, upon any foreclosure or other enforcement of the Security Documents, the net proceeds of the relevant Collateral are to be received by or paid over to the Collateral Agent and applied as provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1 . Definitions .

(a) Terms Defined in Credit Agreement . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section 1 have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for in the Credit Agreement. The rules of construction specified in Sections 1.02 and 1.05 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.


(b) Terms Defined in UCC . As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning specified in the UCC:

 

Term

   UCC  

Account

   9-102   

Authenticate

   9-102   

Certificated Security

   8-102   

Certificate of Title

   9-102   

Chattel Paper

   9-102   

Deposit Account

   9-102   

Document

   9-102   

Entitlement Holder

   8-102   

Equipment

   9-102   

Financial Asset

   8-102  & 103 

General Intangibles

   9-102   

Instrument

   9-102   

Inventory

   9-102   

Investment Property

   9-102   

Record

   9-102   

Securities Account

   8-501   

Securities Intermediary

   8-102   

Security

   8-102  & 103 

Security Entitlement

   8-102   

Supporting Obligations

   9-102   

Tangible Chattel Paper

   9-102   

(c) Additional Definitions . The following additional terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

ABL Credit Agreement ” means the credit agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Company, the borrowers party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as co-collateral agent and the other agents and parties thereto.

Collateral ” means the Non-Company Collateral (as defined in Section 2(a) hereof) and the Company Collateral (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof).

 

2


Control ” has the meaning specified in UCC Section 8-106, 9-104 or 9-106, as may be applicable to the relevant Collateral.

Copyright License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right to use, copy, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works, display or publish any records or other materials on which a Copyright is in existence or may come into existence.

Copyrights ” means all the following: (i) all copyright rights in any published or unpublished work of authorship, whether copyrightable or not, databases and other compilations of information, and user manuals and other training documentation related thereto, copyrights therein and thereto arising under the laws of the United States or any other country, (ii) all registrations and applications for copyrights under the laws of the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) all renewals of any of the foregoing, (iv) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (v) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Credit Agreement ” means the Credit Agreement dated as of April 8, 2010 among the Company, LBI Escrow Corporation (subsequently merged with and into the Borrower), the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and the other agents and parties thereto.

Excluded Collateral ” means (i) any fee-Owned Real Property with a value of less than $25 million and all Real Property leasehold interests (other than interest in ground leases agreed on the Closing Date), (ii) motor vehicles and other assets covered by a Certificate of Title, (iii) letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts, other than (x) the Restricted Accounts and (y) such letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts that constitute Proceeds or Supporting Obligations of any Collateral, (iv) the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or of any special purpose subsidiary whose material assets are comprised solely of the Equity Interests of such joint venture, where the pledge of such Equity Interests would be prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement pertaining to any such joint venture, (v) Equity Interests in each of (a) PO Offtake, LP and (b) POSM II Properties Partnership, L.P., in each case to the extent that and only for so long as the pledge of such Equity Interests is prohibited by the terms of the organizational

 

3


documents of such entity or any joint venture agreement to which such entity is subject, (vi) any Equipment owned by a Grantor that is subject to a purchase money security interest (within the meaning of Section 9-103 of the UCC) so long as the contract or other agreement in which such security interest is granted prohibits the creation of any other security interest on such, (vii) any contract, lease, license, Intellectual Property or other document so long as (and only to the extent that) the grant of a security interest therein would (a) violate a restriction in such contract, lease, license, Intellectual Property or documents or under any law, regulation, permit, order or decree of any Governmental Authority, unless and until all required consents shall have been obtained (for the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions described herein shall not include negative pledges or similar undertakings in favor of a lender or other financial counterparty), (b) invalidate or terminate such contract, lease, instrument, license, Intellectual Property, or other document or the rights therein or thereunder, or (c) give any other party in respect of any such Intellectual Property, or expressly give any other party in respect of any such contract, lease, instrument, license or other document, the right to invalidate or terminate such contract, lease, instrument, license, Intellectual Property, or other document or its obligations thereunder and (viii) any Equity Interests to the extent that, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests would violate law applicable thereto; provided, however, that the limitations set forth in clause (vii) above shall not affect, limit, restrict or impair the grant by a Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in any such Collateral to the extent that an otherwise applicable prohibition or restriction on such grant is rendered ineffective by any applicable law, including the UCC.

Foreign Tax Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary which is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of the Code.

Grantors ” means the Borrower and the Guarantors.

Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual and industrial property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other confidential or proprietary intellectual property, software and all registrations, additions and improvements to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.

License ” means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement relating to Intellectual Property to which any Grantor is a party.

 

4


Original Grantor ” means any Grantor that grants a Lien on any of its assets hereunder on the Closing Date or the Term Loan Escrow Release Date.

own ” refers to the possession of sufficient rights in property to grant a security interest therein as contemplated by UCC Section 9-203, and “ acquire ” refers to the acquisition of any such rights.

Patent License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right with respect to any Patent or any invention now or hereafter in existence, whether patentable or not, whether a patent or application for patent is in existence on such invention or not, and whether a patent or application for patent on such invention may come into existence or not.

Patents ” means (i) inventions, patentable designs, all letters patent and design letters patent of the United States or any other country and all applications for letters patent or design letters patent of the United States or any other country, including applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, revisions and extensions of any of the foregoing, (ii) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Permitted Liens ” means (i) the Transaction Liens and (ii) any other Liens on the Collateral permitted to be created or assumed or to exist pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement.

Personal Property Collateral ” means all property included in the Collateral except Real Property Collateral.

Pledged ”, when used in conjunction with any type of asset, means at any time an asset of such type that is included (or that creates rights that are included) in the Collateral at such time. For example, “Pledged Equity Interest” means an Equity Interest that is included in the Collateral at such time.

Post-Petition Interest ” means any interest that accrues after the commencement of any case, proceeding or other action, relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of any one or more of the Grantors (or would accrue but for the operation of applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws), whether or not such interest is allowed or allowable as a claim in any such proceeding.

 

5


Proceeds ” means all proceeds of, and all other profits, products, rents or receipts, in whatever form, arising from the collection, sale, lease, exchange, assignment, licensing or other disposition of, or other realization upon, any Collateral, including all claims of the relevant Grantor against third parties for loss of, damage to or destruction of, or for proceeds payable under, or unearned premiums with respect to, policies of insurance in respect of, any Collateral, and any condemnation or requisition payments with respect to any Collateral.

Real Property Collateral ” means all real property (including leasehold interests in real property) included in the Collateral.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employers, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Restricted Account ” has the meaning specified in the ABL Credit Agreement.

Secured Agreement ”, when used with respect to any Secured Obligation, refers collectively to each instrument, agreement or other document that sets forth obligations of the Borrower, obligations of a guarantor and/or rights of the holder with respect to such Secured Obligation.

Secured Guarantee ” means, with respect to each Guarantor, its guarantee of the Secured Obligations under the Guarantee Agreement (including any guarantee supplement delivered pursuant to Section 16 thereof).

Secured Obligations ” means the “Obligations” under and as defined in the Credit Agreement.

Secured Parties ” means the holders from time to time of the Secured Obligations.

Security Agreement Supplement ” means a Security Agreement Supplement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, signed and delivered to the Collateral Agent for the purpose of adding a Subsidiary as a party hereto pursuant to Section 16 and/or adding additional property to the Collateral.

Trademark License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right to use any Trademark.

Trademarks ” means (i) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, service marks, logos,

 

6


brand names, trade dress, designs and all other source or business identifiers, and the rights in any of the foregoing which arise under applicable law, (ii) the goodwill of the business symbolized thereby or associated with each of them, (iii) all registrations and applications in connection therewith and all renewals of any of the foregoing, including registrations and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, including those described in Schedule 11(a) to the Perfection Certificate, (iv) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (v) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Transaction Liens ” means the Liens granted by the Grantors under the Security Documents.

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.

SECTION 2 . Grant of Transaction Liens .

(a) The Borrower, in order to secure its Secured Obligations, and each Guarantor listed on the signature pages hereof (other than the Company), in order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in all the following property of the Borrower or such Guarantor, as the case may be, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and regardless of where located (the “ Non-Company Collateral ”):

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Chattel Paper;

(iii) the Restricted Accounts;

(iv) all Documents;

(v) all Equipment;

 

7


(vi) all General Intangibles (including (x) any Equity Interests in other Persons that do not constitute Investment Property and (y) any Intellectual Property);

(vii) all Instruments;

(viii) all Inventory;

(ix) all Investment Property;

(x) all Supporting Obligations;

(xi) all books and records (including customer lists, credit files, printouts and other computer generated materials and records) of such Grantor pertaining to any of its Collateral;

(xii) such Grantor’s ownership interest in all cash held in the Restricted Accounts from time to time and all other money in the possession of the administrative agent under the ABL Facility (subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

(xiii) all other personal property or assets of such Grantor; and

(xiv) all Proceeds of the Collateral described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xiii);

provided that the Excluded Collateral is excluded from the foregoing security interests; provided further that the Non-Company Collateral shall not include Equity Interests other than (i) any Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or a Guarantor of any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Issuer or such Guarantor, respectively, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and (ii) 100% of the Equity Interests directly owned by the Issuer or a Guarantor of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary of the Issuer or such Guarantor, respectively, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; provided that the Non-Company Collateral shall not include voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent (but only to the extent) required to prevent the Non-Company Collateral from including more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary.

(b) The Company, in order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in (i) any Equity Interests directly owned by the Company of any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and (ii)

 

8


100% of the Equity Interests directly owned by the Company of any Wholly Owned Foreign Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the “ Company Collateral ”); provided that the Company Collateral shall not include voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Tax Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, to the extent (but only to the extent) required to prevent the Company Collateral from including more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Tax Subsidiary.

(c) With respect to each right to payment or performance included in the Collateral from time to time, the Transaction Lien granted therein includes a continuing security interest in (i) any Supporting Obligation that supports such payment or performance and (ii) any Lien that (x) secures such right to payment or performance or (y) secures any such Supporting Obligation.

(d) The Transaction Liens are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to any of the Collateral or any transaction in connection therewith.

SECTION 3 . General Representations and Warranties . Each Grantor represents and warrants that:

(a) Such Grantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction identified as its jurisdiction of organization in the Perfection Certificate.

(b) With respect to each Original Grantor, Schedule 9(a) to the Perfection Certificate lists all Equity Interests in direct Wholly Owned Subsidiaries owned by such Grantor as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (other than Equity Interests of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant, inactive or otherwise immaterial). Such Grantor holds all such Equity Interests directly ( i.e. , not through a Subsidiary, a Securities Intermediary or any other Person).

(c) With respect to each Original Grantor, as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, (i) Schedule 9(b) to the Perfection Certificate lists all Securities owned by such Grantor (except Securities evidencing Equity Interests in Subsidiaries and Affiliates) and (ii) Schedule 12 to the Perfection Certificate lists all Securities Accounts to which Financial Assets are credited in respect of which such Grantor owns Security Entitlements.

(d) All Pledged Equity Interests owned by such Grantor are owned by it free and clear of any Lien other than Permitted Liens. All shares of capital stock included in such Pledged Equity Interests (including shares of capital stock in

 

9


respect of which such Grantor owns a Security Entitlement) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of such Pledged Equity Interests is subject to any option to purchase or similar right of any Person. Such Grantor is not and will not become a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement (except the Loan Documents) which restricts in any manner the rights of any present or future holder of any Pledged Equity Interest with respect thereto.

(e) Except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Loan Documents, Laws or securities laws generally, or any Permitted Liens, the Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, materially impair, materially delay or otherwise affect in any manner material and adverse to the Secured Parties the pledge of such Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto.

(f) Such Grantor has good and marketable title to all its Collateral (subject to exceptions that are, in the aggregate, not material), free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens. For purposes of clarification, in the event that any Collateral consisting of Patents now owned or hereafter acquired is successfully challenged, such successful challenge will not constitute a breach of this provision.

(g) Such Grantor has not performed any acts that might prevent the Collateral Agent from enforcing any of the provisions of the Security Documents or that would limit the Collateral Agent in any such enforcement. No financing statement, security agreement, mortgage or similar or equivalent document or instrument covering all or part of the Collateral owned by such Grantor is on file or of record in any jurisdiction in which such filing or recording would be effective to perfect or record a Lien on such Collateral, except financing statements, mortgages or other similar or equivalent documents with respect to Permitted Liens. After the Term Loan Escrow Release Date, no Collateral owned by such Grantor will be in the possession or under the control of any other Person having a claim thereto or security interest therein, other than a Permitted Lien.

(h) The Transaction Liens on all Personal Property Collateral owned by such Grantor (i) have been validly granted, (ii) will attach to each item of such Collateral on or prior to the Term Loan Escrow Release Date (or, if such Grantor first obtains rights thereto on a later date, on such later date) and (iii) when so attached, will secure all the Secured Obligations or such Grantor’s Secured Guarantee, as the case may be.

 

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(i) When the relevant Mortgages have been duly executed and delivered, the Transaction Liens on all Real Property Collateral owned by such Grantor as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date will have been validly created and will secure all the Secured Obligations or such Grantor’s Secured Guarantee, as the case may be. When such Mortgages have been duly recorded, such Transaction Liens will rank prior to all other Liens (except Permitted Liens) on such Real Property Collateral.

(j) Such Grantor has delivered a counterpart to the Perfection Certificate to the Collateral Agent. With respect to each Original Grantor, information set forth in Schedule 1(a) to the Perfection Certificate is correct and complete in all respects, and all other information set forth therein is correct and complete in all material aspects as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date; provided that any such information that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language is correct and complete in all respects as of the Term Loan Escrow Release Date.

(k) When UCC financing statements describing the Collateral as “all assets” have been filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Transaction Liens will constitute perfected security interests in the Personal Property Collateral owned by such Grantor to the extent that a security interest therein may be perfected by filing pursuant to the UCC, prior to all Liens and rights of others therein except Permitted Liens, to the extent such Liens have priority by operation of law.

(l) Such Grantor has taken, and will continue to take, all actions necessary under the UCC to perfect its interest in any Accounts or Chattel Paper purchased or otherwise acquired by it, as against its assignors and creditors of its assignors.

(m) Such Grantor’s Collateral is insured as required by the Credit Agreement.

(n) All of such Grantor’s Inventory has or will have been produced in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended.

(o) Other than a Restricted Account, there is no Deposit Account into which any collections or other payments or proceeds in respect of Pledged Inventory of any borrower under the ABL Facility or Receivables (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) of any borrower under the ABL Facility that have been Pledged are to be deposited. No funds other than ABL Facility Collateral or proceeds thereof will be deposited in any Lockbox Account (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) or the Cash Dominion Account (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement).

 

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SECTION 4 . Further Assurances; General Covenants . Each Grantor covenants as follows:

(a) Such Grantor will at its own expense, from time to time, take any actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent and any other commercially reasonable actions necessary in order to:

(i) defend title to such Grantor’s Collateral, except that Grantor will only be obligated to defend title of the Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of its business as a whole and as currently conducted (it being understood that each Grantor shall have the right to dispose of Collateral to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement);

(ii) create, preserve, perfect, confirm or validate the Transaction Liens on such Grantor’s Collateral;

(iii) in the case of each Restricted Account, cause the administrative agent under the ABL Facility to have Control thereof (subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement);

(iv) enable the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties to obtain the full benefits of the Security Documents; or

(v) enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce any of its rights, powers and remedies with respect to any of such Grantor’s Collateral.

Such Grantor authorizes the Collateral Agent to execute and file such financing statements or continuation statements in such jurisdictions with such descriptions of collateral (including “all assets” or “all personal property” or other words to that effect) and other information set forth therein as the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable for the purposes set forth in the preceding sentence. Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Collateral Agent to file in any such jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

(b) Such Grantor will not (i) change its name or organizational form or structure, (ii) change its location (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-307) or (iii) become bound, as provided in UCC Section 9-203(d) or otherwise, by a security agreement entered into by another Person, unless it shall have given the Collateral Agent 30 days’ prior notice thereof and taken all actions that may be required under Section 6.14 of the Credit Agreement.

 

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(c) Such Grantor will not sell, lease, exchange, assign, license, terminate, abandon or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of its Collateral; provided that such Grantor may do any of the foregoing unless (i) doing so would violate a covenant in the Credit Agreement or (ii) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either (A) the Collateral Agent shall have notified such Grantor that its right to do so is terminated, suspended or otherwise limited or (B) the maturity of any or all of the Secured Obligations shall have been accelerated. Concurrently with any sale, lease or other disposition (except a sale or disposition to another Grantor or a lease) permitted by the foregoing proviso , the Transaction Liens on the assets sold or disposed of (but not in any Proceeds arising from such sale or disposition) will cease immediately without any action by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party. The Collateral Agent will, at such Grantor’s expense, execute and deliver to the relevant Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence the fact that any asset so sold or disposed of is no longer subject to a Transaction Lien.

(d) Such Grantor will, promptly upon request, provide to the Collateral Agent all information and evidence concerning such Grantor’s Collateral that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time to enable it to enforce the provisions of the Security Documents.

SECTION 5 . Investment Property . Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

(a) Certificated Securities . On the Term Loan Escrow Release (in the case of an Original Grantor) or the date on which it signs and delivers its first Security Agreement Supplement (in the case of any other Grantor), such Grantor will deliver to the Collateral Agent as Collateral hereunder all certificates representing Pledged Certificated Securities and Tangible Chattel Paper then owned by such Grantor (other than any Pledged Certificated Security of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant or inactive). Thereafter, whenever such Grantor acquires any other certificate representing a Pledged Certificated Security (other than any Pledged Certificated Security of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant or inactive) or if any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary of which such Grantor owns a Pledged Certificated Security ceases to be dormant or inactive, such Grantor will immediately deliver such certificate to the Collateral Agent as Collateral hereunder. The provisions of this subsection are subject to the limitation in Section 5(d) in the case of voting Equity Interests in a Foreign Tax Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party.

 

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(b) Perfection as to Certificated Securities . When such Grantor delivers the certificate representing any Pledged Certificated Security owned by it to the Collateral Agent and complies with Section 5(c) in connection with such delivery, (i) the Transaction Lien on such Pledged Certificated Security will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others, (ii) the Collateral Agent will have Control of such Pledged Certificated Security and (iii) the Collateral Agent will be a protected purchaser (within the meaning of UCC Section 8-303) thereof.

(c) Delivery of Pledged Certificates . All certificates in respect of Pledged Certificated Securities, when delivered to the Collateral Agent, will be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

(d) Foreign Tax Subsidiaries . A Grantor will not be obligated to comply with the provisions of this Section at any time with respect to any voting Equity Interest in a Foreign Tax Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party if and to the extent (but only to the extent) that such voting Equity Interest is excluded from the Transaction Liens at such time pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 2(a) or the proviso at the end of Section 2(b) and/or the comparable provisions of one or more Security Agreement Supplements.

(e) Compliance with Applicable Foreign Laws . If and so long as the Collateral includes (i) any Equity Interest in, or other Investment Property issued by, a legal entity organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States or (ii) any Security Entitlement in respect of a Financial Asset issued by such a foreign legal entity, the relevant Grantor will upon reasonable request of the Collateral Agent take all such action as may be required under the laws of such foreign jurisdiction to ensure that the Transaction Lien on such Collateral ranks prior to all Liens and rights of others therein.

(f) Certification of Limited Liability Company and Partnership Interests . Any limited liability company and any partnership controlled by any Grantor shall either (a) not include in its operative documents any provision that any Equity Interests in such limited liability company or such partnership be a “security” as defined under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code or (b) certificate any Equity Interests in any such limited liability company or such partnership. To the extent an interest in any limited liability company or partnership controlled by any Grantor and pledged hereunder is certificated or becomes certificated, each such certificate shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 5(a) and such Grantor shall fulfill all other requirements under Section 5 applicable in respect thereof.

 

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SECTION 6 . Restricted Accounts . Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

(a) All cash proceeds of ABL Facility Collateral will be deposited, upon or promptly after the receipt thereof, in a Restricted Account.

(b) In respect of each Restricted Account, the depositary bank’s jurisdiction (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-304) will at all times be a jurisdiction in which Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code is in effect.

(c) So long as the administrative agent under the ABL Facility has Control of a Restricted Account (subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), the Transaction Lien on such Restricted Account will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others (except the depositary bank’s right to deduct its normal operating charges and any uncollected funds previously credited thereto and any Permitted Lien.

SECTION 7 . Transfer Of Record Ownership . At any time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may upon five Business Days’ notice to the Borrower (and to the extent that action by it is required, the relevant Grantor, if directed to do so by the Collateral Agent, will as promptly as practicable) cause each of the Pledged Securities (or any portion thereof specified in such direction) to be transferred of record into the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee. Each Grantor will take any and all actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to facilitate compliance with this Section. The Collateral Agent will promptly give to the relevant Grantor copies of any notices and other communications received by the Collateral Agent with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee.

SECTION 8 . Right to Vote Securities . (a) Unless and until (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower that the rights of the Grantors are being suspended under this Section 8:

(i) each Grantor will have the right, from time to time, to vote and to give consents, ratifications and waivers with respect to any Pledged Security owned by it and the Financial Asset underlying any Pledged Security Entitlement owned by it, and the Collateral Agent shall promptly deliver to such Grantor or as specified in such request such proxies, powers of attorney, consents, ratifications and waivers in respect of any such Pledged Security that is registered in the name of the Collateral Agent or its nominee or any such Pledged Security Entitlement as to which the Collateral Agent or its nominee is the Entitlement Holder, in each case as shall be specified in such request and be in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; and

 

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(ii) each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable Laws; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Equity Interests or Pledged Indebtedness, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and shall if certificated be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent).

(b) If (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower that the rights of the Grantors are being suspended under this Section 8, the Collateral Agent will have the exclusive right to the extent permitted by law to vote, to give consents, ratifications and waivers and to take any other action with respect to the Pledged Investment Property, the other Pledged Equity Interests and the Financial Assets underlying the Pledged Security Entitlements, with the same force and effect as if the Collateral Agent were the absolute and sole owner thereof, and each Grantor will take all such action as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time to give effect to such right; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, each Grantor shall have the exclusive right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor would otherwise be entitled to exercise, in each case pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a) of this Section 8.

SECTION 9 . Remedies upon Event of Default . (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, upon five Business Days’ notice to the Borrower, exercise (or cause its sub-agents to exercise) any or all of the remedies available to it (or to such sub-agents) under the Security Documents.

 

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(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may, subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, upon five Business Days’ notice to the Borrower, exercise on behalf of the Secured Parties all the rights of a secured party under the UCC (whether or not in effect in the jurisdiction where such rights are exercised) with respect to any Personal Property Collateral and, in addition, the Collateral Agent may, upon five Business Days’ notice (which notice shall state the time, date and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made) to the Borrower and subject to any mandatory provisions of law, sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange, broker’s board or at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such time or times and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable, irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral; provided that any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any Secured Party may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any such sale and (with the consent of the Collateral Agent, which may be withheld in its discretion) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, held at such time or times within ordinary business hours, to use and apply all or any part of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price of any Collateral payable at such sale.

(c) Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay or appraisal that it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Collateral Agent shall not be obliged to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given.

(d) The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

 

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(e) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby waives any claim against any Secured Party arising because the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. The Collateral Agent may disclaim any warranty, as to title or as to any other matter, in connection with such sale or other disposition, and its doing so shall not be considered adversely to affect the commercial reasonableness of such sale or other disposition.

(f) In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again, subject to the same rights and duties set forth herein.

(g) Notice of any such sale or other disposition shall be given to the relevant Grantor(s) as (and if) required by Section 11.

(h) For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, automatically upon the notice by the Collateral Agent of the exercise of remedies to the Grantors pursuant to Section 8.02 of the Credit Agreement after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, an irrevocable license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the Grantors), to use, license or sub-license any of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, except where the grant of such license will terminate or invalidate such Intellectual Property; provided that, anything in this Section 9(h) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Collateral Agent agrees that, on the date the Grantors cure such Event of Default, such license to the Collateral Agent will immediately terminate upon the cure date, but any sub-licenses granted by the Collateral Agent will remain in full force and effect; provided further that such sub-licenses will have terms that are substantially similar to the Grantors’ prior Intellectual Property licenses, and further provided that such sub-licenses (whether exclusive or non-exclusive) shall explicitly reserve the Grantor’s right to use such sub-licensed Intellectual Property in its own business.

 

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(i) The foregoing provisions of this Section shall apply to Real Property Collateral only to the extent permitted by applicable law and the provisions of any applicable Mortgage or other document.

SECTION 10 . Application of Proceeds . (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent may (i) after having given five Business Days’ notice to the Borrower apply any cash held in the Restricted Accounts and/or (ii) apply the proceeds of any sale or other disposition (notice of which sale or other disposition shall have been given by the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) of all or any part of the Collateral or Mortgaged Property, in accordance with, and in the order of priorities specified in, the Intercreditor Agreements. Any and all such cash held by the Collateral Agent which the Collateral Agent is entitled, under the priority of payments set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements, to distribute to the Secured Parties for repayment of the Secured Obligations shall be made in the following order of priorities:

first , to pay the fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent due and payable under the Loan Documents;

second, to pay ratably all interest (including Post-Petition Interest) on the Secured Obligations payable under the Credit Agreement, until payment in full of all such interest and fees shall have been made;

third , to pay the unpaid principal of the Secured Obligations ratably, until payment in full of the principal of all Secured Obligations shall have been made; and

fourth , to pay all other Secured Obligations ratably, until payment in full of all such other Secured Obligations shall have been made.

The Collateral Agent may make such distributions hereunder in cash or in kind or, on a ratable basis, in any combination thereof.

(b) In making the payments and allocations required by this Section, the Collateral Agent may rely upon information supplied to it pursuant to Section 14(c). All distributions made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section shall be final (except in the event of manifest error) and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire as to the application by any Secured Party of any amount distributed to it.

SECTION 11 . Authority to Administer Collateral . Each Grantor irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent its true and lawful attorney, with full power of substitution, in the name of such Grantor, any Secured Party or

 

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otherwise, for the sole use and benefit of the Secured Parties, but at the Grantor’s expense, as reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, to the extent permitted by law to exercise, at any time from time to time while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all or any of the following powers with respect to all or any of such Grantor’s Collateral:

(a) to demand, sue for, collect, receive and give acquittance for any and all monies due or to become due upon or by virtue thereof,

(b) to settle, compromise, compound, prosecute or defend any action or proceeding with respect thereto,

(c) to sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of the same or the proceeds or avails thereof, as fully and effectually as if the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof, and

(d) to extend the time of payment of any or all thereof and to make any allowance or other adjustment with reference thereto;

provided that, except in the case of Personal Property Collateral that is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market, the Collateral Agent will give the relevant Grantor at least ten days’ prior written notice of the time and place of any public sale thereof or the time after which any private sale or other intended disposition thereof will be made. Any such notice shall (i) contain the information specified in UCC Section 9-613, (ii) be Authenticated, (iii) be sent to the parties required to be notified pursuant to UCC Section 9-611(c) and (iv) in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange; provided that, if the Collateral Agent fails to comply with this sentence in any respect, its liability for such failure shall be limited to the liability (if any) imposed on it as a matter of law under the UCC.

SECTION 12 . Authority of Collateral Agent . By acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and any other Security Document, each Secured Party other than the Collateral Agent (whether or not a signatory hereto) shall be deemed irrevocably to agree that it shall not take any action to enforce any provisions of this Agreement or any other Security Document against any Grantor, to exercise any remedy hereunder or thereunder, including the giving of any consents or approvals relating thereto, in each case except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Security Document. In furtherance of the foregoing provision of this Section 12, each Secured Party other than the Collateral Agent, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof and of the other Security

 

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Documents, agrees that it shall have no right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral hereunder or thereunder, it being understood and agreed by such Secured Party that all rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties.

SECTION 13 . Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral . Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody and preservation thereof, the Collateral Agent will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any sub-agent or bailee or any income therefrom or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. The Collateral Agent will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession or control if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and will not be liable or responsible for any loss or damage to any Collateral, or for any diminution in the value thereof, by reason of any act or omission of any sub-agent or bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith, except to the extent that such liability arises from the Collateral Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 14 . General Provisions Concerning the Collateral Agent .

(a) The provisions of Article IX of the Credit Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Collateral Agent, and shall be binding upon all Grantors and all Secured Parties, in connection with this Agreement and the other Security Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Collateral Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Security Documents that the Collateral Agent is required in writing to exercise by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in the Credit Agreement) and (iii) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for any failure to disclose, any information relating to any Grantor that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Transaction Lien, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of their directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable as such for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under the

 

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Security Documents or in connection therewith (a) at the request or with the approval of the Required Lenders (or, if otherwise specifically required hereunder, the consent of all the Lenders) or (b) in the absence of its or their own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Collateral Agent by the Borrower.

(b) Sub-Agents and Related Parties . The Collateral Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers through one or more sub-agents appointed by it. The Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers through its Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of Section 12 and this Section shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent.

(c) Information as to Secured Obligations and Actions by Secured Parties . For all purposes of the Security Documents, including determining the amounts of the Secured Obligations, whether any action has been taken under any Secured Agreement, the Collateral Agent will be entitled to rely on information from (i) its own records for information as to the Lenders or the Collateral Agent, their Secured Obligations and actions taken by them, (ii) any Secured Party for information as to its Secured Obligations and actions taken by it, to the extent that the Collateral Agent has not obtained such information from its own records and (iii) the Borrower, to the extent that the Collateral Agent has not obtained information from the foregoing sources. Nothing in this Section 14(c) shall prevent any Grantor from contesting any amounts claimed by any Secured Party in any information so supplied.

(d) Refusal to Act . The Collateral Agent may refuse to act on any notice, consent, direction or instruction from any Secured Parties or any agent, trustee or similar representative thereof that, in the Collateral Agent’s opinion, (i) is contrary to law or the provisions of any Security Document, (ii) may expose the Collateral Agent to liability (unless the Collateral Agent shall have been indemnified, to its reasonable satisfaction, for such liability by the Secured Parties that gave such notice, consent, direction or instruction) or (iii) is unduly prejudicial to Secured Parties not joining in such notice, consent, direction or instruction.

SECTION 15 . Termination of Transaction Liens; Release of Collateral . (a) The Transaction Liens granted by each Guarantor shall terminate when its Secured Guarantee is released pursuant to Section 5 of the Guarantee Agreement.

 

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(b) The Transaction Liens granted by the Borrower and each Guarantor shall terminate in accordance with Section 9.12 of the Credit Agreement.

(c) Upon any termination of a Transaction Lien or release of Collateral, the Collateral Agent will, at the expense of the relevant Grantor, execute and deliver to such Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence the termination of such Transaction Lien or the release of such Collateral, as the case may be.

(d) Unless expressly agreed otherwise between a Grantor and the Collateral Agent, in the event that any security interest in the Collateral granted pursuant to Section 2 hereof is not required to be so granted pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any applicable Agreed Security Principle, if no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from any release under this Section, such security interest in such Collateral shall be released automatically; provided that the applicable Grantor shall provide notification of such release to the Collateral Agent promptly.

SECTION 16 . Additional Grantors . Any Subsidiary of the Company may become a party hereto by signing and delivering to the Collateral Agent a Security Agreement Supplement, whereupon such Subsidiary shall become a “Grantor” as defined herein.

SECTION 17 . Notices . Each notice, request or other communication given to any party hereunder shall be given in accordance with Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement, and in the case of any such notice, request or other communication to a Grantor other than the Borrower, shall be given to it in care of the Borrower.

SECTION 18 . No Implied Waivers; Remedies Not Exclusive . No failure by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising and no course of dealing with respect to, any right or remedy under any Security Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any right or remedy under any Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies specified in the Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

SECTION 19 . Successors and Assigns . This Agreement is for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties. If all or any part of any Secured Party’s interest in any Secured Obligation is assigned or otherwise transferred, the transferor’s rights hereunder, to the extent applicable to the obligation so transferred, shall be automatically transferred with such obligation. This Agreement shall be binding on the Grantors and their respective successors and assigns.

 

23


SECTION 20 . Amendments and Waivers . Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended, modified or terminated except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Collateral Agent, with the consent of such Lenders as are required to consent thereto under Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement. No such waiver, amendment or modification shall (i) be binding upon any Grantor, except with its written consent, or (ii) affect the rights of a Secured Party (other than a Lender) hereunder more adversely than it affects the comparable rights of the Lenders hereunder, without the consent of such Secured Party.

SECTION 21 . Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law and except to the extent that remedies provided by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York are governed by the laws of such jurisdiction.

SECTION 22 . Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY SECURITY DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). 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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 23 . Severability . If any provision of any Security Document is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the other provisions of the Security Documents shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties in order to carry out the intentions of the parties thereto as nearly as may be possible and (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision in such jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction.

 

24


SECTION 24 . Intercreditor Agreements Controlling . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the liens and security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder, in each case, with respect to the Collateral are subject to the limitations and provisions for the Intercreditor Agreements. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms or conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreements, the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreements shall control.

SECTION 25 . Control by or Delivery to Notes Collateral Agent or ABL Collateral Agent . Any provision of this Agreement requiring delivery of Collateral to or control of Collateral by the Collateral Agent shall be deemed satisfied to the extent that such Collateral is delivered to or controlled by the Notes Collateral Agent or the ABL Collateral Agent under and as defined in the Intercreditor Agreements.

SECTION 26 . Agreement to be Bound by Credit Agreement . By entry into this Agreement, each Guarantor agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 3.01 (Taxes) and Articles VI (Affirmative Covenants) and VII (Negative Covenants) and all provisions that are expressed to be binding on any Loan Party) with the same force and effect as if it were a signatory thereto.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

25


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BASELL NORTH AMERICA INC.

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP

EQUISTAR GP LLC

EQUISTAR LP LLC

HOUSTON REFINING LP

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS LLC

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL F&F HOLDCO LLC

LYONDELLBASELL FINANCE COMPANY

LYONDELLBASELL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL OVERSEAS SERVICES, INC.

LYONDELL CHIMIE FRANCE LLC

LYONDELL REFINING COMPANY LLC

By:

 

            /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Vice President

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Authorized Person

[Signature page to Security Agreement (Term)]


LYONDELL CHEMICAL DELAWARE COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY 1 INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, L.P.

LYONDELL EUROPE HOLDINGS INC.

LYONDELL REFINING I LLC

By:

 

            /s/ Francis P. McGrail

  Name:   Francis P. McGrail
  Title:   Authorized Person

[Signature page to Security Agreement (Term)]


UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH,
as Collateral Agent

By:

 

             /s/ Mary E. Evans

  Name:   Mary E. Evans
  Title:  

Associate Director

Banking Products Services,

US

By:

 

            /s/ Irja R. Otsa

  Name:   Irja R. Otsa
  Title:  

Associate Director

Banking Products Services,

US

[Signature page to Security Agreement (Term)]


EXHIBIT A

to Security Agreement

SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT dated as of              ,              , between [NAME OF GRANTOR] (the “ Grantor ”) UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, as Collateral Agent.

WHEREAS, LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as a Grantor and as the Borrower, LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES, N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands and the other Grantors party hereto, each as a Grantor and the Collateral Agent, are parties to a Security Agreement dated as of April 30, 2010 (as heretofore amended and/or supplemented, the “ Security Agreement ”) under which each Grantor secures certain of its obligations (the “ Secured Obligations ”);

WHEREAS, [ name of Grantor ] desires to become a party to the Security Agreement as a Grantor thereunder; and

WHEREAS, terms defined in the Security Agreement (or whose definitions are incorporated by reference in Section 1 of the Security Agreement) and not otherwise defined herein have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for therein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Grant of Transaction Liens . (a) In order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, the Grantor grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in all the following property of the Grantor, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and regardless of where located (the “ New Collateral ”):

[describe property being added to the Collateral] 1

 

1

If the Grantor is not already a party to the Security Agreement, clauses (i) through (xiv) of, and the proviso to, Section 2(a) of the Security Agreement may be appropriate.

 

A-1


(b) With respect to each right to payment or performance included in the Collateral from time to time, the Transaction Lien granted therein includes a continuing security interest in (i) any Supporting Obligation that supports such payment or performance and (ii) any Lien that (x) secures such right to payment or performance or (y) secures any such Supporting Obligation.

(c) The foregoing Transaction Liens are granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation or liability of the Grantor with respect to any of the New Collateral or any transaction in connection therewith.

2. Delivery of Collateral . Concurrently with delivering this Security Agreement Supplement to the Collateral Agent, the Grantor is complying with the provisions of Section 5 of the Security Agreement with respect to Investment Property, in each case if and to the extent included in the New Collateral at such time.

3. Party to Security Agreement . Upon delivering this Security Agreement Supplement to the Collateral Agent, the Grantor will, if not already a party, become a party to the Security Agreement and will thereafter have all the rights and obligations of a Grantor thereunder and be bound by all the provisions thereof as fully as if the Grantor were one of the original parties thereto. References in the Security Agreement to a “Grantor” shall be deemed to refer to the Grantor, references to Schedules to the Perfection Certificate shall be deemed to include the corresponding Schedules to the Perfection Certificate delivered in connection with this Security Agreement Supplement and references to “Collateral” shall be deemed to include the New Collateral.

4. Representations and Warranties . (a) The Grantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of [ jurisdiction of organization ].

(b) The Grantor has delivered a Perfection Certificate to the Collateral Agent. The information set forth therein is correct and complete as of the date hereof.

(c) The execution and delivery of this Security Agreement Supplement by the Grantor and the performance by it of its obligations under the Security Agreement as supplemented hereby are within its corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of its Organization Documents, or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon it or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (except a Transaction Lien) on any of its assets.

 

A-2


(d) The Security Agreement as supplemented hereby constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Grantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity.

(e) Each of the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3, 5 and 6 of the Security Agreement is true on and as of the date hereof as applied to the Grantor and the New Collateral. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, references in said Sections to a “Grantor” shall be deemed to refer to the Grantor, references to Schedules to the Perfection Certificate shall be deemed to refer to the corresponding Schedules to the Perfection Certificate delivered in connection with this Security Agreement Supplement, references to “Collateral” shall be deemed to refer to the New Collateral, and references to the “Effective Date” shall be deemed to refer to the date on which the Grantor signs and delivers this Security Agreement Supplement.

5. Governing Law . This Security Agreement Supplement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Security Agreement Supplement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF GRANTOR]

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, as
Collateral Agent

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-4


EXHIBIT B

to Security Agreement

PERFECTION CERTIFICATE

[Attached under separate cover.]

 

B-1

EXHIBIT 10.21

EXECUTION VERSION

$1,750,000,000

SENIOR SECURED ASSET-BASED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of April 8, 2010

among

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.,

as the Company,

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY,

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP,

HOUSTON REFINING LP,

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS LLC

and

THE SUBSIDIARIES OF

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Borrowers,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME,

CITIBANK, N.A., DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS and WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

as Fronting Banks,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC. and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers,

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

CITIBANK, N.A. and WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC,

as Co-Collateral Agents,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Syndication Agent,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., BARCLAYS CAPITAL,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC

as Co-Documentation Agents,

REGIONS BANK and THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

as Senior Managing Agents

and

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC., DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

UBS SECURITIES LLC and WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC,

as Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
   ARTICLE I.   
   DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS   
Section 1.01.   

Defined Terms

   2
Section 1.02.   

Other Interpretive Provisions

   78
Section 1.03.   

Accounting Terms

   78
Section 1.04.   

Rounding

   79
Section 1.05.   

References to Agreements, Laws, etc.

   79
Section 1.06.   

Times of Day

   79
Section 1.07.   

Timing of Payment or Performance

   79
   ARTICLE II.   
   THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS   
Section 2.01.   

The Revolving Loans

   79
Section 2.02.   

Borrowings; Conversions and Continuations

   80
Section 2.03.   

Swingline Loans

   82
Section 2.04.   

Letters of Credit

   83
Section 2.05.   

Prepayments

   87
Section 2.06.   

Termination and Reduction of Commitments and Swingline Facility

   89
Section 2.07.   

Repayment of Loans

   89
Section 2.08.   

Interest

   89
Section 2.09.   

Fees

   90
Section 2.10.   

Computation of Interest and Fees

   91
Section 2.11.   

Evidence of Indebtedness

   92
Section 2.12.   

Payments Generally

   92
Section 2.13.   

Pro Rata Treatment

   94
Section 2.14.   

Sharing of Payments

   94
Section 2.15.   

Optional Increase In Commitments

   94
Section 2.16.   

Defaulting Lenders

   95
   ARTICLE III.   
   TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY   
Section 3.01.   

Taxes

   97
Section 3.02.   

Illegality

   100
Section 3.03.   

Inability to Determine Rates

   100
Section 3.04.   

Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans

   100
Section 3.05.   

Funding Losses

   101
Section 3.06.   

Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation

   102
Section 3.07.   

Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances

   103
Section 3.08.   

Survival

   104

 

i


   ARTICLE IV.   
   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT   
Section 4.01.   

Conditions to the Effective Date

   104
Section 4.02.   

Conditions to the Funding Date

   106
Section 4.03.   

All Borrowings

   109
   ARTICLE V.   
   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   
Section 5.01.   

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

   109
Section 5.02.   

Authorization; No Contravention

   110
Section 5.03.   

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

   110
Section 5.04.   

Binding Effect

   110
Section 5.05.   

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

   110
Section 5.06.   

Litigation

   111
Section 5.07.   

Ownership of Property; Liens

   111
Section 5.08.   

Environmental Matters

   111
Section 5.09.   

Taxes

   112
Section 5.10.   

ERISA Compliance

   113
Section 5.11.   

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

   113
Section 5.12.   

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

   113
Section 5.13.   

Disclosure

   113
Section 5.14.   

Anti-Terrorism Laws

   114
Section 5.15.   

Intellectual Property; Licenses, etc.

   114
Section 5.16.   

Solvency

   114
Section 5.17.   

Use of Proceeds

   114
Section 5.18.   

Security Documents

   115
Section 5.19.   

No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments

   115
Section 5.20.   

No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws

   116
Section 5.21.   

No Conflict with OFAC Laws

   116
   ARTICLE VI.   
   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS   
Section 6.01.   

Financial Statements

   117
Section 6.02.   

Certificates; Other Information

   119
Section 6.03.   

Notices

   119
Section 6.04.   

Payment of Obligations

   120
Section 6.05.   

Preservation of Existence, etc.

   120
Section 6.06.   

Maintenance of Properties

   120
Section 6.07.   

Maintenance of Insurance

   120
Section 6.08.   

Compliance with Laws

   120
Section 6.09.   

Compliance with Environmental Laws; Environmental Reports

   120
Section 6.10.   

Books and Records

   121
Section 6.11.   

Inspection Rights

   121
Section 6.12.   

Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors

   121

 

ii


Section 6.13.   

ERISA

   123
Section 6.14.   

Further Assurances

   124
Section 6.15.   

Use of Proceeds

   125
Section 6.16.   

Know Your Customer Requests

   125
Section 6.17.   

Borrowing Base Reports

   125
Section 6.18.   

Information Regarding Collateral

   126
Section 6.19.   

Collateral Audit

   127
Section 6.20.   

Restricted Accounts

   128
   ARTICLE VII.   
   NEGATIVE COVENANTS   
Section 7.01.   

Indebtedness

   129
Section 7.02.   

Restricted Payments

   135
Section 7.03.   

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

   140
Section 7.04.   

Asset Sales

   142
Section 7.05.   

Transactions with Affiliates

   143
Section 7.06.   

Liens

   145
Section 7.07.   

Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

   145
Section 7.08.   

Financial Covenant

   148
   ARTICLE VIII.   
   EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES   
Section 8.01.   

Events of Default

   148
   ARTICLE IX.   
   ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS   
Section 9.01.   

Agent

   151
Section 9.02.   

Collateral and Guaranty Matters

   153
   ARTICLE X.   
   MISCELLANEOUS   
Section 10.01.   

Amendments, etc.

   157
Section 10.02.   

Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies

   159
Section 10.03.   

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

   160
Section 10.04.   

Attorney Costs and Expenses

   160
Section 10.05.   

Indemnification by the Borrowers

   160
Section 10.06.   

Payments Set Aside

   161
Section 10.07.   

Successors and Assigns

   162
Section 10.08.   

Confidentiality

   165
Section 10.09.   

Setoff

   166

 

iii


Section 10.10.   

Interest Rate Limitation

   166
Section 10.11.   

Counterparts

   166
Section 10.12.   

Integration

   167
Section 10.13.   

Survival of Representations and Warranties

   167
Section 10.14.   

Severability

   167
Section 10.15.   

GOVERNING LAW

   167
Section 10.16.   

WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY

   168
Section 10.17.   

Binding Effect

   168
Section 10.18.   

Judgment Currency

   168
Section 10.19.   

Lender Action

   168
Section 10.20.   

USA PATRIOT Act

   168
Section 10.21.   

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

   169
Section 10.22.   

Certain Dutch Matters

   169
Section 10.23.   

Agent for Service of Process

   169
   ARTICLE XI.   
   THE OBLIGORS   
Section 11.01.   

Appointment and Authorization of Borrowers’ Agent

   169
Section 11.02.   

Joint and Several Obligations

   170
Section 11.03.   

Contribution; Subordination

   170
Section 11.04.   

Limitation on Obligations of Borrowers

   170

SCHEDULES

 

1.01A    Commitments as of the Effective Date
1.01B    Certain Disclosures and Summaries
1.01C    Existing Letters of Credit
1.01D    Mortgaged Properties
1.01G    Agreed Security Principles
1.01H    Security Agreements
1.01I    Intentionally Omitted
1.01J    Credit and Collection Policy
1.01K    Billed but Not Shipped Inventory
1.01L    Ineligible Receivables
1.01M    Foreign Jurisdictions/Obligors
5.08    Environmental Matters
5.11    Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
6.14(a)    Certain Collateral Documents
6.20(a)    Lockbox Accounts
6.20(b)    Cash Dominion Account
10.02    Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

 

iv


EXHIBITS

 

A    Form of Committed Loan Notice
B-1    Form of Note (Revolving Loan)
B-2    Form of Note (Swingline Loan)
C    Form of Compliance Certificate
D    Form of Assignment and Assumption
E    Form of U.S. Security Agreement
F-1    Form of Perfection Certificate
F-2    Form of Perfection Certificate Supplement
G    Form of Letter of Credit Application
H-1    Form of Opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
H-2    Form of Opinion of Baker Botts LLP
H-3    Form of Opinion of Clifford Chance LLP
H-4    Form of Opinion of Gerald A. O’Brien, Deputy General Counsel of the Borrowers
I    Form of Mortgage
J    Form of Collateral Access Agreement
K    Form of Borrower Designation
L    Form of Guarantee Agreement
M    Form of Tax Certificates

 

v


SENIOR SECURED ASSET-BASED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This SENIOR SECURED ASSET-BASED CREDIT AGREEMENT (as such may be amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) dated as of April 8, 2010, is entered into among LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Company ”), LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (“ Lyondell ”), EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ Equistar ”), HOUSTON REFINING LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ HRLP ”), LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Acetyls ”), and the Subsidiaries of Lyondell from time to time party hereto, as Borrowers, each lender party hereto from time to time (collectively, the “ Lenders ”, and individually, a “ Lender ”), CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC. and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as Joint Lead Arrangers, CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, CITIBANK, N.A. and WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, as Co-Collateral Agents, CITIBANK, N.A., DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS and WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Fronting Banks, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as Syndication Agent, CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC., DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC, J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., UBS SECURITIES LLC and WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, as Joint Bookrunners, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., BARCLAYS CAPITAL, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC and, as Co-Documentation Agents and REGIONS BANK and THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA as Senior Managing Agents.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

On January 6, 2009, the Borrowers (other than Acetyls) and certain of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates filed voluntary petitions with the Bankruptcy Court (as defined below) initiating their respective cases under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (as defined below) (each, an “ Initial Case ” and collectively, the “ Initial Cases ”) and certain other subsidiaries and affiliates subsequently filed voluntary petitions with the Bankruptcy Court initiating their respective cases under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and joining them with the Initial Cases (each, an “ Additional Case ” and, together with the Initial Cases, each, a “ Case ” and, collectively, the “ Cases ” and each petitioning entity a “ Debtor ” and, collectively, the “ Debtors ”).

On March 11, 2010, the Debtors’ Disclosure Statement (as defined below) was approved by the Bankruptcy Court.

The Borrowers have requested that the Lenders make available a revolving credit and letter of credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1,750,000,000, the proceeds of which will be used as described herein.

The Lenders are willing to make such credit facility available upon and subject to the terms and conditions hereafter set forth.


Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Definitions and Accounting Terms

Section 1.01. Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

ABL Facility Collateral ” means any and all present and future right, title and interest of the Borrowers in and to the following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing or arising, and wherever located: (a) all accounts, chattel paper and other Receivables; (b) all Inventory; (c) all Restricted Accounts, including all funds credited thereto or deposited therein; (d) to the extent evidencing, governing, securing or otherwise related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this definition, all related contracts, contract rights, documents (including bills of lading with respect to High Seas Inventory), instruments and other evidences of indebtedness, payment intangibles, letter-of-credit rights and other supporting obligations and other claims or causes of action; (e) all books and records relating to the foregoing; and (f) all proceeds of any and all of the foregoing (including commercial tort claims constituting proceeds). Terms used in the foregoing definition which are defined in the UCC and not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified in the UCC.

ABL Facility Fee Letter ” means the ABL Facility Fee Letter, dated as of March 15, 2010, from the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners to Lyondell.

Access Agreement ” means an agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that such agreements entered into by Equistar and its Subsidiaries since December 17, 2003 and prior to the date of this Agreement are acceptable to Administrative Agent), pursuant to which a holder of a Lien on the premises of the Borrowers where Eligible Inventory is located agrees and acknowledges, among other things, that the Administrative Agent may without interference from such Lien holder (i) gain access to, remove and exercise its rights against any Inventory located at such premises after an Event of Default, and that such Lien holder may not remove or exercise any remedies against such Inventory except as agreed, (ii) for a period of time not less than ninety (90) days (or such shorter time period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its Discretion) after the Administrative Agent shall have taken possession of such Inventory, (A) store such Inventory at such premises and (B) conduct a sale of such Inventory at such premises and (iii) examine and make copies of the books and records of the Borrowers located at such premises with respect to such Inventory.

Acetyls ” has the meaning set forth in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset at the time such asset is acquired by such specified Person.

 

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Additional Case ” has the meaning set forth in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.

Additional First Priority Lien Obligations ” means any First Priority Lien Obligations that are Incurred after the Effective Date (other than Indebtedness Incurred under the Senior Notes Indenture) and secured by the ABL Facility Collateral on a second priority basis and by the other Common Collateral on a first priority basis.

Additional Letter of Credit ” means a letter of credit issued hereunder by a Fronting Bank on or after the Funding Date.

Administrative Agent ” means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under the Loan Documents, and its successors in such capacity.

Administrative Agent Fee Letter ” means the Administrative Agent Fee Letter, dated as of March 15, 2010, from the Administrative Agent to Lyondell.

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify (upon reasonable written notice) to the Borrowers and the Lenders.

Administrative Fees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(c).

Administrative Questionnaire ” means, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent, completed by such Lender and returned to the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that none of the Joint Lead Arrangers, Joint Bookrunners or any of their respective Affiliates shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Loan Party.

Affiliate Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.05.

Agent-Related Persons ” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, partners, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents, the Syndication Agent, the Co-Documentation Agents and the Senior Managing Agents.

Agreed Security Principles ” has the meaning set forth in Schedule 1.01G . Notwithstanding any provision herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Agreed Security Principles are not applicable to the ABL Facility Collateral.

Agreement ” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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Anti-Terrorism Laws ” means:

(a) the Executive Order No. 13224 of September 23, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism (the “ Executive Order ”);

(b) the USA PATRIOT Act; and

(c) any similar law enacted in the United States of America subsequent to the date of this Agreement.

Applicable Amount ” means, at any time, an amount determined on a cumulative basis equal to, without duplication:

(1) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period from March 31, 2012 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(2) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after March 31, 2012 (other than net cash proceeds to the extent such net cash proceeds have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7.01(n) from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions, and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(3) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company received in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash after March 31, 2012 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, and Disqualified Stock and other than contributions to the extent such contributions have been used to Incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7.01(n)), plus

(4) 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof issued after March 31, 2012 (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof) or 100% of the principal amount of any debt securities of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof that are convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock issued after the Funding Date (other than debt securities issued to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof) which, in any such case, has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company ( provided in the case of any parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished) after March 31, 2012, plus

(5) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after March 31, 2012 from:

(a) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its

 

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Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to Section 7.02(7)) or

(b) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(6) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, in each case subsequent to March 31, 2012, the Fair Market Value of the Investment of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable), after deducting any Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or combined or any Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred or conveyed (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to Section 7.02(7) or constituted a Permitted Investment).

For the purpose of determining the Applicable Amount for Section 7.02 at any time, such amount shall be equal to the Applicable Amount at such time minus the aggregate amount (without duplication) of (x) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of any Junior Financing made pursuant to Section 7.08(v)(A) of the Senior Term Loan Facility and (y) fees, premiums and other payments in respect of Indebtedness, other than principal and interest, that reduces Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Senior Term Loan Facility) pursuant to clause (b)(iii) of the definition thereof in the Senior Term Loan Facility, in the case of each (x) and (y) on or prior to such time.

Applicable Commitment Fee Rate ” means for (a) the period from and after the Effective Date until the last day of the calendar month during which the Administrative Agent received financial statements of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for a period including (or consisting of) the second full fiscal quarter of the Company commencing on or after the Funding Date in accordance with and satisfying Section 6.01, a percentage per annum equal to 0.75% and (b) each calendar month thereafter, a percentage per annum equal to (x) 1.00% if the daily average Total Outstandings during such calendar month are less than or equal to 50% of the daily average Total Commitment during such calendar month, and (y) 0.75% if the daily average Total Outstandings during such calendar month exceed 50% of the daily average Total Commitment during such calendar month.

Applicable L/C Margin ” means, as of any date of determination, a per annum rate equal to the then-applicable Applicable Rate with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans.

Applicable Rate ” means (a) for the period from and after the Funding Date until the last day of the calendar month during which the Administrative Agent received financial statements of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for a period including (or consisting of) the second full fiscal quarter of the Company commencing on or after the Funding Date in accordance with and satisfying Section 6.01, a percentage per annum equal to (A) for Eurodollar Rate Loans, 3.75% and (B) for Base Rate Loans, 2.75% and (b) thereafter, as of any date of determination, a percentage per annum equal to the rate set forth below opposite the then-applicable Average Monthly Excess Availability for the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month in which the date of determination falls:

 

AVERAGE MONTHLY EXCESS AVAILABILITY

   BASE RATE LOANS     EURODOLLAR RATE
LOANS
 

Greater than or equal to 66.7%

   2.50   3.50

Less than 66.7% and greater than or equal to 33.3%

   2.75   3.75

Less than 33.3%

   3.00   4.00

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, changes in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Average Monthly Excess Availability for any calendar month (other than with respect to clause (a) above) shall become effective as to all Loans on the first day of the next calendar month.

In the event that any report delivered pursuant to Section 6.17(f) is inaccurate (regardless of whether this Agreement or the Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Rate for any period (an “ Applicable Period ”) than the Applicable Rate applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Borrowers shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected report for such Applicable Period, (ii) the Applicable Rate shall be determined based on the corrected report for such Applicable Period, and (iii) the Borrowers shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent (for the account of the Lenders during the Applicable Period or their successors and assigns) the accrued additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such Applicable Period.

Appraisal Report ” means any appraisal report reasonably satisfactory to the Co-Collateral Agents jointly and prepared by independent consultants selected by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly in consultation with the Borrowers.

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages a Lender.

Asset Acquisition ” means:

(1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or shall be merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or

(2) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course of business.

Asset Backed Credit Facility ” means (i) this Agreement; (ii) any credit facility provided on the basis of the value of inventory, accounts receivable or other current assets (and related documents and intangibles) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or similar instrument; and (iii) any similar credit support agreements or guarantees Incurred from time to time; provided that any credit facility that refinances or replaces an Asset Backed Credit Facility must comply with clause (ii) of this definition in order to be an Asset Backed Credit Facility; and provided , further , that, if at the time any such refinancing or replacement is necessary or advisable in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the

 

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Company, and an Asset Backed Credit Facility that complies with clause (ii) of this definition is not available on terms considered commercially reasonable for facilities of this nature (as determined in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company), then this Agreement may be refinanced with or replaced by any Credit Facility and such Credit Facility shall be an Asset Backed Credit Facility for purposes hereof.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) outside the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”) or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or redundant, surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described in Section 7.07 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 7.02;

(d) any sale, conveyance or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions), including by way of a Sale/ Leaseback Transaction, or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued have an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $50,000,000; provided that, the aggregate Fair Market Value of ABL Facility Collateral sold, conveyed or otherwise disposed of pursuant to this clause (d) shall not exceed $25,000,000;

(e) any disposition of property or assets, or the issuance of securities, by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that, any disposition of ABL Facility Collateral by a Borrower pursuant to this clause (e) shall only be made to another Borrower;

(f) (i) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company and (ii) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing

 

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arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company; provided that this clause (f) shall not apply to any disposition of any ABL Facility Collateral unless such disposition is to a Borrower;

(g) foreclosure or any similar action with respect to any property or other asset of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(h) any sale of Equity Interests in, or other ownership interest in or assets or property, including Indebtedness, or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) any lease, assignment, license or sublease which does not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(j) any grant of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property which does not materially interfere with the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(k) any transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) in a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided that, this clause (k) shall not apply to any transfer of ABL Facility Collateral;

(l) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Funding Date, including any Sale/Leaseback Transaction or asset securitization permitted by this Agreement; provided that, this clause (l) shall not apply to any ABL Facility Collateral acquired after the Funding Date;

(m) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

(n) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

(o) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

(p) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(q) pursuant to buy-sell arrangements or similar agreements between Lyondell China Holdings Limited of Ningbo ZRCC and Lyondell Chemical Company Ltd.; and

 

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(r) any sale, conveyance or other disposition of property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) in connection with the Emergence Transactions.

Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(b).

Assignment and Assumption ” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

Assignment Tax ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Attorney Costs ” means and includes all reasonable fees, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and (without duplication) a single external local counsel to the Joint Lead Arrangers in each jurisdiction reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

Audited Financial Statements means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company’s predecessor, LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, which shall include results for fiscal years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(d).

Availability Reserves ” means, as of any date of determination and without duplication of any Inventory Valuation Reserve, Receivables Valuation Reserve or any other Availability Reserves, such reserves in amounts as the Co-Collateral Agents jointly may from time to time establish (upon five (5) Business Days’ notice to the Borrowers in the case of new reserve categories established after the Effective Date and changes in the methodology for determining a reserve and upon one (1) Business Day’s notice to the Borrowers in other cases) and revise (upward or downward based upon existing methodology): (i) to reflect events, conditions, contingencies or risks which, as reasonably determined by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly, do or are reasonably likely to materially adversely affect (a) Eligible Inventory or its value, (b) Eligible Receivables or their value or (c) the security interests and other rights of any Agent or Lender in the ABL Facility Collateral other than Ineligible Inventory or Ineligible Receivables (including the enforceability, perfection and priority thereof), (ii) to reflect the Co-Collateral Agents’ reasonable belief that any collateral report or financial information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrowers is or may have been incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect in a manner which adversely affects one or more components of the Borrowing Base to an extent greater than that otherwise contemplated in the determination thereof (such reserve to remain applicable for so long as such adverse effect remains applicable) or (iii) in respect of any state of facts that the Co-Collateral Agents jointly reasonably determine constitutes a Default or an Event of Default and that adversely affects one or more components of the Borrowing Base to an extent greater than that otherwise contemplated in the determination thereof (such reserve to remain applicable for so long as such adverse effect remains applicable); provided that at any date of determination (unless and until otherwise determined by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly), “ Availability Reserves ” shall include (1) a reserve equal to three times the most recently reported monthly aggregate amount of charges by a landlord, bailee, consignee, processor, warehouseman or other third-party who stores, processes, maintains or holds Eligible Inventory and applicable rail car lease and transportation expenses as determined by Lyondell (but excluding any such expense as to which the rights of the payee are subject to a Third Party Agreement), (2) a reserve for deductibles applicable to the Borrowers’ insurance policies covering Eligible Inventory, (3) a reserve for other credit exposures secured by the ABL Facility Collateral (other than credit exposures secured exclusively by Ineligible Inventory) including obligations arising out of cash management arrangements related to this Agreement, and (4) a reserve for any Liens on Eligible Inventory or on premises of the Borrowers where Eligible Inventory is located (other than (x) Liens

 

9


consisting of (A) easements, building restrictions, rights-of-way, irregularities of title and other such encumbrances or charges not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of any Borrower, (B) leases, subleases or licenses by any Borrower as lessor, sublessor or licensor in the ordinary course of business and (C) without limiting the applicability of an Availability Reserve under clause (1) above, the interest of a lessor or licensor under an operating lease or license under which any Borrower is lessee, sublessee or licensee, including protective financing statement filings, on such premises and (y) nonconsensual Liens on such premises that do not, and could not reasonably be expected to, impair access to, or the removal of or exercise of remedies in respect of, such Inventory), unless the rights of the holder of such Lien are subject to a Third Party Agreement (such reserve not to exceed the lesser of (i) the amount of the affected Eligible Inventory and (ii) the amount of the obligations secured by such holder’s Lien).

Available Inventory ” means, at any time, (1) other than Stores Inventory and High Seas Inventory, the lesser of (a) 75% of each Category of Eligible Inventory and (b) the product of (x) 85% of the Orderly Liquidation Value Rate multiplied by (y) each Category of Eligible Inventory, (2) in the case of Stores Inventory, the lesser of 5% of Stores Inventory that is Eligible Inventory and $15,000,000 and (3) in the case of High Seas Inventory, the lowest of (a) 75% of High Seas Inventory that is Eligible Inventory, (b) the product of (x) 70% of the Orderly Liquidation Value Rate multiplied by (y) High Seas Inventory that is Eligible Inventory and (c) $150,000,000; provided that Available Inventory shall in no event exceed 75% of Eligible Inventory.

Available Receivables ” means, at any time, 85% of Eligible Receivables.

Average Monthly Excess Availability ” means, for any calendar month, an amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to the quotient of (A) the sum of (i) the daily average Excess Availability plus (ii) the average daily unrestricted cash of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (as determined by Lyondell from treasury records on a non-GAAP basis), in each case for such calendar month divided by (B) the daily average Maximum Facility Availability for such calendar month.

Bankruptcy Code ” means the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., as amended from time to time.

Bankruptcy Court ” means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Base Rate ” means, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate per annum as shall be in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall be equal at all times to the highest of the following:

(a) the rate of interest announced publicly by Citibank, N.A. in New York, New York, from time to time, as Citibank N.A.’s base rate (or an equivalent rate otherwise named);

(b) 0.5% per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate; and

(c) 1.0% per annum plus the Eurodollar Rate (for the avoidance of doubt after giving effect to the proviso of the definition thereof) applicable to a Borrowing with an Interest Period of one (1) month.

Base Rate Loan ” means (i) any Swingline Loan and (ii) any Revolving Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Basell GmbH ” means Basell Germany Holdings GmbH.

 

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Berre Facility ” means any receivables-backed credit or factoring facility entered into by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries (other than Basell GmbH) related to receivables of the refinery located in Berre, France, and any permitted refinancings thereof.

Board of Directors ” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or, supervisory board of such Person, or equivalent governing body (or, if such Person is a partnership or limited liability company, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person or manager) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Borrower ” means each of Lyondell, HRLP, Equistar, Acetyls and any other Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of Lyondell that Lyondell designates as a Borrower for purposes hereof by causing such Subsidiary to deliver to the Administrative Agent an instrument in substantially the form of Exhibit K duly executed by such Subsidiary; provided that such Subsidiary shall not become a Borrower until such time as the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement and the requirements under Section 6.16 shall be satisfied as to such Subsidiary.

Borrowers’ Agent ” means Lyondell, in its capacity as agent for the Borrowers under the Loan Documents, and its successors in such capacity.

Borrowing ” means (a) a group of Loans of a single Class and Type made by the Lenders on a single date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) a Swingline Loan.

Borrowing Base ” means, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (x) Available Inventory as reflected in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.02(n) or Section 6.17 plus (y) Available Receivables as reflected in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.02(n) or Section 6.17 less (z) Availability Reserves at such time. Standards of eligibility and reserves and advance rates of the Borrowing Base may be revised and adjusted from time to time by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly (subject to Section 10.01 and to any limitations herein expressly made applicable to the exercise of such rights) upon one (1) Business Day’s notice to the Borrowers; provided that any such changes in such standards or in advance rates shall not be effective until three (3) Business Days’ following notice to the Borrowers. Any such action may only be taken by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly. Actions by the Co-Collateral Agents in respect of the determination of the Borrowing Base (including as provided in the definitions of Availability Reserves, Ineligible Inventory, Ineligible Receivables, Inventory Valuation Reserves and Receivables Valuation Reserves), shall be taken by them in their Discretion. Prior to the inclusion in the Borrowing Base of (A) assets acquired by a Borrower in a Business Acquisition or otherwise acquired outside of the ordinary course of business or (B) assets of a Person that becomes a Borrower subsequent to the Effective Date, the conditions specified in Section 4.02(m) shall be satisfied with respect to such assets (for the avoidance of doubt, the satisfaction of such conditions shall not be taken into account in determining the limitations on collateral reviews, evaluations and appraisals pursuant to Section 6.19).

Borrowing Base Certificate ” means a certificate, appropriately completed and substantially in a form approved by the Co-Collateral Agents acting jointly and the Borrowers’ Agent (with such modifications as to format and presentation as may be reasonably requested by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly upon five (5) Business Days’ notice) together with all attachments and supporting documentation as contemplated thereby.

Business Acquisition ” means the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person.

 

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Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state of New York or the state of Texas and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Calculation Date ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”.

Canadian Inventory In Transit ” means Inventory consisting of raw materials located in a Province of Canada in which appropriate filings under the applicable Personal Property Security Act (or in the case of Quebec, the Civil Code) shall have been made and in transit to the United States. Any such Inventory remaining in Canada for thirty (30) days after a Borrower becomes the owner thereof shall cease to be Canadian Inventory In Transit on such 30th day.

Capital Stock ” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;

(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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Capitalized Leases ” means all leases which, in accordance with GAAP, are recorded as capitalized leases; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of principal obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the Capitalized Lease Obligation related thereto.

Case ” and “ Cases ” has the meaning set forth in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.

Cash Collateral ” means cash on deposit in, and Cash Equivalents reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent held in, the Cash Collateral Account.

Cash Collateral Account ” means an account or accounts maintained with the Administrative Agent (or another commercial bank acting as successor to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement) into which amounts shall be deposited by the Borrowers as required pursuant to Section 2.04(k).

Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant Fronting Bank and the Lenders, Cash Collateral as collateral for the L/C Exposure, pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Fronting Bank (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders).

 

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Cash Dominion Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.20(b).

Cash Dominion Period ” means any period during which a Cash Dominion Triggering Event exists and has not been cured in accordance with the terms hereof.

Cash Dominion Triggering Event ” means any of the following events:

(a) the Maturity Date;

(b) the occurrence of an Event of Default;

(c) (i) during the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Excess Availability being less than $450,000,000 on each Business Day during any period of five (5) consecutive Business Days unless on each Business Day during such period each of (x) Excess Availability is greater than $350,000,000, (y) Collateral Availability is greater than $650,000,000 and (z) Total Liquidity is greater than $725,000,000 and (ii) following the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Excess Availability being less than $500,000,000 on each Business Day during any period of five (5) consecutive Business Days unless on each Business Day during such period each of (x) Excess Availability is greater than $400,000,000, (y) Collateral Availability is greater than $650,000,000 and (z) Total Liquidity is greater than $725,000,000; or

(d) (i) during the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Excess Availability being less than $350,000,000 on any Business Day unless on such Business Day each of (x) Excess Availability is greater than $275,000,000, (y) Collateral Availability is greater than $575,000,000 and (z) Total Liquidity is greater than $650,000,000 and (ii) following the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Excess Availability being less than $400,000,000 on any Business Day unless on such Business Day each of (x) Excess Availability is greater than $325,000,000, (y) Collateral Availability is greater than $575,000,000 and (z) Total Liquidity is greater than $650,000,000;

provided that if, following a Cash Dominion Triggering Event described in clause (b), the related Event of Default shall cease to exist, such Cash Dominion Triggering Event shall cease to exist;

provided further that if, following a Cash Dominion Triggering Event described in clause (c)(i), (A) Excess Availability subsequently exceeds $350,000,000, Collateral Availability subsequently exceeds $650,000,000 and Total Liquidity subsequently exceeds $725,000,000 or (B) Excess Availability subsequently equals or exceeds $450,000,000, in each case on each day during a period of thirty (30) consecutive days, such Cash Dominion Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period (unless the Borrowers otherwise elect by notice to the Administrative Agent);

provided further that if, following a Cash Dominion Triggering Event described in clause (d)(i), (A) Excess Availability subsequently exceeds $275,000,000, Collateral Availability subsequently exceeds $575,000,000 and Total Liquidity subsequently exceeds $650,000,000 or (B) Excess Availability subsequently equals or exceeds $450,000,000, in each case on each day during a period of thirty (30) consecutive days, such Cash Dominion Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period (unless the Borrowers otherwise elect by notice to the Administrative Agent);

 

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provided further that if, following a Cash Dominion Triggering Event described in clause (c)(ii), (A) Excess Availability subsequently exceeds $400,000,000, Collateral Availability subsequently exceeds $650,000,000 and Total Liquidity subsequently exceeds $725,000,000 or (B) Excess Availability subsequently equals or exceeds $500,000,000, in each case on each day during a period of thirty (30) consecutive days, such Cash Dominion Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period (unless the Borrowers otherwise elect by notice to the Administrative Agent); and

provided further that if, following a Cash Dominion Triggering Event described in clause (d)(ii), (A) Excess Availability subsequently exceeds $325,000,000, Collateral Availability subsequently exceeds $575,000,000 and Total Liquidity subsequently exceeds $650,000,000 or (B) Excess Availability subsequently equals or exceeds $500,000,000, in each case on each day during a period of thirty (30) consecutive days, such Cash Dominion Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period (unless the Borrowers otherwise elect by notice to the Administrative Agent).

For the avoidance of doubt, the cessation of an existing Cash Dominion Triggering Event does not preclude the occurrence of a subsequent Cash Dominion Triggering Event. In any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, no more than three Cash Dominion Triggering Events described in clause (c) or (d) shall cease to exist pursuant to any proviso of this definition.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) Dollars, pounds sterling, Euros, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union (other than Greece or Portugal) or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and Eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank or trust company having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations and reverse repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision 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 ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

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(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(8) Dollar-denominated money market funds as defined in Rule 2a-7 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(9) tax-exempt floating rate option tender bonds backed by letters of credit issued by a national or state bank whose long-term unsecured debt has a rating of AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or the equivalent rating by any other internationally recognized rating agency; and

(10) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (9) above.

Casualty Event ” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by the Company or any Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any ABL Facility Collateral.

Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means a Sale/Leaseback Transaction that relates to a catalyst containing one or more precious metals used by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Category ” means any of the categories of inventory classification set forth in a Borrowing Base Certificate.

CERCLA ” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as subsequently amended.

Change in Law ” means, the introduction of, or any change in or in the interpretation of, any law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order or the compliance with any guideline, request or directive from any Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law).

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than a Permitted Holder; or

(2) the Company becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of acquisition, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, transfer, conveyance or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company.

Chapter 11 ” means Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Claiming Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03.

 

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Class ”, when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans.

Co-Collateral Agents ” means Citibank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC in their capacities as co-collateral agents under the Loan Documents, and their successors in such capacity.

Co-Collateral Agents’ Side Letter ” means the Co-Collateral Agents’ Side Letter dated the date hereof between the Co-Collateral Agents and the Borrowers.

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

Co-Documentation Agents ” means Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC in their capacity as co-documentation agents for the Lenders under the Loan Documents, and their successors in such capacity.

Collateral ” means all property subject or purported to be subject, from time to time, to a Lien under any Collateral Documents.

Collateral Access Agreement ” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J .

Collateral Agency Fees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(d).

Collateral Agent Fee Letter ” means the Collateral Agent Fee Letter, dated as of March 15, 2010, from the Co-Collateral Agents to Lyondell.

Collateral and Guaranty Requirement ” means, at any time, the requirement that, subject (other than with respect to the ABL Facility Collateral) to Section 6.14(a) and the Agreed Security Principles:

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Effective Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(i), on the Funding Date pursuant to Section 4.02(c) or subsequent to the Funding Date pursuant to Sections 6.12 or 6.14 at such time, duly executed by each Loan Party party thereto;

(b) all Obligations shall have been unconditionally guaranteed (together, the “ Guaranty ”) by (i) the Company and (ii) each Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) of the Company and each Borrower (each such Person described in this clause (b), a “ Guarantor ”), in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation, in each case as reasonably determined by the Company; provided that any Subsidiary of the Company or any Borrower that shall guaranty the Senior Notes or the Plan Roll-Up Notes shall also be a Guarantor hereunder;

(c) the Guaranty and all Obligations shall have been secured by, subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Perfection Requirements, a second-priority security interest to the extent legally possible and to the extent required by the Collateral Documents in (i) all Equity Interests of each first-tier Domestic Subsidiary of (A) the Company, (B) each Guarantor domiciled in the U.S. and (C) each Borrower, and (ii) 65% of the voting Equity Interests and 100% of the non-voting Equity Interests of each first-tier Foreign Subsidiary of (X) the Company, (Y) each Guarantor domiciled in the U.S., and (Z) any Borrower, in the case of each clause (i) and (ii), other than the Equity Interests of (x) any securitization entity or (y) any Excluded Asset;

 

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(d) the Obligations shall have been secured by a first-priority security interest in the ABL Facility Collateral;

(e) to the extent otherwise legally possible and to the extent required by the Collateral Documents, the Guaranty shall have been secured by a second-priority security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets (other than the ABL Facility Collateral and the Excluded Assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Equity Interests not referred to in (c) above)) of each Guarantor (other than the Company);

(f) none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 7.06;

(g) the Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i) counterparts of a Mortgage or other appropriate security interest with respect to each owned or ground leased Real Property or pipeline easements and other similar Real Property (except any such easement or other Real Property of the type that would be excluded from the grant set forth in Section 2.1 of any Mortgage by the penultimate paragraph therein) described on Schedule 1.01D or required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 4.02, 6.12 or 6.14 at such time (the “ Mortgaged Properties ”) duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Real Property or, in the case of Real Property subject to a ground lease, the tenant holding the leasehold interest in such Real Property;

(ii) in respect of any Mortgaged Property located in the United States (other than pipeline easements and other similar Real Property), a title policy or title policies issued by the title company insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid Lien on the property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 7.06; and

(iii) such existing surveys, abstracts, certificates, existing title documents, existing appraisals, legal opinions (to the extent the Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that there is an issue of state Law that should be addressed by a legal opinion) and other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in good faith with respect to any such Mortgaged Property (other than, in the case of each of the foregoing, pipeline easements and other similar Real Property), in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

(h) each Restricted Account contemplated by a Security Agreement shall have been established, and the Administrative Agent shall have “control” (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC) of each Restricted Account.

Nothing in this definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement” shall require the creation or perfection of pledges or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to:

(i) any fee owned Real Property with a value of less than $25,000,000 and leasehold interests to the extent not included in Schedule 1.01D;

(ii) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title and commercial tort claims (other than ABL Facility Collateral);

 

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(iii) assets specifically requiring perfection through control agreements (i.e., deposit accounts, securities accounts, letter-of-credit rights, etc.) other than any ABL Facility Collateral that constitutes such an asset; and

(iv) assets (other than ABL Facility Collateral) for which the creation or perfection of security interests is not required pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

The Administrative Agent shall grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance or other items required by the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement with respect to particular assets (other than ABL Facility Collateral) (including extensions beyond the Funding Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it determines, in consultation with the Company, that perfection cannot be accomplished using commercially reasonable efforts by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement (other than Liens granted on ABL Facility Collateral) shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents.

Collateral Audit Letters ” means, collectively, (a) the Collateral Audit Side Letter, dated as of the date hereof, from Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as Co-Collateral Agent, to the Borrowers, solely in connection with expenses payable by the Borrowers to Citibank, N.A. under Section 6.19(A) and (b) the Collateral Audit Side Letter, dated as of the date hereof, from Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, in its capacity as Co-Collateral Agent, to the Borrowers, solely in connection with expenses payable by the Borrowers to Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC under Section 6.19(A).

Collateral Availability ” means, at any time, an amount equal to (i) the Borrowing Base at such time, less (ii) the Total Outstandings at such time.

Collateral Documents ” means, collectively, each of the Security Agreements, each of the Mortgages, collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements, intellectual property security agreements granting, or purporting to grant, Liens or other similar or related agreements, including control agreements, delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.01, 4.02, 6.12, 6.14 or 6.20.

Committed Loan Notice ” means a request made pursuant to Section 2.02(a) substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, as set forth on Schedule 1.01A or, in the case of any new Lender, in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, in each case as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.15 or (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.07.

Common Collateral ” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of two or more series of First Priority Lien Obligations (or their respective authorized representatives) hold a valid and perfected security interest at such time. If more than two series of First Priority Lien Obligations are outstanding at any time and the holders of less than all series of First Priority Lien Obligations hold a

 

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valid and perfected security interest in any Collateral at such time then such Collateral shall constitute Common Collateral for those series of First Priority Lien Obligations that hold a valid security interest in such Collateral at such time and shall not constitute Common Collateral for any series which does not have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral at such time.

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

Company Materials ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

Compensation Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(c)(ii).

Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

Confirmation Order ” has the meaning given to such term under Section 4.02(a).

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:

(1) Consolidated Net Income;

(2) to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby;

(a) taxes of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise, property and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations), or such equivalent items in any foreign jurisdiction;

(b) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(c) Consolidated Non-cash Charges;

(d) the amount of net loss resulting from the payment of any premiums, fees or similar amounts that are required to be paid under the terms of the instrument(s) governing any Indebtedness upon the repayment, prepayment or other extinguishment of such Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of such Indebtedness,

(e) any expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Non-cash Charges) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, any Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or Incurrence, repayment, amendment or modification of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred or repaid by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) (in each case, whether or not successful), including, without limitation, (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Senior Notes and the Credit Facility Indebtedness and other Exit Financing, (ii) any amendment or other modification of this Agreement or other Indebtedness, (iii) any additional interest in respect of the Senior Notes and (iv) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Receivables Financing; and

(f) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, facility consolidations, retention, headcount reductions, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); and

 

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(3) the amount of net cost savings projected by such Person in good faith to be realized by specified actions taken or to be taken prior to or during such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings had been realized on the first day of such period); provided that (x) such cost savings are reasonably identifiable and factually supportable and (y) such actions have been taken or are to be taken within twelve (12) months of the date of determination to take such action and the benefit is expected to be realized within twelve (12) months of taking such action; minus

(4) any non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (excluding (i) the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period, (ii) items referenced in clause (e) of Consolidated Net Income and (iii) gains which have been offset against losses in determining Consolidated Net Income but for which the loss has not been added back as a Consolidated Non-cash Charge pursuant to the definition of Consolidated EBITDA);

all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Consolidated EBITDA for the fiscal quarter ending (i) June 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $551,000,000, (ii) September 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $757,000,000 and (iii) December 31, 2009 shall be deemed to be $578,000,000, before giving pro forma effect to any transaction occurring after the Effective Date, as permitted under the definitions of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” and “Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio”.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income for such period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation:

(1) amortization of original issue discount,

(2) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued,

(3) net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations,

(4) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, and

(5) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation,

but excluding, in each case, any amortization of fees, debt issuance costs and commissions incurred in connection with the Credit Facilities, any Receivables Financing, the issuance of the Senior Notes, the Plan Roll-Up Notes, the European Securitization and any other debt issuance.

 

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For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Borrowers to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period:

(1) the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis; plus

(2) cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person by any other Person (the “ Payor ”) other than a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income, which have not been derived from Indebtedness of the Payor to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such referent Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such referent Person;

provided that there shall be excluded therefrom, without duplication (but only to the extent included in the calculation of the foregoing):

(a) (i) any net after-tax income or loss from operating results of discontinued operations as defined by GAAP, and (ii) any net after-tax gains or losses from sales of discontinued operations;

(b) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto or expenses or charges, any severance expenses, relocation expenses, curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, any expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses and fees, expenses or charges relating to facilities closing costs, acquisition integration costs, facilities opening costs, project start-up costs, business optimization costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or issuance, repayment, refinancing, amendment or modification of Indebtedness (in each case, whether or not successful), and all costs and expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred in connection with the Cases and the Exit Financings);

(c) the Net Income of any Payor, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person or Net Income of such Payor that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or to a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person by such Payor (or to the extent converted into cash);

(d) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person that is not a guarantor to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is restricted; provided , however, that the Net Income of Restricted Subsidiaries shall only be excluded in any calculation of Consolidated Net Income of the Company as a result of application of this clause (d) if the restriction on dividends or similar distributions results from consensual restrictions other than any restriction contained in clauses (1), (2) and (4) and, to the extent related to such clauses (1), (2) and (4), clause (15) under Section 7.03;

 

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(e) (i) any restoration to income of any contingency reserve, except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made out of Consolidated Net Income accrued at any time following the Effective Date; and (ii) any restoration to or deduction from income for changes in estimates related to the post-emergence settlement of pre-petition claims obligations in relation with Chapter 11 following the Effective Date;

(f) in the case of a successor to such Person by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of such Person’s assets, any gains or losses of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets;

(g) any charges or credits relating to any purchase accounting adjustments or to the adoption of fresh start accounting principles;

(h) any (i) one-time non-cash compensation charges, and (ii) non-cash costs or expenses resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans, compensation charges or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or awards of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, Preferred Stock or other rights;

(i) Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(j) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by management of the Company) or reserves relating thereto;

(k) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered in relation with the Indebtedness extinguished;

(l) any gain or loss for such period from currency translation gains or losses or net gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk entered in relation with Indebtedness); and

(m) any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 7.02 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under clause (iv) or (v) of the definition of “Applicable Amount”.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the Total Assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries less goodwill and intangibles (other than intangibles arising from, or relating to, intellectual property, licenses or permits (including, but not limited to, emissions rights) of such Person), in each case calculated in accordance with GAAP; provided , that in the event that such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries assumes or acquires any assets in connection with the

 

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acquisition by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries of another Person subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets is made, then the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such assumption or acquisition of assets, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable period.

Consolidated Non-cash Charges ” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the consolidated depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other-post-employment benefits) (including any lower-of-cost-or-market adjustments of inventory) reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period.

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Contract ” means a written agreement between any Borrower and an Obligor, or, in the case of any open account agreement, as evidenced by an invoice (x) setting forth the amount payable, the payment due date and other relevant terms of payment and a description, in reasonable detail, of the goods or services covered thereby or (y) otherwise approved by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly from time to time in their Discretion (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), in each case pursuant to or under which such Obligor shall be obligated to pay for goods or services from time to time.

Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Contributing Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03.

Control ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Affiliate”.

 

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Covenant Borrowing Base ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.

Covenant Capital Expenditure ” means, for any period, any expenditure of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which, in accordance with GAAP, is treated as a capital expenditure in the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries, less the amount thereof made with the proceeds of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement or any other revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness is intended to be, and is in fact, refinanced by permanent Indebtedness) incurred to finance such additions or expenditures; provided that Covenant Capital Expenditures shall not include (i) any expenditure made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets to the extent financed with (x) insurance proceeds paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced, substituted, restored or repaired or (y) awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced, substituted, restored or repaired, (ii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade in of existing equipment to the extent of the portion of such expenditure equal to the amount by which the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time and (iii) the purchase price of plant, property, equipment or software to the extent financed with the proceeds of Casualty Events.

Covenant Consolidated EBITDA ” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:

(a) Covenant Consolidated Net Income; plus

(b) to the extent Covenant Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby:

(i) taxes of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise, property and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations), or such equivalent items in any foreign jurisdiction;

(ii) Covenant Consolidated Interest Expense;

(iii) Covenant Consolidated Non-cash Charges;

(iv) the amount of net loss resulting from the payment of any premiums, fees or similar amounts that are required to be paid under the terms of the instrument(s) governing any Indebtedness upon the repayment, prepayment or other extinguishment of such Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of such Indebtedness;

(v) any expenses or charges (other than Covenant Consolidated Non-cash Charges) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, any Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or incurrence, repayment, amendment or modification of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred or repaid by this Agreement (including a refinancing thereof) (in each case, whether or not successful), including, without limitation, (A) such fees, expenses or charges related to this Agreement and other Exit Financings and (B) any amendment or other modification of this Agreement or any other Indebtedness; minus

(c) any non-cash gains increasing Covenant Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (excluding (i) the recognition of deferred

 

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revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced Covenant Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period, (ii) items referenced in clause (v) of Covenant Consolidated Net Income and (iii) gains which have been offset against losses in determining Covenant Consolidated Net Income but for which the loss has not been added back as a Covenant Consolidated Non-cash Charge pursuant to the definition of Covenant Consolidated EBITDA);

all as determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Covenant Consolidated EBITDA for the fiscal quarter ended (i) June 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $593.0 million, (ii) September 30, 2009 shall be deemed to be $757.0 million and (iii) December 31, 2009 shall be deemed to be $578.0 million.

Covenant Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income for such period) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation:

(a) amortization of original issue discount;

(b) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued;

(c) net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations;

(d) consolidated capitalized interest of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued;

(e) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation;

(f) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to the European Securitization or any other Receivables Financing; and

(g) any additional interest in respect of the Notes;

but excluding, in each case, any amortization of fees, debt issuance costs and commissions incurred in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.

Covenant Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period:

(a) the Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis; plus

 

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(b) cash dividends or distributions paid to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person by any other Person (the “ Covenant Payor ”) other than a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent not otherwise included in Covenant Consolidated Net Income, which have not been derived from Indebtedness of the Covenant Payor to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

provided that there shall be excluded therefrom, without duplication (but only to the extent included in the calculation of the foregoing):

(i) (A) any net after-tax income or loss from operating results of discontinued operations as defined by GAAP, and (B) any net after-tax gains or losses from sales of discontinued operations;

(ii) (A) all extraordinary items of gain or loss, (B) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, facility consolidations, retention, headcount reductions and related severance, early retirement and pension liabilities, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); provided that the aggregate amount of such business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses excluded pursuant to this clause (ii)(B) shall not exceed $50,000,000 during any FCC Period, and (C) any other type of gain or loss of an exceptional nature;

(iii) the Net Income of any Covenant Payor, other than a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, or Net Income of such Covenant Payor that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, except to the extent of cash dividends or distributions paid to such Person or to a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person in cash (or in property converted into cash) by such Covenant Payor in excess of cash invested by such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person in such Covenant Payor during such period;

(iv) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that income is restricted; provided , however , that the Net Income of Restricted Subsidiaries shall only be excluded in any calculation of Covenant Consolidated Net Income of the Company as a result of application of this clause (iv) if the restriction on dividends or similar distributions results from consensual restrictions other than any restriction contained in clauses (1), (2) and (4) and, to the extent related to clauses (1), (2), and (4), clause (15) under Section 7.07;

(v) (A) any restoration to income of any contingency reserve, except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made out of Covenant Consolidated Net Income accrued at any time following the Effective Date, and (B) any restoration to or deduction from income for changes in estimates related to the post-emergence settlement of pre-petition claims obligations in relation to Chapter 11 following the Effective Date;

(vi) in the case of a successor to such Person by consolidated or merger or as a transferee of such Person’s assets, any gains or losses of the successor corporation prior to such consolidated, merger or transfer of assets;

 

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(vii) any charges or credits relating to any purchase accounting adjustments or to the adoption of fresh start accounting principles;

(viii) any (A) one-time non-cash compensation charges, and (B) non-cash costs or expenses resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans, compensation charges or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or awards of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, Preferred Stock or other rights;

(ix) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(x) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expense or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by management of the Company) or reserves relating thereto;

(xi) any net after-tax gains or loses (less all fees and expense or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments entered in relation with the Indebtedness extinguished;

(xii) any gain or loss for such period from currency translation gains or losses or net gains or losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss or gain resulting from Hedging Obligations for currency exchange risk entered in relation with Indebtedness); and

(xiii) any non-cash impairment charges or asset write-offs (or reversal thereof), in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP.

Covenant Consolidated Non-cash Charges ” means, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period, the consolidated depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other-post employment benefits) (including any lower-of-cost-or-market adjustments of inventory) reducing Covenant Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Covenant Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period.

Covenant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any FCC Period, the ratio of (a) Covenant Consolidated EBITDA for such FCC Period minus Covenant Capital Expenditures made during such FCC Period to (b):

(x) Covenant Consolidated Interest Expense; plus

(y) the sum of:

(i) the amount of all dividend payments on any series of preferred stock (other than dividends paid in Qualified Stock and other than dividends paid to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) paid or accrued; plus

 

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(ii) tax actually paid in cash by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and attributable to the items referred to in paragraph (i) of this clause (y); plus

(iii) the principal amount of all scheduled amortization payments on all Financial Indebtedness (including the principal component of all Capitalized Leases);

provided that with respect to the calculation of the Covenant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any FCC Period ending prior to September 30, 2010, such calculation shall be made on a pro forma basis giving effect to the transactions which occurred on the Funding Date as if such transactions had occurred on the first day of such FCC Period (pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a Principal Financial Officer and shall be evidenced by a certificate of such Principal Financial Officer delivered to, and satisfactory in form and substance to, the Administrative Agent); and provided further that, with respect to the calculation of the Covenant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any FCC Period ending on or after September 30, 2010 and prior to June 30, 2011, such calculation shall be made by annualizing on the basis of the number of full fiscal quarters of the Company during such FCC Period commencing subsequent to the Funding Date.

Covenant Payor ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Covenant Consolidated Net Income”.

Covered Asset Sale ” means any Asset Sale of ABL Facility Collateral by any Borrower.

Credit and Collection Policy ” means those credit and collection policies and practices in effect on the date hereof relating to Contracts and Receivables and described in Schedule 1.01J , as modified from time to time; provided that no such modification thereof would reasonably likely impair the collectibility of the Receivables included in the Borrowing Base.

Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, such Lender’s Commitment at such time or, if such Lender’s Commitments shall have been terminated, such Lender’s Outstanding Amount at such time.

Credit Extension ” means any Borrowing (other than a conversion of a Borrowing to another Type or the continuation of a Borrowing as a Eurodollar Rate Loan for an additional Interest Period) and any issuance or deemed issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit.

Credit Facilities ” means:

(1) this Agreement,

(2) any Asset Backed Credit Facility;

(3) any debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including, without limitation, commercial paper facilities) providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, letters of credit or other Indebtedness, including any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or

 

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credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount permitted to be borrowed thereunder or alters the maturity thereof ( provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted under Section 7.01) or adds Restricted Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders; and

(4) any such agreements, instruments or guarantees governing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance any Indebtedness or commitments referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above whether by the same or any other lender or group of lenders.

Credit Facility Indebtedness ” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Facilities as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

Currency Agreement ” means, with respect to any Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency futures contract, currency option contract, currency derivative or other similar agreement to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.

Debtor ” has the meaning set forth in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code, the Dutch Bankruptcy Act (Faillissementswet), and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, faillissement, surseance van betaling, onderbewindstelling, ontbinding, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States, The Netherlands, or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default ” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2.00% per annum; provided that with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate means an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2.00% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans, participations in L/C Disbursements or participations in Swingline Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured (but only from when subsequently cured), (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or subsequently cured (but only from when subsequently cured), or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

Depositary Bank ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.20(a).

 

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Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock ” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate, on the issue date thereof.

DIP Facilities ” means, collectively, that certain (i) term loan agreement identified as the Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2009, entered by and among LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A., Lyondell Chemical Company, Basell USA Inc., Equistar Chemicals, LP, Houston Refining LP, Millennium Chemicals Inc., Millennium Petrochemicals Inc., UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other parties party thereto from time to time (the “ DIP Term Loan Agreement ”) and (ii) asset based loan agreement identified as the Debtor-in-Possession Credit Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2009, entered by and among LyondellBasell Industries AF, S.C.A., Lyondell Chemical Company, Basell USA Inc., Equistar Chemicals, LP, Houston Refining LP, Millennium Chemicals Inc., Millennium Petrochemicals Inc., Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent and the other parties party thereto from time to time.

DIP Roll-Up Claims ” means the Roll-Up Loans and all related obligations of Lyondell and certain of its Affiliates under, and as is defined in, the DIP Term Loan Agreement, and as ordered by the Bankruptcy Court, as of the Funding Date.

DIP Term Loan Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “DIP Facilities”.

Disclosure Statement ” means that certain disclosure statement dated as of December 23, 2009 and filed with the Bankruptcy Court with respect to the Cases, as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Discretion ” means, with respect to any Agent, such Agent’s good faith exercise of its discretion in a manner consistent with its customary credit policies and practices for asset-based credit facilities.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale);

 

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in each case prior to ninety-one (91) days after the end of the Revolving Period; provided that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided , further that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

Dutch Civil Code ” means the Dutch Civil Code ( Burgerlijk Wetboek ).

EBITDA ” means the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization for a Person, calculated in the same manner as Consolidated EBITDA (without giving effect to clause (3) of the definition thereof).

Effect of Bankruptcy ” means any default or other legal consequences arising prior to the Funding Date with respect to any Contractual Obligation, contract or agreement of any Debtor in the Cases, including the implementation of any stay, or the rejection of any such contractual obligation, contract or agreement with the approval of the Bankruptcy Court (to the extent required to be effective).

Effective Date ” means the first date on which the conditions precedent to the Effective Date are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.01) and this Agreement becomes effective, in each case, in accordance with Section 4.01.

Effective Date Fees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(e).

Eligible Inventory ” means at any date of determination thereof an amount equal to (i) the aggregate value (as reflected on the books and records of the Borrowers and consistent with the Borrowers’ current and historical accounting practices) at such date of all Inventory in each Category owned by the Borrowers, adjusted on any date of determination to exclude, without duplication, all Inventory that is Ineligible Inventory minus (ii) all Inventory Valuation Reserves (or, if the context so requires, Eligible Inventory means the related Inventory).

Eligible Receivables ” means at any date of determination thereof an amount equal to (i) the aggregate Outstanding Balance at such date of all Receivables owned by the Borrowers, adjusted on any date of determination to exclude, without duplication, all Receivables that are Ineligible Receivables minus (ii) all Receivables Valuation Reserves (or, if the context so requires, Eligible Receivables shall mean the related Receivables).

Emergence Transactions ” means all transactions arising out of the Reorganization Plan and emergence from Chapter 11, including, but not limited to, Exit Financing.

Enhanced Reporting Period ” means any period during which a Reporting/Audit Triggering Event exists and has not been cured pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

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Environment ” means indoor air, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, land surface, subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

Environmental Laws ” means the common law and any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, Laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution, the protection of the Environment, the generation, treatment, storage, transport, distribution, handling or recycling of Hazardous Materials or the presence, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials and, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health and workplace health and safety.

Environmental Liability ” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of investigation and remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Loan Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or recycling of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equistar ” has the meaning set forth in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.

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).

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale after the Effective Date of common stock or Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (to the extent the proceeds thereof are contributed to the Company), as applicable, on a primary basis, other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or such direct or indirect parent entity’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company; and

(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is under common control with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) with respect to a Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (c) the failure to make by its due date a required contribution under Section 412(m) of the Code (or Section 430(j) of the Code, as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006) with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) a withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a

 

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Pension 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 that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) a complete or partial withdrawal by a Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (f) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a ERISA Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan or the occurrence of any event or condition which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of or the appointment of a trustee to administer any Pension Plan, in each case where ERISA Plan assets are not sufficient to pay all ERISA Plan liabilities; (g) the occurrence of an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon a Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate; or (i) the occurrence of a nonexempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could reasonably be expected to result in liability to a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the filing and continuation of the Cases and consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization shall not constitute ERISA Events.

ERISA Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by any Loan Party or Subsidiary or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Eurocurrency Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board.

Eurodollar Rate ” means, for any Interest Period in relation to any Loan, for any Interest Period, the rate obtained by dividing (i) the applicable LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1 minus the stated maximum rate (stated as a decimal) of all reserves, if any, required to be maintained against Eurocurrency Liabilities (including any marginal, emergency, special or supplemental reserves); provided that in no event shall the Eurodollar Rate be less than 1.50%.

Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means a Loan, that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

European Securitization ” means the transaction to be dated as of its effective date entered into in connection with the €450 million revolving securitization facility of trade account receivables with Basell Sales and Marketing Company B.V. and Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., as sellers, and Basell Polyolefins Collections Ltd., as receivables purchaser, as such facility may be amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.

Excess Availability ” means, at any time, an amount equal to (i) the Maximum Facility Availability at such time, less (ii) the Total Outstandings determined as of the close of business on each Business Day giving effect to all changes in Total Outstandings during such Business Day.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

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Excluded Assets ” means (i) any fee-Owned Real Property with a value of less than $25,000,000 and all leasehold interests (other than interest in ground leases agreed on the Effective Date), (ii) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (iii) letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts, other than such letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts that constitute proceeds or supporting obligations with respect to any other Collateral, (iv) the Capital Stock of any Joint Venture, or of any special purpose subsidiary whose material assets are comprised solely of the Capital Stock of such Joint Venture, where the pledge of such Capital Stock would be prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement pertaining to such Joint Venture, (v) preferred stock issued in connection with a Structured Financing Transaction that is (x) on the Effective Date is subject to an existing Lien on the Effective Date or (y) prohibited from being pledged, and (vi) certain other exceptions described in the Collateral Documents; provided that Excluded Assets shall not include ABL Facility Collateral. Terms used in the foregoing definition which are defined in the UCC and not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified in the UCC.

Excluded Contributions ” means aggregate net cash proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash, received by the Company after the Funding Date from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate of the Company on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (i) any Receivables Subsidiary, (ii) any Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (iii) any Special Purpose Subsidiary, (iv) any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary that is a subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary and (v) any Domestic Subsidiary of the Company as of the Funding Date or at any time thereafter meeting any one of the following conditions that has been designated by the Borrowers’ Agent as an Excluded Subsidiary in a writing to the Administrative Agent (which designation may be rescinded by granting a Guarantee in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement): (a) the Total Assets of such Domestic Subsidiary determined as of the end of the fiscal year of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements are required to be delivered under this Agreement does not exceed $25,000,000, or (b) the Consolidated EBITDA of such Domestic Subsidiary does not exceed $25,000,000, for the period of four consecutive quarters of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement; provided that if, at any time or from time to time after the Funding Date, Domestic Subsidiaries (other than a Special Purpose Subsidiary) shall not be designated as Excluded Subsidiaries to the extent that such Domestic Subsidiaries under this clause (iii) would represent, in the aggregate, (a) 5% or more of Total Assets of the Company at the end of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Company or (b) 5% or more of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the most recently ended fiscal year, in each case, based upon the most recent financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement; provided , further , that, if the most recent financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement for any fiscal quarter occurring after the Funding Date indicate that, by reason of subsequent changes following the designation of any one or more Restricted Subsidiaries as an Excluded Subsidiary or Excluded Subsidiaries, the foregoing requirements of this definition would not be complied with (other than as a result of an impairment charge), individually or in the aggregate, then the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly (but in any event within 180 days after the date the financial statements are required), rescind such designations as are necessary, and provide such Guarantees as are necessary, so as to comply with the requirements of this Agreement; provided , further , in no event may a Borrower be an Excluded Subsidiary. Any uncured Default shall not occur until the expiration of such 180-day period provided such efforts are used.

 

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Excluded Taxes ” means, in the case of each Fronting Bank, Lender and Agent (including, for purposes of this definition, any sub-agent appointed pursuant to Article IX), (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income, including any net investment income Tax, franchise or capital taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes and any Tax in the nature of the branch profits tax imposed by Section 884(a) of the Code (or any successor provision), by reason of any present or former connection between the jurisdiction imposing such tax such Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender (or its applicable Lending Office) other than any connections arising solely from such Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender (or its applicable Lending Office) having executed, delivered, been party to, received or perfected a security interest under or performed its obligations under, received payment under or enforced, and/or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to any Loan Document; (b) any withholding Tax on any amounts payable to a Lender that is imposed pursuant to any laws in effect at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new Lending Office), except to the extent that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from a Loan Party with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01; (c) any withholding Tax attributable to such Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender’s failure to comply with clauses (d) and (e) of Section 3.01; (d) with respect to any fees payable to an Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, any withholding tax on such fees that is imposed pursuant to any laws in effect at the time such Agent becomes an Agent under to this Agreement except to the extent that such Agent’s predecessor was entitled, immediately prior to such Agent becoming an Agent, to receive additional amounts from a Loan Party with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01; (e) any U.S. federal backup withholding imposed pursuant to Section 3406 of the Code (or any successor provision) and (f) any Tax imposed as a result of a Fronting Bank’s, an Agent’s or Lender’s failure to satisfy the applicable requirements as set forth in Sections 1471, 1472, 1473 or 1474 of the Code (or any successor provision thereof)or any regulation or administrative guidance promulgated thereunder.

Executive Order ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Anti-Terrorism Laws.”

Existing Letters of Credit ” means the letters of credit issued before the Funding Date and listed in Schedule 1.01C hereto, which Schedule 1.01C , for the avoidance of doubt, may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time-to-time on or prior to the Funding Date pursuant to Section 4.01. Subject to satisfaction of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV, each Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued hereunder on the Funding Date.

Exit Financing ” means that certain financing to finance the Reorganization Plan expected to be composed of the facility under this Agreement, the Senior Term Loan Facility, the European Securitization, the Plan Roll-Up Notes and the Senior Notes.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction; provided that, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement, for purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of any property or assets, such Fair Market Value shall be determined by (x) the Company in good faith with respect to property or assets with a Fair Market Value not in excess of $250,000,000, (y) an opinion as to the Fair Market Value issued by a qualified accounting, appraisal, financial advisory or investment banking firm or (z) the Board of Directors of the Company, as evidenced by a certificate of an officer of the Company, with respect to property or assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of $250,000,000.

FCC Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.08.

 

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FCPA ” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of  1 / 100 of 1%) charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letters ” means, collectively, the ABL Facility Fee Letter, the Collateral Agent Fee Letter and the Administrative Agent Fee Letter.

Fees ” means the Unused Commitment Fee, the L/C Fee, the L/C Issuance Fee, the Administrative Fees, the Collateral Agency Fees, the Effective Date Fees and the Funding Date Fees.

Financial Covenant Triggering Event ” means any of the following events:

(a) (i) during the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Excess Availability being less than $300,000,000 on each Business Day during any period of five (5) consecutive Business Days and (ii) following the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Excess Availability being less than $400,000,000 on each Business Day during any period of five (5) consecutive Business Days;

(b) (i) during the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Total Liquidity being less than $550,000,000 on each Business Day during any period of five (5) consecutive Business Days and (ii) following the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Total Liquidity being less than $650,000,000 on each Business Day during any period of five (5) consecutive Business Days;

(c) (i) during the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Excess Availability being less than $250,000,000 on any Business Day and (ii) following the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Excess Availability being less than $325,000,000 on any Business Day; or

(d) (i) during the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Total Liquidity being less than $500,000,000 on any Business Day and (ii) following the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Total Liquidity being less than $575,000,000 on any Business Day;

provided that if, following a Financial Covenant Triggering Event described in clause (a)(i) or (c)(i), Excess Availability subsequently equals or exceeds $300,000,000 on each day during a period of thirty (30) consecutive days such Financial Covenant Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period (unless the Borrowers otherwise elect by notice to the Administrative Agent);

provided further that if, following a Financial Covenant Triggering Event described in clause (a)(ii) or (c)(ii), Excess Availability subsequently equals or exceeds $400,000,000 on each day during a period of

 

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thirty (30) consecutive days such Financial Covenant Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period (unless the Borrowers otherwise elect by notice to the Administrative Agent);

provided further that if, following a Financial Covenant Triggering Event described in clause (b)(i) or (d)(i), Total Liquidity subsequently equals or exceeds $550,000,000 on each day during a period of thirty (30) consecutive days such Financial Covenant Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period (unless the Borrowers otherwise elect by notice to the Administrative Agent); and

provided further that if, following a Financial Covenant Triggering Event described in clause (b)(ii) or (d)(ii), Total Liquidity subsequently equals or exceeds $650,000,000 on each day during a period of thirty (30) consecutive days such Financial Covenant Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period (unless the Borrowers otherwise elect by notice to the Administrative Agent).

For the avoidance of doubt, the cessation of an existing Financial Covenant Triggering Event does not preclude the occurrence of a subsequent Financial Covenant Triggering Event. In any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, no more than three (3) Financial Covenant Triggering Events shall cease to exist pursuant to any proviso of this definition.

Financial Indebtedness ” means (without duplication), at any time, the principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding at such time, referred to in clauses (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d) and (2) of the definition of Indebtedness (but, as to such clause (2), only in respect of clauses (1)(a), (1)(b) and (1)(d) of such definition).

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated as of the Funding Date, among the Term Loan Collateral Agent, the Senior Notes Trustee and the Senior Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Common Collateral, which may be amended from time to time without the consent of the Secured Parties to add other parties holding First Priority Lien Obligations permitted to be Incurred under the Senior Notes Indenture, this Agreement and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

First Priority Lien Obligations ” means (i) all Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities (other than the Asset Backed Credit Facility and any other Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(c)(ii)), (ii) the obligations under the Senior Notes, (iii) all other obligations of the Company, Lyondell or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Hedging Obligations or obligations in respect of cash management services in each case owing to a Person that is a holder of Credit Facility Indebtedness or an Affiliate of such holder at the time of entry into such Hedging Obligations or obligations in respect of cash management services, (iv) Additional First Priority Lien Obligations, if any, permitted to be Incurred under Section 7.01 and (v) Indebtedness under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(c)(iii).

Fiscal Year ” means the twelve (12)-month fiscal period of the Company and its Subsidiaries commencing on January 1 of each calendar year and ending on December 31 of such calendar year as amended from time to time.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of revolving credit borrowings or revolving advances

 

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under any Receivables Financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four (4)-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and operational changes (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four (4)-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event, and (2) all adjustments of the nature set forth as “Reorganization Adjustments” in Schedule 1.01B for the Company to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four (4)-quarter period.

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

 

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For the purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of determination or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement.

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, and

(2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Foreign Capital Markets Debt ” means Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary that constitutes a debt security or a syndicated loan.

Foreign Lender ” means, for purposes of the Tax in question, a Lender that is treated as foreign by the jurisdiction imposing such Tax.

Foreign Plan ” means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to by, or entered into with, a Loan Party or any Subsidiary with respect to employees employed outside the United States.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Fronting Bank ” means (a) Citibank, N.A., and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in their capacity as the issuers of the Existing Letters of Credit and (b) Citibank, N.A., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC (subject to the last sentence of this definition below), and other banks as mutually agreed by the Borrowers’ Agent and the Administrative Agent, in their capacity as the issuers of Additional Letters of Credit hereunder, with their respective successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.04(j), in each case subject to such financial institution’s Fronting Sublimit. In respect of Additional Letters of Credit, a Fronting Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Fronting Bank, in which case the term “Fronting Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. Without limiting the foregoing, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC will arrange for the issuance of the Letters of Credit by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., or such other bank as Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC may select for such purpose that is acceptable to Borrowers’ Agent, so that for purposes of the definition of “Letters of Credit” such term shall refer to letters of credit issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (or such other bank) pursuant to its arrangements with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC.

Fronting Sublimit ” means, (i) with respect to Citibank, N.A. as Fronting Bank, $250,000,000, (ii) with respect to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as Fronting Bank, $300,000,000, (iii) with respect to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Fronting Bank, $250,000,000 and (iv) with respect to any other Fronting Banks, such amount as agreed between such Fronting Bank and the Borrowers’ Agent.

 

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Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.

Funding Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent to the Funding Date are satisfied in accordance with Section 4.02, which date shall not be more than 120 days after the Effective Date.

Funding Date Fees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(f).

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States 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 have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Funding Date as adopted by the Company. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Granting Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(h).

Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or monetary other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain such Lien); provided that the term “ Guarantee ” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Effective Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or a portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “ Guarantee ” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

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Guarantee Agreement ” means the Guarantee Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit L .

Guarantors ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement”.

Guaranty ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement”.

Hazardous Materials ” means all materials, chemicals, substances, wastes, pollutants, contaminants, constituents and compounds of any nature or in any form, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas or mold that are regulated pursuant to, or can give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law.

Hedging Obligations ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, emission rights, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

High Seas Inventory ” means Inventory which is (i) in transit to a property located in the United States of America that is owned or leased by one or more of the Borrowers, (ii) subject to a maritime bill of lading which, if so requested in writing by the Administrative Agent and to the extent available, has been delivered to the Administrative Agent and (iii) outside the territorial waters of any country.

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

Increasing Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15.

Incur ” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication,

 

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reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except any such balance that (i) constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (iii) liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the obligations referred to in clause (1) of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) 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); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; or (4) obligations under or in respect of a Qualified Receivables Financing or Qualified Joint Venture Transaction.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Agreement as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Agreement but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Agreement.

Indemnified Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Indemnified Taxes ” means all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Independent Financial Advisor ” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

 

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Ineligible Inventory ” means all Inventory described in one or more of the following clauses, without duplication:

(a) Inventory that is not subject to a perfected first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or that is subject to any other Lien that is not a Qualified Lien; or

(b) Inventory that is not located at and is not in transit to property that is owned or leased by the Borrowers unless:

(i) such Inventory has been delivered to a carrier and no document of title is issued with respect to such Inventory by such carrier and the relevant Borrower has the absolute and unconditional right to obtain such Inventory from such carrier free and clear of any and all Liens other than Qualified Liens; or

(ii) such Inventory is either subject to (x) a Third Party Agreement or (y) an Availability Reserve as specified in clause (a) of the proviso in the definition of Availability Reserves; or

(c) Inventory located on premises of the Borrowers that are subject to any Lien (other than (x) Liens consisting of (i) easements, building restrictions, rights-of-way, irregularities of title and other such encumbrances or charges not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of any Borrower, (ii) leases, subleases or licenses by any Borrower as lessor, sublessor or licensor in the ordinary course of business, (iii) the interest of a lessor or licensor under an operating lease or license under which any Borrower is lessee, sublessee or licensee, and (iv) any other Qualified Liens, including protective financing statement filings on such premises, and (y) nonconsensual Liens on such premises that do not impair access to, or the removal of or exercise of remedies in respect of, such Inventory), unless:

(i) such Inventory is subject to an Availability Reserve as specified in clause (d) of the proviso in the definition of Availability Reserves; or

(ii) the holder of such Lien and the Administrative Agent have entered into an Access Agreement with respect to such Inventory on such premises; or

(d) Inventory that is on consignment or that is subject to a negotiable document of title (as such terms are defined in the UCC); or

(e) Inventory that is billed, not shipped Inventory; provided that Inventory billed but not shipped to the Persons listed on Schedule 1.01K , as of the date hereof and as updated from time to time by the Borrowers with the written approval of the Co-Collateral Agents acting jointly, shall not be Ineligible Inventory by reason of this clause (e); or

(f) Inventory (other than High Seas Inventory or Canadian Inventory In Transit) that is not located in the United States (including its territorial waters); or

(g) Inventory that is not owned solely by the Borrowers, or as to which the Borrowers do not have good, valid and marketable title thereto (it being understood that Inventory commingled with Inventory owned by others is not Ineligible Inventory solely by reason of such commingling); or

 

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(h) Inventory that consists of (i) supplies (other than that classified as Stores Inventory), (ii) work-in-process and catalysts, in each case not saleable in their current form or (iii) feedstock and line fill classified as “captive feedstock” or “feedstock line fill”; or

(i) Inventory that does not otherwise conform to the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; or

(j) such other Inventory as may be deemed ineligible by the Co-Collateral Agents acting jointly in good faith from time to time in accordance with its customary credit policies and the definition of Borrowing Base.

Ineligible Receivable ” means all Receivables of a Borrower described in one or more of the following clauses, without duplication:

(a) such Receivable has not arisen out of the sale of inventory or the performance of services in the ordinary course of business by such Borrower to a Person that is not an Affiliate of any Borrower;

(b) such Borrower is not the sole legal and beneficial owner of such Receivable;

(c) such Receivable is not subject to a valid and perfected first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders;

(d) the Obligor on such Receivable has disputed liability or made any claim with respect to such Receivable or any other Receivable due from such Obligor to a Borrower but only to the extent of such dispute or claim;

(e) the transaction represented by such Receivable is to an Obligor which, if a natural Person, is not a resident of the United States or, if not a natural Person, is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States or has its chief executive office outside the United States (it being understood for purposes of this clause (e) that a territory of the United States that has enacted Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and Puerto Rico are considered to be part of the United States), unless (i) such Receivable is backed by a letter of credit acceptable to the Co-Collateral Agents jointly, in their Discretion and (x) such letter of credit names the Administrative Agent as the beneficiary or (y) the issuer of such letter of credit has consented to the assignment of the proceeds thereof to the Administrative Agent, (ii) such Obligor is, if a natural Person, a resident of Canada or, if not a natural Person, is organized under the laws of Canada or a province thereof and has its chief executive office in Canada and such Receivable is denominated in Dollars or (iii) such Receivable is backed by insurance reasonably acceptable to the Co-Collateral Agents jointly and the relevant insurance policy names the Administrative Agent as additional insured and loss payee, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Co-Collateral Agents jointly; provided , however , that the Receivables of any Obligor located in a jurisdiction outside the United States or Canada approved by the Co-Collateral Agents in their Discretion, which jurisdiction shall be listed in Schedule 1.01M hereto as and when approved by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly, and which Obligor is listed on Schedule 1.01M hereto (as of the date hereof and as such Schedule may be updated from time to time by the Borrowers upon five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent), shall be Eligible Receivables to the extent that (A) such Receivables are denominated in Dollars and arise from sales of Inventory shipped from the United States and (B) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all such Receivables does not exceed 15% of the Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables;

 

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(f) the sale to such Obligor represented by such Receivable is not a final sale (e.g., such sale is on a bill and hold, guaranteed sale, sale and return or sale on approval basis or, until billed, a consignment basis);

(g) such Receivable is subject to any Lien other than a Qualified Lien;

(h) such Receivable is subject to any deduction, offset, counterclaim, return privilege or other conditions (other than (i) sales discounts given in the ordinary course of the Borrowers’ business and reflected in the amount of such Receivable as set forth in the invoice or other supporting material therefor or (ii) an offset or counterclaim of a nature specifically addressed in another clause of this definition) but only to the extent of the amount of such deduction, offset, counterclaim, return privilege or other condition being asserted by an Obligor;

(i) the Obligor on such Receivable is located in any State of the United States requiring the holder of such Receivable, as a precondition to commencing or maintaining any action in the courts of such State either to (i) receive a certificate of authorization to do business in such State or be in good standing in such State or (ii) file a “Notice of Business Activities Report” or alternately named, substantially equivalent report with the appropriate office or agency of such State, in each case unless (x) the holder of such Receivable has received such a certificate of authority to do business, is in good standing or, as the case may be, has duly filed such a notice in such State or (y) such failure to receive such certificate or to file such notice is capable of being remedied without any material delay or material cost;

(j) the Obligor on such Receivable is a Governmental Authority, unless the applicable Borrower has assigned its rights to payment of such Receivable to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended, in the case of a federal Governmental Authority, and pursuant to applicable law, if any, in the case of any other Governmental Authority, and such assignment has been accepted and acknowledged by the appropriate government officers;

(k) such Receivable is owed by an Obligor of which 50% or more of the Outstanding Balance of the Receivables of such Obligor are not Eligible Receivables by reason of clause (d) or (h) above or clause (p) below; provided that Receivables that are determined not to be Eligible Receivables, solely as a result of the provisions of clause (o) below, shall be excluded in calculating such percentage;

(l) the payment obligation represented by such Receivable is denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

(m) such Receivable is not evidenced by an invoice that would be a Contract or by other supporting material acceptable to the Co-Collateral Agents jointly, in their Discretion; provided , however , that this clause (m) shall not render ineligible Unbilled Receivables that would otherwise constitute Eligible Receivables under other clauses of this definition;

(n) any Borrower or any other Person, in order to be entitled to collect such Receivable, is required to deliver any additional goods or merchandise to, perform any additional service for, or perform or incur any additional obligation to, the Person to whom or to which it was made;

(o) the total Receivables of such Obligor to the Borrowers (taken as a whole) represent more than 15% (or such lesser percentage with respect to certain Obligors as the Co-Collateral

 

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Agents may collectively determine in their Discretion) of the Outstanding Balance of the Eligible Receivables of the Borrowers (taken as a whole) at such time, but only to the extent of such excess;

(p) such Receivable (or any portion thereof) remains unpaid for more than (i) sixty (60) days from the original payment due date, or (ii) if such Receivable arises from the sale of Inventory, ninety (90) days from the original invoice date thereof or, in the case of any such Receivable from an Obligor listed, and with the payment terms described, in Part 1 of Schedule 1.01L hereto (as of the date hereof and as such Schedule may be updated from time to time by the Borrowers upon five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent), 120 days from the original invoice date thereof; provided that such Receivables from such Obligors listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1.01L shall be Eligible Receivables to the extent that the Outstanding Balance of all such Receivables does not exceed 10% of the Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables;

(q) the Obligor on such Receivable (i) has (A) pending, by or against such Obligor, a petition for bankruptcy or any other relief under a Debtor Relief Law, (B) an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (C) any other application for relief under a Debtor Relief Law or any such other law or (D) the appointment of a receiver or a trustee for all or a substantial part of its assets or affairs or (ii) has, while such Receivable remains outstanding, failed, suspended business operations, become insolvent or called a meeting of its creditors for the purpose of obtaining any financial concession or accommodation;

(r) consistent with the Credit and Collection Policy, such Receivable is or should be written off any Borrower’s books as uncollectible;

(s) such Receivable is not payable into a Lockbox Account;

(t) such Receivable does not arise under a Contract which has been duly authorized and which, together with such Receivable, is in full force and effect and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Obligor of such Receivable enforceable against such Obligor in accordance with its terms;

(u) such Receivable, together with the Contract related thereto, contravenes in any material respect any laws, rules or regulations applicable thereto (including, without limitation, laws, rules and regulations relating to usury, consumer protection, truth in lending, fair credit billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit opportunity, fair debt collection practices and privacy) or with respect to which the applicable Borrower is in violation of any such law, rule or regulation in any material respect;

(v) such Receivable does not satisfy the requirements of the Credit and Collection Policy in all material respects;

(w) such Receivable does not constitute an “account” within the meaning of Section 9-102(a)(2) of the UCC of the jurisdiction the law of which governs the perfection of a security interest in such Receivable;

(x) the sale to such Obligor on such Receivable is on a F.O.B. customer basis but only for so long as the inventory giving rise to such Receivable has not yet arrived at its destination and possession thereof has not been taken by the Obligor;

 

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(y) such Receivable (i) is subject to an unsecured claim in favor of a surety or (ii) arises under a Contract that is not governed by the laws of the United States or a State thereof;

(z) such Receivable is an Unbilled Receivable; provided, however , that Unbilled Receivables in respect of Inventory that have been shipped shall be Eligible Receivables to the extent that the Outstanding Balance of all such Receivables does not exceed 25% (or, if such determination is being made at any time other than as of the last day of any calendar month, 35%) of the Outstanding Balance of all Eligible Receivables; provided, further , however , that any Unbilled Receivable as to which an invoice has not been issued to the relevant Obligor more than 31 days after the date of the sale of goods by the relevant Borrower giving rise to such Receivable shall be an Ineligible Receivable;

(aa) there is a chargeback represented by the unpaid portion of such Receivable as to which less than full payment was made;

(bb) such Receivable is billed in advance of the relevant shipment of inventory or performance of services;

(cc) the Obligor is an unaffiliated supplier to any Borrower, in which case such Receivable shall be ineligible to the extent of certain amounts owing by the Borrowers to the Obligor or any known affiliate, unless the Obligor has executed a satisfactory no-offset letter;

(dd) such Receivable is subject to a netting agreement;

(ee) such Receivable arises under a Contract that (i) specifies a fixed price and fixed volume for more than ninety (90) days and (ii) provides for material liquidated damages;

(ff) such Receivable is (i) owed by an obligor located in the Province of Quebec and (ii) is subject to an enforceable anti-assignment clause; or

(gg) (i) such Receivable does not comply with such other reasonable criteria and requirements (other than those relating to the collectibility of such Receivable) as the Co-Collateral Agents, in their Discretion, may from time to time specify to the Borrowers’ Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice, or (ii) the Co-Collateral Agents jointly, in their Discretion, and upon at least five (5) Business Days’ notice, notify the Borrowers’ Agent of their joint determination that such Receivable might not be paid or is otherwise ineligible, in which event such Receivable shall not be an Eligible Receivable on the effective date of ineligibility specified in such notice.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that any calculation of ineligibility made pursuant to more than one clause above shall be made without duplication.

Information ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.08.

Initial Cases ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraphs to this Agreement.

Intercreditor Agreements ” means, collectively, the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided that if any Interest Period for a

 

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Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period ” means the period commencing on the date each Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed, converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending one week (if at the time of the relevant Committed Loan Notice all Lenders participating therein agree to make a one week Interest Period available), or one, two, three or six months, as selected by the Borrowers in the Committed Loan Notice after such date of disbursement, conversion or continuation; provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(ii) 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) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date; and

(iv) there shall be outstanding at any one time no more than ten (10) Interest Periods applicable to Eurodollar Rate Loans;

For the avoidance of doubt, if pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(iii) Eurodollar Rate Loans are prepaid and re-borrowed on the same day as contemplated by the proviso to Section 2.02(a), such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall continue to have the same Eurodollar Rate for the same Interest Period and the same Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as before such prepayment, and the provisions of Section 3.05 shall be inapplicable to such prepayment.

Inventory ” means all now owned and hereafter acquired inventory, goods and merchandise, wherever located, to be furnished under any contract for 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 any Borrower’s business or used in connection with the packing, shipping, advertising, selling or finishing of such goods, merchandise, and all documents of title or other documents representing them and shall include all feedstocks, line fill, stores inventory, catalysts, chemicals and additives.

Inventory Valuation Reserves ” means the sum of the following, without duplication of any Availability Reserves or any other Inventory Valuation Reserve:

(a) any book reserves maintained by the Borrowers in respect of Eligible Inventory (excluding a LIFO reserve under GAAP);

(b) to the extent not included in clause (a) or otherwise reflected in the book value thereof, a lower of cost or market reserve for all Eligible Inventory selling for less than cost as determined by the Borrowers; and

(c) such other reserves to reflect events, conditions, contingencies or risks which, as reasonably determined by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly, do or are reasonably likely to materially adversely affect the value of Eligible Inventory, established in accordance with the definition of Borrowing Base;

 

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provided that the Co-Collateral Agents shall give five (5) Business Days’ notice to the Borrowers in the case of new reserve categories established pursuant to clause (c) after the Effective Date and changes in the methodology for determining a reserve and one (1) Business Day’s notice to the Borrowers in other cases.

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 a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Company and its Subsidiaries,

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4) 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.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees (other than guarantees of performance made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Joint Venture)), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 7.02:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

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(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

IP Rights ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15.

Joint Bookrunners ” means Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Barclays Capital (the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC), Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., UBS Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, in their capacity as joint bookrunners in respect of the Loan Documents.

Joint Lead Arrangers ” means Citigroup Global Market, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., in their capacity as joint lead arrangers in respect of under the Loan Documents.

Joint Venture ” means any joint venture entity, whether a company, unincorporated firm, association, partnership or any other entity which, in each case, is not a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries but in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has a direct or indirect equity or similar interest.

Judgment Currency ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.18.

Junior Financing ” means the Plan Roll-Up Notes, any Foreign Capital Markets Debt, and any other Indebtedness of a Loan Party incurred after the Effective Date that is permitted to be Incurred under this Agreement and is by its terms unsecured or secured on a basis junior to the Liens securing the Obligations, or any Refinancing Indebtedness thereof.

Junior Financing Documentation ” means any documentation governing any (a) Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) Junior Financing or (c) Refinancing Indebtedness of the forgoing.

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated as of the Funding Date, among the Collateral Agent, the Senior Notes Trustee, the Term Loan Collateral Agent, the Plan Roll-Up Notes Trustee that sets forth the relative priority of the Liens securing any First Priority Lien Obligations, the Liens securing the Obligations and the Liens securing any Junior Lien Obligations.

Junior Lien Obligations ” means the Plan Roll-Up Notes and obligations with respect to other Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this Agreement, which is by its terms intended to be secured on a basis junior to the Liens securing the Obligations and the First Priority Lien Obligations; provided such Lien is permitted to be Incurred under the Senior Term Loan Facility, the Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture, this Agreement and the Senior Notes Indenture.

Laws ” means, as to any Person, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case binding on such Person or to which such Person or any of its property or assets is subject.

L/C Disbursement ” means a payment made by a Fronting Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

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L/C Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount available for drawing (assuming satisfaction of applicable drawing conditions) under all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers at such time. The L/C Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Pro Rata Share of the total L/C Exposure at such time.

L/C Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(b).

L/C Issuance Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(b).

L/C Sublimit ” means $700,000,000.

Legal Reservations ” means:

(a) the principle that equitable remedies may be granted or refused at the discretion of a court;

(b) the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors;

(c) the limitation of enforcement by laws relating to the payment or enforcement of penalties;

(d) the time barring of claims under the statutes of limitation;

(e) the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a Person against non-payment of stamp duties may be void; and

(f) defenses of set-off or counterclaim.

Lender ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement together with, in each case, any Affiliate of any such financial institution through which such financial institution elects, by notice to the Administrative Agent, to make any Loans available to the Borrowers; provided that for all purposes of voting or consenting with respect to (a) any amendment, supplementation or modification of any Loan Document, (b) any waiver of any requirements of any Loan Document or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences, or (c) any other matter as to which a Lender may vote or consent pursuant to Section 10.01 of this Agreement, the financial institution making such election shall be deemed the “Lender” rather than such Affiliate, which shall not be entitled to vote or consent (it being agreed that failure of any such Affiliate to fund an obligation under this Agreement shall not relieve its affiliated financial institution from funding). Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lender” includes the Swingline Lender.

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, such office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

Letter of Credit ” means any Existing Letter of Credit or Additional Letter of Credit.

LIBOR Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic mean of the offered rates for deposits in Dollars with a term comparable to such Interest Period that appears on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or such other page as may replace such page on such service for the purpose of

 

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displaying the rates at which Dollar deposits are offered by lending banks in the London interbank deposit market) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the second full Business Day preceding the first day of such Interest Period; provided that if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “ LIBOR Rate ” with respect to such Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which Dollar deposits in an amount approximately equal to the Loan to be made by Citibank, N.A. as part of such Borrowing and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of Citibank, N.A. in immediately available funds to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the second full Business Day preceding the first day of such Interest Period.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or similar encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest); provided that in no event shall an operating lease, rights of set-off or netting arrangements in the ordinary course of business be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Limited Recourse Stock Pledge ” means the pledge of the Equity Interests in any Joint Venture (that is not a Restricted Subsidiary) or any Unrestricted Subsidiary to secure non-recourse debt of such Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary, which pledge is made by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the activities of which are limited to making and managing Investments, and owning Equity Interests, in such Joint Venture or Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only for so long as its activities are so limited.

Loan ” means a Revolving Loan whether made as a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan, or a Swingline Loan.

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) the Notes, (iv) the Guarantee Agreements, (v) the Collateral Documents, (vi) the Collateral Audit Side Letters, (vii) the Co-Collateral Agents’ Side Letter and (viii) for purposes of Section 8.01(c) only, the Fee Letters.

Loan Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrowers and the other Guarantors.

Lockbox Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.20(a).

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

Major Casualty Proceeds ” means (i) the aggregate insurance proceeds received in respect of ABL Facility Collateral in connection with one or more related events by any Borrower under any Property Insurance Policy or (ii) any award or other cash compensation with respect to any one or more related condemnations of ABL Facility Collateral (or any transfer or disposition of such property in lieu of condemnation) received by any Borrower if the amount of such aggregate insurance proceeds or award or other cash compensation in respect of ABL Facility Collateral exceeds $25,000,000. Insurance proceeds paid to the Administrative Agent, as loss payee on any Property Insurance Policy covering Inventory, shall be deemed to be received by a Borrower and shall be included in any determination of Major Casualty Proceeds.

Managed ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.08(e).

 

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Master Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “Hedging Obligations.”

Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, prospects, property or financial condition of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Borrowers or the Guarantors (taken as a whole) to perform their respective payment obligations under this Agreement and any other Loan Document to which any such Person is a party or (c) a deficiency in the rights and remedies of the Lenders under the Loan Documents (taken as a whole) that is materially adverse to the Lenders; provided that a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to exist as a result of the Cases or the Effect of Bankruptcy or circumstances and events leading up thereto.

Maturity Date ” means the fourth anniversary of the Funding Date.

Maximum Facility Availability ” means, at any date, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount of the Commitments on such date and (ii) the Borrowing Base on such date.

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.

Money Laundering Laws ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.20.

Monthly Commitment Fee ” means, with respect to any Lender for any calendar month, the product of (i) the average daily amount by which the Commitment of such Lender exceeded the sum of its Revolving Loans and its L/C Exposure during such calendar month multiplied by (ii) the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate for such calendar month.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Mortgaged Properties ” has the meaning set forth in paragraph (g) of the definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement”.

Mortgages ” means, collectively, the mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents delivered with respect to Mortgaged Properties.

Multiemployer Plan ” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions or otherwise could reasonably be expected to incur liability.

Negromex Receivables Dispositions ” means any disposition of accounts receivables arising from transactions with Industrias Negromex, S.A. de C.V.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

Net Proceeds ” means with respect to any Asset Sale or Casualty Event of any ABL Facility Collateral, 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by the Company or any Subsidiary from any such Asset Sale or Casualty Event (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise

 

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and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards in respect of any ABL Facility Collateral, and excluding any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s most recent balance sheet provided hereunder or in the footnotes thereto) of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the payment in cash of the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable disposition and for which the Company and all of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing, in each case net of:

(i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, purchaser due diligence costs (to the extent borne by the Company or any Subsidiary), survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required debt payments and required payments of other obligations relating to the applicable asset to the extent such debt or obligations are secured by a Lien permitted hereunder (other than pursuant to the Loan Documents or the documents for the Senior Term Loan Facility, the Senior Notes and the Plan Roll-Up Notes) on such asset, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith;

(ii) Taxes paid or payable as a result thereof; and

(iii) the amount of any reserve certified by the Principal Financial Officer as reasonable and established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or to fund any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (ii) above) (x) related to any of the applicable assets and (y) retained by the Company or any Subsidiary, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations ( provided, however , that the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Asset Sale or Casualty Event received on the date of such reduction).

For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to the Company or any Subsidiary shall be disregarded.

New Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15.

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(c).

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

Non-Extension Notice Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(d).

Notes ” means promissory notes of the Borrowers, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 (in the case of Revolving Loans) or Exhibit B-2 (in the case of Swingline Loans), evidencing the Borrowers’ obligation to repay the Loans, and “ Note ” means any one of such promissory notes issued hereunder.

Obligations ” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or L/C Disbursement, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or Subsidiary of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such

 

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interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include (a) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party or Subsidiary under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party or Subsidiary to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary to the extent originally payable by that Loan Party or Subsidiary.

Obligor ” means a Person obligated to make payments pursuant to a Contract.

OFAC ” has the meaning set forth in clause (d) the definition of “Anti-Terrorism Laws”.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of any Person.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of any Person by an Officer of such Person, who must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Person, which meets the requirements set forth in this Agreement.

Oil Indexed Credit Facility ” means a working capital facility for which availability is conditioned upon the price per barrel of crude oil that is not less than $125 and the proceeds of which are utilized for working capital purposes and related fees and expenses; provided that (i) the Loans and other Obligations are secured by a second priority Lien on any collateral for such Oil Index Credit Facility (other than ABL Facility Collateral), junior only to the Liens securing such Oil Index Credit Facility and other First Priority Lien Obligations, (ii) such Oil Index Credit Facility shall be secured by a second priority Lien on all ABL Facility Collateral, junior to the Liens securing the Loans and other Obligations to the same extent as all other First Priority Lien Obligations, and (iii) the collateral agent under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall have been made party to the Intercreditor Agreements.

Opinion of Counse l” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or Lyondell or to the Administrative Agent.

Orderly Liquidation Value Rate ” means, with respect to Eligible Inventory in each Category, the applicable orderly liquidation value (or in the case of Premium Inventory, fair market value, and in any case net of costs and expenses incurred in connection with liquidation) of such Inventory, which applicable percentage shall be determined by reference to the most recent Appraisal Report on such Inventory received by the Administrative Agent, as a percentage of the aggregate book value of such Inventory.

Organization Documents ” means (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation, association or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

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Other Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

Outstanding Amount ” means, with respect to any Lender on any date, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its L/C Exposure and Swingline Exposure on such date, after giving effect to any Credit Extension and any prepayments or repayments of Loans or reimbursement of Letters of Credit occurring on such date.

Outstanding Balance ” means, with respect to any Receivable at any time, the then-outstanding principal balance thereof.

Owned Real Property ” means each parcel of Real Property that is owned in fee by the Company, any Borrower or any Pledgor that has an individual Fair Market Value of more than $25,000,000 ( provided that such $25,000,000 threshold shall not be applicable in the case of any Real Property that is integrally related to the ownership or operation of a Mortgaged Property or otherwise necessary for such Mortgaged Property to be in compliance with all requirements of law applicable to such Mortgaged Property); provided that, with respect to any Real Property that is partially owned in fee and partially leased by the Company, any Borrower or any Pledgor, Owned Real Property will include only that portion of such Real Property that is owned in fee and only if (i) such portion that is owned in fee has an individual Fair Market Value of more than $25,000,000 ( provided that such $25,000,000 threshold shall not be applicable in the case of Real Property that is integrally related to the ownership or operation of a Mortgaged Property or otherwise necessary for such Mortgaged Property to be in compliance with all requirements of law applicable to such Mortgaged Property) and (ii) a mortgage in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) is permitted on such portion of Real Property owned in fee by applicable law and by the terms of any lease or other applicable document governing any leased portion of such Real Property.

Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(d).

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(d).

Payor ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”.

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

PBGC Settlement ” means the settlement agreement between Lyondell and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor in interest thereto) as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated or replaced in whole or in part from time to time.

Pension Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years or with respect to which a Loan Party, Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate could reasonably be expected to incur liability (including under Section 4063 or 4069 of ERISA).

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit F-1 , as the same shall be supplemented from time to time by a supplement in the form of Exhibit F-2 or otherwise.

 

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Perfection Requirements ” means the making or the procuring of the appropriate registrations, filings, endorsements, notarizations, stamping and/or notifications of the Collateral Documents and/or the Lien created thereunder, to the extent to be made other than by the Company or its Subsidiaries.

Permitted Holder Group ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Holders.”

Permitted Holders ” means, at any time, each of (i) the Sponsor, (ii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the Company and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof and (iii) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above and that, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company (a “ Permitted Holder Group ”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has sole voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member relative to the other members of the Permitted Holder Group with respect to voting in the election of the Board of Directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries generally and (2) no Person or other group (other than Permitted Holders specified in clause (i) above) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 7.04 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the Funding Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Funding Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (x) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Funding Date or (y) as otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(6) loans and advances to officers, directors or employees (a) for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, including as part of a recruitment or retention plan, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company, (b) required by applicable employment laws loans and (c) other loans and advances not to exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

 

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(7) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 7.01(k);

(9) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business or in Joint Ventures having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $750,000,000 and (y) 3.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value, plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (9); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $250,000,000 and (y) 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (10); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(11) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable; provided , however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (ii) or (iii) in the definition of “Applicable Amount”;

(12) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(13) Investments consisting of or to finance purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, services or equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property;

 

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(14) any Investment in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments in a Receivables Subsidiary, of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness and, to the extent constituting an Investment, the acquisition of accounts receivable that have been sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a Receivables Financing, including the repurchase of accounts receivable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or other payment obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(15) any Investment in an entity or purchase of a business or assets in each case owned (or previously owned) by a customer of a Restricted Subsidiary as a condition or in connection with such customer (or any member of such customer’s group) contracting with a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(16) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Funding Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 7.07 after the Funding Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(17) any Investment in any Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business;

(18) Investments through the licensing contribution in a Person that is or will be as a result of such Investment a Joint Venture or Investments through the licensing, contribution or transactions that economically result in a contribution in kind of intellectual property pursuant to Joint Venture arrangements, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(19) purchase of shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG required to satisfy Basell B.V.’s obligations under its stock option plans as such plans and stock appreciation rights were in effect on the Funding Date;

(20) a transaction the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with Section 7.02(12) and Section 7.02(13);

(21) any Investment in connection with a Structured Financing Transaction;

(22) a transaction to the extent constituting an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with clause (38) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(23) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of Section 7.05 (except transactions described in clauses (2), (4), (5), (9)(b), (15) and (19) of such paragraph); and

(24) any Qualified Joint Venture Transaction.

Permitted Liens ” means, (A) with respect to any ABL Facility Collateral, Qualified Liens and (B) with respect to any other asset or property of any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith pledges or deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of the issuers of performance bonds, surety bonds, bid bonds, letters of credit or similar instruments issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business or with respect to statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty requirements;

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01; (B) Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 7.01(a), (c)(i) and (c)(iii) and (y) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness that, as of the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of proceeds therefrom on such date, would not cause the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company to exceed 2.00 to 1.00; provided that, with respect to Liens securing First Priority Lien Obligations permitted under this subclause (B), the Obligations are secured by Liens on the assets subject to such Liens on a second priority basis subject to intercreditor arrangements, in each case not materially less favorable to the holders of the Obligations than those described in the definition of “Collateral and Guaranty Requirement”; (C) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 7.01(c)(ii), (e)(i), (e)(ii), (u) or (y) ( provided that (1) in the case of clause (c)(ii) any Lien on Collateral securing Indebtedness hereunder, or any refinancing or replacement thereof, must be expressly subject to the terms of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, (2) in the case of clause (e)(i), such Lien extends only to the assets and/or Capital Stock, the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of which is financed thereby and any proceeds or products thereof, (3) in the case of clause (u), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of any Subsidiary of the Company other than a Foreign Subsidiary, (4) in the case of clause (e)(ii) such Lien applies solely to acquired property or asset of the acquired entity, as the case may be) and (5) in the case

 

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of clause (y), such Lien does not extend to the property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than Australia) and (D) Liens securing the Obligations;

(7) Liens existing on the Funding Date (other than Liens in favor of the Secured Parties under the Collateral Documents and under the Senior Term Loan Facility);

(8) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided , further , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided , further , however , that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 7.01;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not Incurred in violation of this Agreement; provided that with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Lien extends only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, tender, bid, judgment, appeal, performance or governmental contract bonds and completion guarantees, surety, standby letters of credit and warranty and contractual service obligations of a like nature, trade letters of credit and documentary letters of credit and similar bonds or guarantees provided by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(13) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or other precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings;

(15) Liens in favor of the Company, any Borrower or any Guarantor;

(16) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing to the extent permitted by Section 7.01;

(17) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided , however , that such Lien is limited to the applicable insurance carriers;

 

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(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15); provided , however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Agreement, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums (including tender premiums) and original issue discount, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement and (z) Junior Lien Obligations shall not be refinanced with First Priority Lien Obligations (other than any Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing); provided , further , however, that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (6)(B) or (C), the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (6)(B) or (C) and not this clause (20) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (6)(B) or (C) and for purposes of the definition of Secured Credit Facility Indebtedness;

(21) Liens on equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

(22) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens Incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(25) other Liens on assets not constituting Collateral securing obligations that do not exceed $50,000,000 in aggregate at any time;

(26) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any Joint Venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any Joint Venture or similar agreement;

(27) any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(28) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution;

 

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(29) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts Incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking institution 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 industry;

(30) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted under this Agreement;

(31) any netting or set-off arrangements entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash pooling arrangements) for the purposes of netting debit and credit balances of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, including pursuant to any Treasury Services Agreement;

(32) 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 in the ordinary course of business;

(33) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 7.01; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreements;

(34) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in or monies placed in escrow pursuant to an Investment permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, (ii) over assets being acquired pursuant to Investments permitted pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Investments” pending payment in full of the purchase price, (iii) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a disposition permitted pursuant to the definition of “Asset Sale” and (iv) consisting of intellectual property licenses permitted by clause (18) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”;

(35) Liens arising by reason of deposits necessary to qualify the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to conduct business, maintain self insurance or comply with any law and Liens securing the PBGC Settlement;

(36) any Lien arising as a result of a sale, transfer or other disposal which is an Asset Sale in compliance with Section 7.04;

(37) Liens relating to a Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(38) Liens relating to any Limited Recourse Stock Pledge;

(39) Liens relating to any Treasury Services Agreement, Qualified Joint Venture Transaction or Structured Financing Transaction; and

(40) other Liens securing Indebtedness that are junior in priority to the Liens on the related property or assets securing the Loans and the Obligations, on terms no less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders than those set forth in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing ” means the issuance of other notes, and the Incurrence of additional term loans under any Credit Facilities, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,500,000,000 if the proceeds thereof are used to refinance Plan Roll-Up Notes (and related interest, premiums, if any, and expenses) so long as:

(i) on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto (including a pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), (x) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company is at least 2.00 to 1.00, (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness is greater the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio immediately prior to such Incurrence and (z) the requirements of subclauses (1) and (3) of Section 7.01(p) are satisfied with respect to such refinancing; and

(ii) to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of such other notes and term loans exceeds $1,000,000,000, the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.01(c)(i) shall be reduced on a dollar for dollar basis (without duplication for Indebtedness Incurred as part of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing), until such time as such excess over $1,000,000,000 (x) would be permitted to be Incurred under the first paragraph of Section 7.01 and (y) would be permitted to be secured by a Lien as an Additional First Priority Lien Obligation pursuant to clause (6)(B)(y) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Plan of Reorganization ” means that certain Third Amended and Restated Plan of Reorganization of the Debtors filed with the Bankruptcy Court on March 15, 2010, as amended by the Confirmation Order and confirmed pursuant to section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code; provided that any such amendment (other than any amendment relating solely to the Indebtedness described in Section 4.02(f) and the use of proceeds thereof) shall be reasonably satisfactory to each of the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners.

Plan Roll-Up Notes ” means (a) the third-priority senior secured notes of Lyondell and guaranteed by one or more Guarantors issued in respect of DIP Roll-Up Claims under the Reorganization Plan; provided that any Indebtedness issued in lieu of the Plan Roll-Up Notes in respect of DIP Roll-Up Claims will be deemed to be Plan Roll-Up Notes ( provided that any such indebtedness is Incurred in compliance with the terms of this Agreement applicable to refinancings and replacements of Plan Roll-Up Notes had they been issued pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization) or (b) any notes, mortgages, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements or refundings thereof and any indentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities that replace, refund or refinance any part thereof.

Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture ” means the indenture under which the Plan Roll-Up Notes are issued, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, restated, refinanced or replaced in whole or in part from time to time all in accordance with this Agreement; provided no such amendment or modification may shorten the maturity of the Plan Roll-Up Notes.

 

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Plan Roll-Up Notes Trustee ” means the trustee under the Plan Roll-Up Notes Indenture.

Platform ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

Pledgor ” means any Guarantor other than the Company; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Subsidiary from its obligations to pledge its assets and property to secure the Loans in accordance with this Agreement or the Collateral Documents, such Subsidiary ceases to be a Pledgor.

Preferred Stock ” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Premium Inventory ” means Eligible Inventory that consists solely of finished goods owned by HRLP.

Prepayment Event ” means any Covered Asset Sale or Casualty Event with respect to ABL Facility Collateral. The description of any transaction as falling within the above definition does not affect any limitation on such transaction imposed by Article VII or Article VIII of this Agreement.

Primary Offering ” means an Equity Offering on any investment exchange or any other sale or issue by way of flotation or public offering or any equivalent circumstances with aggregate net cash proceeds to the Company or contributed to the Company of at least $500,000,000.

Principal Financial Officer ” means the chief financial officer, any director (or equivalent) or officer from time to time of Lyondell or the Company (as the context may require) with actual knowledge of the financial affairs of the Borrowers or the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as the context may require).

Pro Rata Share ” means, with respect to each Lender at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitments of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Total Commitment at such time; provided that if such Commitments have been terminated, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Prohibition ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.22.

Project Financings ” means, with respect to any project, the Incurrence of Indebtedness relating to the development, expansion, renovation, upgrade or other modification or construction of such project pursuant to which the providers of such Indebtedness or any trustee or other intermediary on their behalf or beneficiaries designated by any such provider, trustee or other intermediary are granted security over one or more assets relating to such project for repayment of principal, premium and interest or any other amount in respect of such Indebtedness, including Indebtedness to finance working capital requirements with respect to any project; provided that any working capital financing shall not be secured by any assets or property included in calculating the Covenant Borrowing Base for purposes of Section 7.01(c)(ii).

Projections ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(c).

Property Insurance Policy ” means any insurance policy maintained by any Borrower covering losses with respect to tangible real or personal property or improvements, but excluding coverage for losses from business interruption.

 

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Public Lender ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

Qualified Financial Institution ” means any financial institution organized under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States, Europe or Japan, which at that time has outstanding debt obligations with a stated maturity of one year or less from the date of issue and rated either: (i) A-1 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor, or any other comparable rating then used by that rating agency, or (ii) P-1 or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor, or any other comparable rating then used by that rating agency.

Qualified Lien ” means, with respect to ABL Facility Collateral, (i) an inchoate tax, PBGC or other Lien arising solely by operation of law, (ii) other than with respect to Receivables and any proceeds thereof, a Lien securing payments of (A) expenses of a landlord, bailee, consignee, processor, warehouseman or other third party who stores, processes, maintains or holds ABL Facility Collateral and (B) rail car lease and transportation expenses applicable to ABL Facility Collateral, (iii) any other Lien approved by the Co-Collateral Agents acting jointly, which in each case (x) would be a Permitted Lien with respect to other property and (y) is covered by an Availability Reserve as specified herein (unless, solely with respect to Inventory, the Person who holds such Lien has entered into a Third Party Agreement), as determined by the Co-Collateral Agents acting jointly in accordance with the definitions of Availability Reserve and Borrowing Base and (iv) the Liens created by the Security Agreements and any Lien which is expressly subordinated to the Lien of the Security Agreements (x) pursuant to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or (y) on terms which are in the judgment of the Co-Collateral Agents acting jointly no less favorable to the Lenders than those set forth in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

Qualified Joint Venture Transaction ” means any transaction in which (i) Indebtedness is owed or incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary whose activities are limited to holding shares in Joint Ventures (but only to the extent that (a) the creditors under the relevant agreement have no recourse to the Company other than to such Restricted Subsidiary; and (b) the recourse those creditors have to such Restricted Subsidiary is limited to the proceeds (if any) of dividends received by such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Restricted Subsidiary’s investment in such Joint Ventures) or (ii) involving guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of a customer or a third party guarantor of such customer’s Indebtedness that are made to a governmental export credit agency, a state development bank or like governmental agency or organization to the extent that such guarantees are conditioned on a failure to perform by any of the Company, such Restricted Subsidiary or a joint venture under an engineering procurement or construction contract entered into with such customer or third party guarantor; provided that the aggregate amount of any Indebtedness referenced in this clause (ii) shall not at any time exceed 1.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.

Qualified Non-Recourse Debt ” means Indebtedness that (1) is (a) Incurred by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of property or the Equity Interests of any person owning such property and whether in a single acquisition or a series of related acquisitions) or (b) assumed by a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary, (2) is non-recourse to the Company, any Borrower and any Pledgor and (3) is non-recourse to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary ” means (1) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Pledgor and that is formed or created after the Funding Date in order to finance an acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of any property or equipment (directly or through one of its Subsidiaries) that secures Qualified Non-Recourse Debt and (2) any Restricted Subsidiary of a Qualified Non-Recourse Subsidiary.

 

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Qualified Receivables Financing ” means any Receivables Financing that meets the following conditions (including, without limitation, the European Securitization, the Berre Facility and the Negromex Receivables Dispositions):

(1) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have 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 the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets are made at Fair Market Value; and

(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to secure this Agreement, any Credit Facility Indebtedness or any Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Notes shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

Qualified Stock ” means any Equity Interest that is not a Disqualified Stock.

Real Property ” means, collectively, all right, title and interests (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned, leased or operated by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all buildings, structures, parking areas and improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.

Receivable ” means the indebtedness (whether constituting accounts or general intangibles or chattel paper or otherwise) of any Obligor under a Contract, and includes the right to payment of any interest or finance charges and other obligations of such Obligor with respect thereto.

Receivables Fees ” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Financing.

Receivables Financing ” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to any other Person, including to a Receivables Subsidiary, or may grant a security interest in, bank accounts, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, 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 Hedging Obligations entered into by the Company or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

Receivables Repurchase Obligation ” means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a

 

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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 Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Receivables Financing with the Company in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes an Investment and to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Company and its 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 the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(b) with which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company; and

(c) to which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company 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 the Company shall be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Receivables Valuation Reserve ” means the sum of the following, to the extent not already deducted in determining Eligible Receivables, and without duplication of any Availability Reserves or any other Receivables Valuation Reserve:

(a) amounts accrued or recorded by the Borrowers as a reserve in respect of volume rebates or other offsetting deductions, or in respect of credits in past due; plus

(b) such other reserves to reflect events, conditions, contingencies or risks which, within the Discretion of the Co-Collateral Agents jointly, do or are reasonably likely to materially adversely affect the value of Eligible Receivables, established in accordance with the definition of Borrowing Base;

provided that the Co-Collateral Agents shall give five (5) Business Days’ notice to the Borrowers in the case of new reserve categories established pursuant to clause (b) after the Effective Date and changes in the methodology for determining a reserve and one (1) Business Day’s notice to the Borrowers in other cases.

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.01.

Refunding Capital Stock ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.02.

Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing or migrating in, into, onto or through the Environment.

Release Conditions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).

Reorganization Plan ” means a plan of reorganization in any of the Cases.

Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than events for which the thirty (30)-day notice period has been waived.

Reporting/Audit Triggering Event ” means any of the following events:

(a) the occurrence of an Event of Default;

(b) Excess Availability being less than $700,000,000 on each Business Day during any period of five (5) consecutive Business Days; or

(c) Excess Availability being less than $625,000,000 on any Business Day;

provided that if, following a Reporting/Audit Triggering Event described in clause (a), the related Event of Default shall cease to exist, such Reporting/Audit Triggering Event shall cease to exist; and

provided further that if, following a Reporting/Audit Triggering Event described in clause (b) or (c), Excess Availability subsequently equals or exceeds $700,000,000 on each day during a period of thirty (30) consecutive days such Reporting/Audit Triggering Event shall cease to exist upon the first day following such thirty (30)-day period.

For the avoidance of doubt, the cessation of an existing Reporting/Audit Triggering Event does not preclude the occurrence of a subsequent Reporting/Audit Triggering Event. In any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, no more than three Reporting/Audit Triggering Events described in clauses (b) or (c) shall cease to exist pursuant to any proviso of this definition.

Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having in the aggregate more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Credit Exposures at such time; provided that (i) any Credit Exposure held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates shall be excluded for purposes of determining such percentage; and (ii) the portion of the Commitments held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other similar officer of a Loan Party (including, in the

 

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case of each Loan Party, the authorized number of managing directors or a general attorney or an attorney under a power of attorney of such Loan Party) and, as to any document delivered on the Effective Date or the Funding Date, any secretary of such Loan Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Account ” means any of the Lockbox Accounts, the Cash Dominion Account and the Cash Collateral Account.

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Party ” means any Person listed:

(a) in the Annex to the Executive Order;

(b) on the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” list maintained by the OFAC;

(c) in any successor list to either of the foregoing;

(d) any Person or entity that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order; or

(e) any Person designated as the target of the Sanctions.

Restricted Payment ” means:

(1) a declaration or payment of any dividend or the making of any distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(2) the purchase or other acquisition or retirement for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company;

(3) the making of any principal payment on, or redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one (1) year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01(h) or (j)); or

(4) make any Restricted Investment (all of the payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above are collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”).

 

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Restricted Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, each Borrower shall at all times constitute a Restricted Subsidiary.

Retired Capital Stock ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02.

Revolving Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.

Revolving Period ” means the period from and including the Funding Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

Same Day Funds ” means, with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds.

Sanctions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency or commission.

Secured Credit Facility Indebtedness ” means any Credit Facility Indebtedness that is secured by a Permitted Lien Incurred or deemed Incurred pursuant to clause (6)(B) of the definition of Permitted Lien.

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the four (4) full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date of such calculation. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Secured Leverage Calculation Date ”), then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period; provided that the Borrowers may elect pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

 

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For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has determined to make and/or made during the four (4)-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Secured Leverage Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes (and the change of any associated Indebtedness and the change in Consolidated EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four (4)-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event and (2) all adjustments of the nature set forth as “Restructuring Adjustments” in Schedule 1.01B to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four (4)-quarter period.

For the purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve (12)-month period immediately prior to the date of determination or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement.

Secured Leverage Calculation Date ” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio.”

Secured Parties ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents, the Lenders and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent or Co-Collateral Agents from time to time pursuant to Article IX.

Security Agreements ” means the Security Agreements listed on Schedule 1.01H , or any other similar agreements that create a Lien or purport to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Senior Managing Agents ” means Regions Bank and The Bank of Nova Scotia in their capacity as senior managing agents for the Lenders under the Loan Documents, and their successors in such capacity.

Senior Notes ” means the notes issued under the Senior Notes Indenture.

 

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Senior Notes Collateral Agent ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as collateral agent under the Security Documents (as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture).

Senior Notes Indenture ” means the indenture under which the Senior Notes are issued, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed or restated in whole or in part from time to time, in accordance with the terms thereof.

Senior Notes Trustee ” means the party named as such in the Senior Notes Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Senior Term Loan Facility ” means the term loan credit agreement dated as of the Effective Date among the Company, Lyondell and certain Subsidiaries of Lyondell party thereto as guarantors from time to time thereunder, the lenders and agents party thereto and UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “ Term Loan Collateral Agent ”).

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision).

Similar Business ” means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date or any business or activity that is reasonably similar or complementary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.

Solvent ” and “ Solvency ” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

SPC ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(h).

Special Purpose Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company whose material assets are comprised solely of the Capital Stock of a Joint Venture, where the pledge of such Capital Stock would be prohibited by any contractual requirement pertaining to such Joint Venture.

Specified ABL Facility Assets ” means any ABL Facility Collateral, the net proceeds of an Asset Sale of which are required to be applied as a prepayment of any Asset Backed Credit Facility.

Specified Claims ” means claims made pursuant to the Bankruptcy Cases of the Debtors relating to (i) Priority Tax Claims, (ii) Priority Non-Tax Claims, (iii) Secured Tax Claims, (iv) Senior Secured Claims, (v) Bridge Loan Claims, (vi) Other Secured Claims, (vii) General Unsecured Claims Against Obligor Debtors, Non-Obligor Debtors, MSC, MPI and MPCO and Schedule III Debtors, and (viii) 2015 Note Claims (as such terms are defined in the Plan of Reorganization); provided that (a) the foregoing shall include items relating to litigation against the lenders and the funding of environmental and other

 

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custodial and litigation trusts contemplated by the Reorganization Plan proposed as of the Effective Date and (b) in no event shall the foregoing include professional fees and expenses, financing fees and expenses, original issue discount or debtor-in-possession exit fees.

Sponsor ” means Apollo Global Management, LLC and any of its Affiliates.

Standard Securitization Undertakings ” means representations, warranties, undertakings, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

Stores Inventory ” means Inventory which is materials and supplies.

Structured Financing Transaction ” means a sale of preferred shares of a Restricted Subsidiary, depositing the proceeds of such sale with a bank and pledging such deposit to guarantee a put and call with respect to such preferred shares.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means (a) with respect to any Borrower, any Indebtedness of such Borrower which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Loans and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to obligations in respect of the Loans.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity; or (3) with respect to the Company, for so long as the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, has at least a 50% ownership interest in Lyondell Bayer Manufacturing Maasvlakle VOF, Lyondell Bayer Manufacturing Maasvlakle VOF. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

Subsidiary Guarantors ” means, collectively, the Company’s Subsidiaries that are Guarantors.

Successor Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

Successor Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

 

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Successor Pledgor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

Swingline Exposure ” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Pro Rata Share of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.

Swingline Facility ” means the swingline facility made available by the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.03.

Swingline Lender ” means Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

Swingline Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.03.

Swingline Sublimit ” means $75,000,000.

Syndication Agent ” means Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., in its capacity as syndication agent under the Loan Documents, and its successors in such capacity.

Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges (including all interest, additions to tax and penalties related thereto) imposed by any Governmental Authority.

Term Loan Collateral Agent ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “Senior Term Loan Facility”.

Third Party Agreement ” means an agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, pursuant to which a landlord, bailee, consignee, processor, warehouseman or other third party who stores, processes, maintains or holds ABL Facility Collateral (including a holder of a Lien on premises of the Borrowers where Eligible Inventory is located) acknowledges, among other things, the Administrative Agent’s Lien on such ABL Facility Collateral, the Administrative Agent’s ability to enforce its Lien on such ABL Facility Collateral and the subordination of any Lien held by such landlord, bailee, consignee, processor, or warehouseman or other third party on such ABL Facility Collateral to the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon. Each Collateral Access Agreement is a Third Party Agreement and is in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Each Access Agreement is a Third Party Agreement, notwithstanding any absence therein of any subordination of the Lien held by such party to the Administrative Agent’s Lien.

Threshold Amount ” means $100,000,000.

Threshold Indebtedness ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(e).

Total Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, without giving effect to any amortization of the amount of intangible assets since the Effective Date, (x) as shown on the most recent balance sheet of such Person, or (y) in regards to the Company only, as shown on the most recent balance sheet required to be delivered pursuant to the covenant in Section 6.01.

Total Commitment ” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Commitments at such time. On the Effective Date, the Total Commitment is $1,750,000,000.

 

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Total Liquidity ” means, at any time, an amount equal to (i) Excess Availability at such time, plus (ii) the unrestricted cash of the Company and its subsidiaries at such time plus (iii) any other unutilized credit line of the Company and its Subsidiaries available for borrowing as unrestricted cash, in each case from Qualified Financial Institutions.

Total Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amounts of all Lenders at such time.

Transactions ” means the consummation of the Plan of Reorganization and the availability for use by the Company and its Subsidiaries of proceeds of the Exit Financing and the transactions related thereto.

Transaction Expenses ” means any premiums, interest, discount, fees, costs or expenses incurred or paid by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions), this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

Transfer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

Treasury Services Agreement ” means any agreement between any Borrower, any Guarantor or Restricted Subsidiary and any commercial bank or other financial institution relating to treasury, depository, and cash management services, employee credit card arrangements or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds.

Type ” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

Unbilled Receivables ” means Receivables for which, at the time of determination, an invoice or other evidence of an Obligor’s payment obligation for the purchase of goods from a Borrower has not been rendered.

Unfunded Current Liability ” of any ERISA Plan means the amount, if any, by which the Accumulated Benefit Obligation (as defined under Statement of Financial Account Standards No. 87 (“SFAS 87”)) under the ERISA Plan as of the close of its most recent year, determined in accordance with SFAS 87 as in effect on the Effective Date, exceeds the fair market vale of the assets allocable thereto.

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means, at any time, the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York at such time; provided, however , that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, the perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority of the security interest in any Collateral created by the Loan Documents is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

United States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amounts ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(f).

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(a) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

 

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(b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

The Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company), in each case other than a Borrower, to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided , however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except as permitted under Section 7.01); provided , further , however , that either:

(1) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(2) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 7.02.

The Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described under Section 7.01, or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by Company shall be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by promptly filing with the Administrative Agent a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

Unused Commitment Fee ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(a).

U.S. Security Agreement ” means the Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E .

USA PATRIOT Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(f).

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

 

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Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required to be held by Foreign Subsidiaries) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02. Other Interpretive Provisions . With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(e) Except as provided in the definition of “ABL Facility Collateral”, the term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(f) 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.”

(g) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(h) “Writing”, “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words in a visible form.

(i) References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of such Person.

Section 1.03. Accounting Terms . All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in accordance with, GAAP, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Unless otherwise stated herein and except with respect to Article VII, references to a Person with respect to accounting terms or items that appear in such Person’s financial statements shall be deemed a reference to that Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, except for references to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which will be deemed references to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

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Section 1.04. Rounding . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under 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 1.05. References to Agreements, Laws, etc . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, restructurings, renewals, restatements, refinancings or replacements in whole or in part, but only to the extent that such amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, restructurings, renewals, restatements, refinancings or replacements are permitted by the Loan Documents; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

Section 1.06. 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 1.07. Timing of Payment or Performance . Unless otherwise specified, when the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day; provided that, if such extension would cause payment of interest or principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

ARTICLE II.

The Commitments and Credit Extensions

Section 2.01. The Revolving Loans .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day during the Revolving Period in amounts such that (i) the Outstanding Amount of such Lender shall at no time exceed the amount of its Commitment and (ii) the Total Outstandings shall at no time exceed the Maximum Facility Availability. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrowers may borrow, pay or prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans hereunder during the Revolving Period and subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth herein.

(b) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made ratably by the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments; provided, however , that the failure of any Lender to make any Revolving Loan shall not in itself relieve any other Lender of its obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Revolving Loan to be made by such other Lender). Revolving Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount which is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than the lesser of $10,000,000 and the remaining available balance of the Commitments.

 

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(c) Each Borrowing of Revolving Loans shall be comprised entirely of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans, as the Borrowers may request pursuant to Section 2.02. Each Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Rate Loan by causing any branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Revolving Loan; provided, however , that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided, further , that if the designation of any such foreign branch or Affiliate shall result in any costs, reductions or Taxes which would not otherwise have been applicable and for which such Lender would, but for this proviso, be entitled to request compensation under Section 3.01, 3.02 or 3.05, such Lender shall not be entitled to request such compensation unless it shall in good faith have determined such designation to be necessary or advisable to avoid any material disadvantage to it. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time. For purposes of the foregoing, Borrowings having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.

(d) Subject to Sections 2.02(b) and 2.01(e), each Lender shall make its Revolving Loans on the proposed date or dates thereof, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent in New York, New York, not later than 12:30 p.m., New York City time. The Administrative Agent shall credit on such date the amounts so received to the general deposit account of the Borrowers’ Agent with the Administrative Agent or to another account specified by the Borrowers’ Agent and acceptable to the Administrative Agent by 3:00 p.m., New York City time; provided that Base Rate Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Fronting Bank; provided, further , that if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because any condition precedent herein specified shall not have been met, the Administrative Agent shall return all amounts so received to the respective Lenders. Revolving Loans shall be made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their Commitments as provided in Section 2.13.

(e) The Borrowers shall not be entitled to request any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would not comply with the limitations specified in the definition of Interest Period.

Section 2.02. Borrowings; Conversions and Continuations .

(a) In order to request Revolving Loans, the Borrowers shall give notice in writing (including telecopy or other electronic communication) (or telephone notice promptly confirmed in writing (including telecopy or other electronic communication)) to the Administrative Agent in the form of Exhibit A (i) in the case of a Borrowing with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, not later than 12:30 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before a proposed Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing with respect to Base Rate Loans, not later than 12:30 p.m., New York City time, one Business Day before a proposed Borrowing; provided that the Borrowers shall be deemed to have given a timely notice for a Borrowing on each Business Day of an amount necessary in order that after giving effect to both the prepayment of the Loans on such Business Day pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iii) and such Borrowing, the same aggregate principal amount of Loans of the same Types shall remain outstanding, unless the Borrowers shall have otherwise timely notified the Administrative Agent. For avoidance of doubt, the “deemed” notice of Borrowing contemplated by the foregoing proviso does not affect any condition to Borrowing under Section 4.03 other than the requirement of notice pursuant to Section 4.03(a), and the Administrative Agent may in its discretion require in connection with any Borrowing a confirmation from the Borrowers’ Agent as to satisfaction of applicable conditions consistent with that set forth in Exhibit A .

(b) Any Committed Loan Notice given pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable and shall in each case refer to this Agreement and specify (x) whether such Borrowing is to be a Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans or a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; (y) the date of such Borrowing (which date

 

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shall be a Business Day) and the amount thereof; and (z) if such Borrowing is to be a Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in any such Committed Loan Notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. If no Interest Period with respect to any Borrowing with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans is specified in any such notice, then the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the Lenders of each Committed Loan Notice given pursuant to this Section 2.02 and of each Lender’s portion of the requested Borrowing.

(c) Each Borrowing of Revolving Loans initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice and, in the case of a Borrowing with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Committed Loan Notice. Thereafter, the Borrowers shall have the right at any time upon prior irrevocable telephonic notice (which shall be confirmed promptly in writing (including telecopy or other electronic communication)) to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:30 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the proposed date of continuation or conversion, to convert such Borrowing to a different Type of Borrowing, or in the case of a Borrowing with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, to continue such Borrowing as a Eurodollar Rate Loan for an additional Interest Period, subject in each case to the following:

(i) in the event the Borrowers fail to deliver timely notice of continuation or conversion of a Loan pursuant to this Section 2.02(c) with respect to a Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be deemed to be continued as a Base Rate Loan (unless repaid pursuant to the terms hereof);

(ii) if fewer than all the Loans comprising any Borrowing are to be converted or continued, such conversion or continuation shall be made pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective Loans of such Lenders that are part of such Borrowing immediately prior to such conversion or continuation;

(iii) in the case of a conversion or continuation of less than the full amount of any Borrowing, both the aggregate principal amount of Loans converted or continued and the aggregate principal amount of Loans not converted or continued shall be an amount that would be a permitted Borrowing amount for Loans of the same Type under the last sentence of Section 2.01(b);

(iv) accrued interest on a Eurodollar Rate Loan (or portion thereof) being converted or continued shall be paid by the Borrowers at the time of conversion or continuation;

(v) if any Eurodollar Rate Loan is converted at a time other than the end of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrowers shall pay any increased costs associated therewith pursuant to Section 3.05;

(vi) the duration of any Interest Period shall comply with the limitations specified in the definition of Interest Period, and any portion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan for which the shortest available Interest Period would extend beyond the Maturity Date shall be automatically converted at the end of the Interest Period at the time in effect into an Base Rate Loan, and, if applicable, the number of outstanding Interest Periods (after giving effect to any such conversion or continuation), shall comply with the limitations specified in the definition of Interest Period; and

(vii) the Borrowers shall not be entitled to elect to convert any Loans to, or continue any Loans for an additional Interest Period as, Eurodollar Rate Loans if (A) an Event of Default

 

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shall exist when the Borrowers deliver notice of such election to the Administrative Agent and (B) the Administrative Agent shall have delivered notice to the Borrowers upon the instruction of the Required Lenders that the Borrowers may not make such an election.

The Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar Rate Loan resulting from a conversion of a Loan shall be specified by the Borrowers in the irrevocable notice of conversion delivered pursuant to this Section; provided, however , that if no such Interest Period shall be specified, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the applicable Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section and of each such Lender’s portion of the continuation or conversion hereunder. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Loans, which may not be converted or continued.

Section 2.03. Swingline Loans .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrowers from time to time during the Revolving Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding the Swingline Sublimit or (ii) the Total Outstandings exceeding the Maximum Facility Availability. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b) The Borrowers may request a Swingline Loan by notifying the Swingline Lender of such request by telephone (confirmed in writing (including telecopy or other electronic communication) if requested by the Swingline Lender), not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrowers by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrowers’ Agent with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of a L/C Disbursement as provided in Section 2.04(f), by remittance to the Fronting Bank) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

(c) The Swingline Lender may, by written notice given to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day, require the Borrowers to give a Committed Loan Notice on such date for a Borrowing on the earliest date permitted by Section 2.02 of Revolving Loans in an amount sufficient to repay all outstanding Swingline Loans; provided that if the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans outstanding on the last Business Day of any week exceeds $10,000,000, then the Swingline Lender shall deliver such notice to the Administrative Agent on such last Business Day of such week to require such a Borrowing.

(d) Whether or not it shall have given a notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c), the Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each 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 Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment

 

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shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.01 with respect to Revolving Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.01 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall 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 shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear. Any payment by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to purchase a participation in a Swingline Loan shall not constitute a Revolving Loan and shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to repay such Swingline Loan.

Section 2.04. Letters of Credit .

(a) Existing Letters of Credit . On the Funding Date, without further action by any party hereto, each Fronting Bank that has issued an Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have granted to each Lender, and each Lender shall be deemed to have acquired from such Fronting Bank, a participation in each Existing Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of (1) the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Existing Letter of Credit and (2) the aggregate amount of any outstanding reimbursement obligations in respect thereof. Such participations shall be on all the same terms and conditions as participations granted in Additional Letters of Credit under Section 2.04(e). With respect to each Existing Letter of Credit (i) if the relevant Fronting Bank has, prior to the Funding Date, sold a participation therein to a Lender, such Lender and Fronting Bank agree that such participation shall be automatically cancelled on the Funding Date and (ii) if the relevant Fronting Bank has, prior to the Funding Date, sold a participation therein to any bank or financial institution that is not a Lender, such participation shall be cancelled upon the Administrative Agent receiving the written consent of such bank or financial institution prior to the Funding Date as contemplated by Section 4.02(k).

(b) Additional Letters of Credit . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may request the issuance of Additional Letters of Credit, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Fronting Bank, at any time and from time to time during the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the thirtieth day prior to the Maturity Date. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the letter of credit application and any related documentation submitted by the Borrowers to, or entered into by the Borrowers with, the relevant Fronting Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. Any such Additional Letter of Credit may at the election of the Borrowers recite that it is issued for the account of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, and may be issued in whole or in part to support payment of obligations of such Subsidiary, none of which shall in any way affect the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder and under the other Loan Documents with respect to such Additional Letter of Credit.

(c) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions . To request the issuance of an Additional Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrowers shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the relevant Fronting Bank) to the relevant Fronting Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment,

 

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renewal or extension) a letter of credit application in the form of Exhibit G requesting the issuance of an Additional Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (d) of this Section), the amount of such Additional Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the relevant Fronting Bank, the Borrowers also shall submit a letter of credit application in a form reasonably acceptable to the relevant Fronting Bank in connection with any request for an Additional Letter of Credit. An Additional Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrowers shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the L/C Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued by the relevant Fronting Bank shall not exceed its Fronting Sublimit (unless otherwise agreed by such Fronting Bank from time to time), (ii) the L/C Exposure shall not exceed the L/C Sublimit and (iii) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Maximum Facility Availability. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the relevant Fronting Bank agrees to issue such Additional Letters of Credit (or amend, renew or extend an outstanding Letter of Credit, as the case may be).

(d) Expiration Date . Each Additional Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the date one (1) year after the date of the issuance of such Additional Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one (1) year after such renewal or extension). If the Borrowers so request, the relevant Fronting Bank shall issue an Additional Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the relevant Fronting Bank to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve (12) month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve (12) month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant Fronting Bank, the Borrowers shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant Fronting Bank for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant Fronting Bank to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the first anniversary of the Maturity Date; provided that the relevant Fronting Bank shall not permit any such extension if (i) it has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof or (ii) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.03 is not then satisfied.

(e) Participations . By the issuance of an Additional 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 relevant Fronting Bank or the Lenders, the relevant Fronting Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from such Fronting Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Fronting Bank, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of each L/C Disbursement made by such Fronting Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrowers on the date due as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason. Each 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 shall 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 reduction

 

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or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever; provided that such participations by a Lender shall not be construed as a waiver of any claims such Lender may have against the relevant Fronting Bank for bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction).

(f) Reimbursement . If any Fronting Bank shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement not later than 12:30 p.m., New York City time, on the date that such L/C Disbursement is made, if the Borrowers shall have received notice of such L/C Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrowers prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:30 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrowers receive such notice; provided that the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to the Borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.02 or 2.03 that such payment be financed with a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Swingline Loan. If the Borrowers fail to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable L/C Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrowers in respect thereof and such Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof (the “ Unreimbursed Amounts ”). Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Pro Rata Share of the payment then due from the Borrowers, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.01 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.01 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the relevant Fronting Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrowers pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the relevant Fronting Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Fronting Bank, then to such Lenders and such Fronting Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse a Fronting Bank for any L/C Disbursement (other than the funding of Base Rate Loans or Swingline Loans as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such L/C Disbursement.

(g) Obligations Absolute . The Borrowers’ obligation to reimburse L/C Disbursements as provided in Section 2.04(f) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) 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, (iii) payment by any Fronting 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 (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder. None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor any Fronting Bank, nor any of their Agent-Related Persons shall 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 the relevant Fronting Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the relevant Fronting Bank from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as

 

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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 caused by such Fronting 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 any Fronting Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Fronting Bank shall 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 relevant Fronting 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.

(h) Disbursement Procedures . Each Fronting Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The relevant Fronting Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or other electronic communication) of such demand for payment and whether such Fronting Bank has made or will make an L/C Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such Fronting Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such L/C Disbursement.

(i) Interim Interest . If any Fronting Bank shall make any L/C Disbursement, then, unless the Borrowers shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement in full on the date such L/C Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such L/C Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrowers reimburse such L/C Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to Base Rate Loans; provided that if the Borrowers fail to reimburse such L/C Disbursement when due pursuant to Section 2.04(f), then Section 2.08(f) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the relevant Fronting Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(f) to reimburse such Fronting Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

(j) Replacement of Fronting Bank . Any Fronting Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Fronting Bank and the successor Fronting Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of any Fronting Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Fronting Bank pursuant to Section 2.09(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Fronting Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Fronting Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “ Fronting Bank ” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Fronting Bank, or to such successor and all previous Fronting Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of a Fronting Bank hereunder, the replaced Fronting Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Fronting Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue Letters of Credit and, for the avoidance of doubt, no Letter of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement shall be renewed or extended.

(k) Cash Collateralization . If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the maturity of the Revolving Loans shall be accelerated or the Commitments terminated as provided in Article VIII, on the Business Day that the Borrowers receive notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrowers shall deposit Cash Collateral in the Cash Collateral Account in an amount equal to 105% of the L/C

 

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Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, if any Letters of Credit remain outstanding and undrawn on the Maturity Date and a “backstop letter of credit” reasonably acceptable to the relevant Fronting Bank shall not have been provided as collateral for such Letters of Credit. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such Cash Collateral Account. Such Cash Collateral, if any, shall, pending its application as provided below, be invested by the Administrative Agent, at the Borrowers’ risk and expense, in repurchase obligations with respect to United States of America Treasury securities or other high-quality overnight or short-term investments (which may include certificates of deposit of the Administrative Agent), and any interest earned through the investment of such deposits shall be for the Borrowers’ account and shall be added to the deposits held by the Administrative Agent under this Section and applied as provided herein. Monies in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the applicable Fronting Bank for L/C Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the L/C Exposure at such time or, subject to the consent of the Required Lenders and the applicable Fronting Bank, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. If the Borrowers are required to provide Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such Cash Collateral, together with any interest earned thereon (to the extent not applied as aforesaid), shall be returned to the Borrowers within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived. If the Borrowers Cash Collateralize (or post acceptable backstop letters of credit for) Letters of Credit with expiry dates subsequent to the Maturity Date in accordance with this subsection at a time when no Event of Default exists, the Lenders shall be discharged on the Maturity Date from their obligations with respect to such Letters of Credit to the same extent as if such Letters of Credit had been fully drawn and such drawings are fully reimbursed by the Borrowers on the Maturity Date.

Section 2.05. Prepayments .

(a) Optional .

(i) The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part without premium or penalty, upon giving telephonic notice (which shall be confirmed promptly in writing (including telecopy or other electronic communication)) to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly provide a copy to each Lender): (A) before 12:30 p.m., New York City time, at least two (2) Business Days prior to prepayment, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (B) before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment, in the case of Base Rate Loans and (C) before 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment, in the case of Swingline Loans; provided, however , that (x) each such partial prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000, (y) each such partial prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $10,000,000 and (z) each such partial prepayment of Swingline Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 and an integral multiple of $100,000.

(ii) On the date of any termination or reduction of the Total Commitment pursuant to Section 2.06, the Borrowers shall pay or prepay so much of the Revolving Loans as shall be necessary in order that the Total Outstandings will not exceed the Maximum Facility Availability after giving effect to such termination or reduction.

 

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(iii) Except to the extent otherwise specified by the Borrowers when making a prepayment, all prepayments under this Section 2.05(a) of Revolving Loans shall be applied to outstanding Base Rate Loans up to the full amount thereof and then shall be applied to outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans up to the full amount thereof.

(iv) All prepayments under this Section shall be subject to Section 3.05 but otherwise made without premium or penalty. All prepayments of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the principal amount being prepaid to the date of prepayment.

(b) Mandatory .

(i) Upon the receipt by (or for the account of) any Borrower of Net Proceeds in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Borrowers shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the outstanding principal amount of the Loans and (B) such Net Proceeds in accordance with (and subject to) subsection (c) below. Each such prepayment shall be required to be made not later than the fifth Business Day following receipt of such Net Proceeds; provided that if the Net Proceeds in respect of any Prepayment Event arising from a Covered Asset Sale are less than $25,000,000 or the Net Proceeds in respect of any Prepayment Event arising from a Casualty Event do not constitute Major Casualty Proceeds, no such prepayment shall be required until the amount of such Net Proceeds, together with the amount of all other Net Proceeds in respect of Prepayment Events arising from Covered Asset Sales or Casualty Events, respectively, in respect of which no prepayment under this subsection (b) shall have theretofore been made because such Net Proceeds aggregated less than $25,000,000 or did not constitute Major Casualty Proceeds, as applicable, are equal to at least $25,000,000 or constitute Major Casualty Proceeds.

(ii) If at any date the Total Outstandings exceed the Maximum Facility Availability calculated as of such date, then not later than the next succeeding Business Day, the Borrowers shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to or greater than such excess (and if the amount of such excess is greater than the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans, the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.04(k) to the extent necessary) so that the Total Outstandings no longer exceed the Maximum Facility Availability.

(iii) During each Cash Dominion Period, all amounts collected in the Cash Dominion Account will be applied to the prepayment of Loans in accordance with (and subject to) subsection (c) below.

(c) Application of Prepayments .

(i) Each payment of principal of the Loans shall be applied first to any outstanding Swingline Loans until the Swingline Loans shall have been repaid in full and then to Revolving Loans.

(ii) Each payment of principal of the Revolving Loans shall be applied ratably to the respective Revolving Loans of all Lenders.

(iii) Each payment of principal of the Revolving Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above shall be applied to outstanding Base Rate Loans up to the full amount thereof and then to outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans up to the full amount thereof.

 

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(iv) Each payment of principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant to subsection (b)(i) or (ii) above shall be made together with interest accrued and unpaid on the amount repaid to the date of payment.

(d) Each payment of the Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be applied to such Borrowings as the Borrowers may designate (or, failing such designation, as determined by the Administrative Agent).

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, no prepayment shall result in any reduction of the Lenders’ Commitments hereunder.

Section 2.06. Termination and Reduction of Commitments and Swingline Facility .

(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments and the Swingline Facility shall be automatically and permanently terminated on the Maturity Date.

(b) Upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent (notice of which the Administrative Agent shall promptly provide to each Lender), the Borrowers may at any time in whole permanently terminate, or from time to time in part permanently reduce, the Total Commitment; provided, however , that (i) each partial reduction of the Total Commitment shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and (ii) no such termination or reduction shall be made (A) which would reduce the Total Commitment to an amount less than the Total Outstandings or (B) which would reduce any Lender’s Commitment to an amount that is less than such Lender’s Outstanding Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice of termination or reduction of the Total Commitment delivered by the Borrowers may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other debt incurrences, equity issuances or asset sales, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrowers (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

(c) Each reduction in the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

Section 2.07. Repayment of Loans . The Borrowers hereby agree that the outstanding principal balance of each Loan shall be payable on the Maturity Date; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is made, the Borrowers shall prepay all Swingline Loans borrowed prior to such date and then outstanding.

Section 2.08. Interest .

(a) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Applicable Rate plus the Base Rate. Interest on each Base Rate Loan shall be payable on each applicable Interest Payment Date. The Base Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(b) Each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Loan plus the Applicable Rate. Interest on each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be payable on each applicable Interest Payment Date (and upon termination of the Commitments). The Eurodollar Rate for each Interest Period shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the Borrowers and each Lender of such determination.

 

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(c) Each Swingline Loan shall bear interest at the rate per annum applicable to Base Rate Loans as provided in paragraph (a) above.

(d) Interest on each Loan shall accrue from and including the date on which such Loan is made and to but excluding the date such Loan is repaid or prepaid.

(e) If pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(iii), Eurodollar Rate Loans are prepaid and re-borrowed on the same day as contemplated by the proviso to Section 2.02(a), such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall continue to have the same Eurodollar Rate for the same Interest Period and the same Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as before such prepayment, and the provisions of Section 3.05 shall be inapplicable to such prepayment.

(f) Subject to Section 2.08(g), if the Borrowers shall default in the payment of any amount due hereunder, whether by scheduled maturity, notice of prepayment, acceleration or otherwise, the Borrowers shall on demand pay accrued and unpaid interest at the Default Rate from and including the date of such default on such defaulted amount up to (but not including) the date of actual payment of such amount due (after as well as before judgment), to the extent permitted by law.

(g) If (i) an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01 shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have delivered written notice to the Borrowers upon the instruction of the Required Lenders that interest shall be charged at the Default Rate, the Borrowers shall pay interest on amounts due hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate from and including the date of such Event of Default, up to (but not including) the date of actual payment, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Accrued and unpaid interest on such amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

Section 2.09. Fees .

(a) The Borrowers agree to pay to each Lender, through the Administrative Agent, on the second Business Day following each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 from and after the Funding Date, commencing on the first such day occurring after the Effective Date, and on the third Business Day following the date on which the Commitment of such Lender shall be terminated as provided herein, a fee (the “ Unused Commitment Fee ”) equal to the sum of the Monthly Commitment Fees for each month or fraction thereof occurring during the quarter then ended (or other period commencing on the Funding Date or ending on the Maturity Date or any date on which the Commitment of such Lender shall be terminated, as applicable); provided that any Unused Commitment Fee accrued with respect to any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender (other than a Lender deemed a Defaulting Lender solely under clause (c) of the definition thereof) during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender except to the extent that such Unused Commitment Fee shall otherwise have been due and payable prior to such time; provided further that no Unused Commitment Fee shall accrue on any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender (other than a Lender deemed a Defaulting Lender solely under clause (c) of the definition thereof) so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. The Unused Commitment Fee shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of three hundred and sixty (360) days (including the first day but excluding the last day). The Unused Commitment Fee due to each Lender shall commence to accrue on the Effective Date and shall cease to accrue on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the termination of the Commitment of such Lender as provided herein.

(b) The Borrowers agree to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee (the “ L/C Fee ”) with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which

 

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shall accrue at the Applicable L/C Margin on the daily amount of such Lender’s L/C Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed L/C Disbursements) during the period from and including the Funding Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any L/C Exposure, and (ii) to each Fronting Bank, as applicable, a fronting fee (the “ L/C Issuance Fee ”), which shall accrue at a rate of 0.25% per annum on the average daily amount of the aggregate amount available for drawing under all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank during the period from and including the Funding Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which no Letters of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank remain outstanding. The L/C Fees and the L/C Issuance Fees shall be payable on the second Business Day following each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, commencing on the first such date after the Funding Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the third Business Day following the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All L/C Fees and L/C Issuance Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of three hundred and sixty (360) days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(c) The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, collateral management, agency and administrative fees (the “ Administrative Fees ”) at the times and in the amounts heretofore agreed between them.

(d) The Borrowers agree to pay to each Co-Collateral Agent, for its own account, collateral management, agency and administrative fees (the “ Collateral Agency Fees ”) at the times and in the amounts heretofore agreed between them.

(e) The Borrowers agree to pay on the Effective Date to the Administrative Agent, for its own account and for the accounts of the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners, the other Agents and the Lenders, fees in the amounts heretofore mutually agreed (the “ Effective Date Fees ”).

(f) The Borrowers agree to pay on the Funding Date to the Administrative Agent, for its own account and for the accounts of the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners, the other Agents and the Lenders, fees in the amounts heretofore mutually agreed (the “ Funding Date Fees ”).

(g) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and as appropriate, to the relevant Fronting Bank or among the Lenders. The Administrative Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent directly and the Collateral Agency Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to each Co-Collateral Agent directly.

Section 2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees . All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the Administrative Agent’s “base rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred and sixty-five (365) days, or three hundred and sixty-six (366) days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred and sixty (360)-day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

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Section 2.11. Evidence of Indebtedness .

(a) The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c), as agent for the Borrowers, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent upon reasonable notice, each Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Class and Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) Entries made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to Section 2.11(a), and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Section 2.11(a) shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, absent manifest error; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Section 2.12. Payments Generally .

(a) All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m., New York, New York time, on the date specified herein. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) If any payment to be made by a Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the immediately succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

(c) Unless a Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the time any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that such Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds, then:

(i) if the applicable Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the applicable Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect; and

 

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(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “ Compensation Period ”) at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the applicable Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon such Borrower, and such Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or such Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrowers’ Agent with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the applicable Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation.

(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(g) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 10 of the U.S. Security Agreement.

 

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Section 2.13. Pro Rata Treatment . Each Borrowing of Revolving Loans, each payment of the Unused Commitment Fee (other than with respect to a Defaulting Lender as provided under Section 2.09) and each reduction of the Total Commitment shall be allocated among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares. Except as required under Section 3.02, each payment or prepayment of principal of any such Borrowing and each continuation or conversion of any such Borrowing shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans comprising such Borrowing. Each payment of interest on any such Borrowing shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective amounts of accrued and unpaid interest on their outstanding Loans comprising such Borrowing. Each payment of interest on any Swingline Borrowing or L/C Disbursement shall be allocated in accordance with Sections 2.03 and 2.04, respectively.

Section 2.14. Sharing of Payments . Each Lender agrees that if it shall, through the exercise of a right of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans as a result of which the unpaid principal portion of its Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans shall be proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of the Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans of any other Lender, it shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Lender at face value, and shall promptly pay to such other Lender the purchase price for, a participation in the Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans of such other Lender, so that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans and participations in the foregoing held by each Lender shall be in the same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all such Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans then outstanding as the principal amount of its Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all such Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans outstanding prior to such exercise of such banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; provided, however , that (i) if any such purchase or adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.14 and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be recovered, such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be rescinded to the extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment restored without interest and (ii) the provisions of this Section 2.14 shall not be construed to apply to 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 or Swingline Loans to any Assignee or Participant other than a Borrower or any Affiliate thereof. Each Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender holding a participation in a Revolving Loan made to it or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans deemed to have been so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing by such Borrower to such Lender by reason thereof as fully as if such Lender had made a Revolving Loan directly to such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

Section 2.15. Optional Increase In Commitments . Following the earlier of (i) the date on which Successful Syndication (as defined in the ABL Facility Fee Letter) is achieved and (ii) the date that is ninety (90) days after the Funding Date, the Borrowers, may, if they so elect, increase the aggregate amount of the Commitments, either by designating a financial institution not theretofore a Lender (a

 

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“New Lender” ) to become a Lender (such designation to be effective only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), or by agreeing with an existing Lender that such Lender’s Commitment shall be increased. Upon execution and delivery by the Borrowers and such Lender or other financial institution of an instrument in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such existing Lender shall have a Commitment as therein set forth or such other financial institution shall become a Lender with a Commitment as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a Lender with such a Commitment hereunder; provided :

(a) that the Borrowers shall provide prompt notice of such increase to the Administrative Agent, who shall promptly notify the Lenders;

(b) the conditions set forth in Sections 4.03(b) and (c) shall be satisfied both on and as of the date of such notice and on and as of the effective date of any increase in Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.15;

(c) that any such increase shall be in an amount greater than or equal to $25,000,000;

(d) that immediately after such increase is made, the aggregate amount of increases in the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.15, shall not exceed $250,000,000; and

(e) that the Borrowers may elect to increase the aggregate amount of the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.15 no more than ten (10) times in total.

On the effective date of any increase in the aggregate amount of the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.15, (i) each New Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to its pro rata share of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Loans (and funded participations, if any, in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans) and (ii) any Lender (an “Increasing Lender” ) whose Commitment has been increased shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the increase in its pro rata share of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Loans (and funded participations as above), in each case such payments shall be for the account of each other Lender. Upon receipt of such amount by the Administrative Agent, (A) each other Lender shall be deemed to have ratably assigned that portion of its outstanding Loans that is being reduced to the New Lenders and the Increasing Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s new Commitment or the increased portion thereof as applicable, (B) the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each other Lender its ratable share of the amounts received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this paragraph and (C) the participations of the Lenders in outstanding Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit shall be determined in accordance with their Commitments after giving effect to such increase.

Section 2.16. Defaulting Lenders .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(i) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09(a);

(ii) with respect to any L/C Exposure or Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender that exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or thereafter:

(A) all or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure and its Swingline Exposure shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 4.03 are satisfied at such time and (y) such reallocation does not cause the Outstanding Amount of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment;

 

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(B) if the reallocation described in clause (ii)(A) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, each Fronting Bank and the Swingline Lender, in its discretion may give, through the Administrative Agent, a Committed Loan Notice pursuant to Section 2.02(a) in order to (i) reimburse an outstanding L/C Disbursement, (ii) repay an outstanding Swingline Loan, and/or (iii) Cash Collateralize the obligations of the Borrowers in respect of outstanding Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans, in each case, in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount of the obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Defaulting Lender in respect of such Letter of Credit or Swingline Loan (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (ii)(A) above);

(C) if the Borrowers Cash Collateralize any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure pursuant to Section 2.16(a)(ii)(B) then the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure is Cash Collateralized;

(D) if the L/C Exposure and/or Swingline Exposure of the Non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to Section 2.16(a)(ii)(A), then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.09(a) and (b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such Non-Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata Share (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment); and

(E) if any Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure and/or Swingline Exposure is neither reimbursed, repaid, Cash Collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to this Section 2.16(a)(ii), then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Fronting Banks, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender hereunder, all fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment that was utilized by such L/C Exposure and/or Swingline Exposure) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.09(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure shall be payable to the Fronting Banks and the Swingline Lender, pro rata, until such L/C Exposure and/or Swingline Exposure is Cash Collateralized, reallocated and/or repaid in full.

(b) So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) no Fronting Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders and/or Cash Collateral will be provided by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.16(a), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among Non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.04(e) (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein) and (ii) the Swingline Lender shall not be required to advance any Swingline Loan, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders.

(c) In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers, Fronting Bank and Swingline Lender each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the L/C Disbursements and/or Swingline Exposures of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall

 

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purchase at par such of the Loans, Commitments and/or Obligations of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share of the Total Outstandings.

ARTICLE III.

Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality

Section 3.01. Taxes .

(a) Except as required by law, any and all payments by or on behalf of any Loan Party to or for the account of any Fronting Bank, any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes. If a Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall be required by any Laws to withhold or deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to or for the account of any Fronting Bank, any Agent or any Lender, (i) the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all required withholdings or deductions of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including withholdings or deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) have been made, each Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholdings or deductions of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes been made, (ii) such Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall make such withholdings or deductions, (iii) such Loan Party or other applicable withholding agent shall pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Law and (iv) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment (or, if receipts or evidence are not available within thirty (30) days, as soon as possible thereafter), if a Loan Party made the withholding or deduction, such Loan Party shall furnish to the affected Agent, Fronting Bank or Lender (as the case may be) the original or a copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence reasonably acceptable to such Agent or Lender.

(b) The Loan Parties agree to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise, property, intangible, mortgage recording or similar taxes or charges or levies which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”) except for any such tax (“ Assignment Tax ”) that results both from an assignment or participation by a Lender or Participant and from a connection between the jurisdiction imposing such tax and such Lender or Participant (other than any connections arising solely from such Lender or Participant having executed, delivered, been a party to, received or perfected a security interest under or performed its obligations under, received payment under, enforced, or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document).

(c) Each Loan Party jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Fronting Bank, each Agent and each Lender, within fifteen (15) days after demand is made therefor, for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) payable by such Fronting Bank, such Agent or such Lender (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed directly on the Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender) whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority and (ii) any expenses (excluding any Excluded Taxes) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. A certificate (including copies of documentation from any relevant taxing authority or copies of such other appropriate documentation as reasonably determined by the relevant Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender) as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to a Loan Party by a Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(d) Any Lender entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax or backup withholding Tax, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrowers (and the Administrative Agent) at any time or times reasonably requested by any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or otherwise reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent to permit such payments to be made without such withholding Tax or at a reduced rate.

Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, (i) on or prior to the Effective Date in the case of each Lender that is a signatory hereto, (ii) on or prior to the date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a Lender, (iii) on or prior to the date on which any such form or certification expires or becomes obsolete or incorrect, (iv) after the occurrence of any event involving such Lender that requires a change in the most recent form or certification previously delivered by it to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent and (v) from time to time if reasonably requested by any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with two (2) completed originals of each of the following, as applicable:

(i) in the case of a Lender that is not a Foreign Lender with respect to the United States, a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor forms thereto) certifying that it is not subject to U.S. federal backup withholding under Section 3406 of the Code; or

(ii) in the case of a Lender that is a Foreign Lender with respect to the United States:

(A) a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;

(B) a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms);

(C) in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit N , or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and that no payments in connection with the Credit Agreement are effectively connected with such Foreign Lender’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and (y) a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor forms);

(D) to the extent such Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Foreign Lender is a partnership or participating Lender granting a typical participation), a complete and executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, a certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit N , Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; or

(E) any other form prescribed by any applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax duly completed together with such

 

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supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by any applicable Law to permit any Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

If any Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender, which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding Tax, becomes subject to United States withholding Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the relevant Loan Party shall use commercially reasonably efforts to take such steps as reasonably requested by such Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender to assist such Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender in recovering such Taxes at the Fronting Bank, Agent or Lender’s expense. The preceding sentence shall not be construed to require any Loan Party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Fronting Bank, Agent, Lender or any other Person.

(e) Each Agent shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, provide the Borrowers with, (a) with respect to any amount received on behalf of the Lenders, one completed original of IRS Form W-9, (b) with respect to any fee received by such Agent under the Loan Documents for its own account, one completed original of IRS Form W-9 or applicable W-8 and (c) any other documentation reasonably requested by any Borrower as will permit any payment of such fee to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding; provided that on the Effective Date the Agents shall provide to the Borrowers the following correct, complete and duly executed documents, as applicable, an IRS Form W-9 or W-8ECI that eliminates all U.S. federal withholding and backup withholding taxes with respect to any fees to be received by any Agent under the Loan Documents. Thereafter and from time to time, each Agent shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, provide the Borrowers such additional duly completed and signed copies of one or more of such forms (or such successor forms) or documentations on or prior to the date on which any such form or documentation expires or becomes obsolete or incorrect.

(f) Any Fronting Bank, Lender or Agent claiming any additional amounts or indemnification payments pursuant to this Section 3.01 shall use its reasonable efforts (if requested by a Borrower) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office or take other steps (in each case, at such Borrower’s expense) if such a change or other steps would reduce any such additional amounts or indemnification payments (or any similar amount that may thereafter accrue) and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender or Agent, be materially disadvantageous to such Fronting Bank, Lender or Agent.

(g) If any Fronting Bank, Lender or Agent determines, in its sole good faith discretion, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by any Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit the portion of such refund to the applicable Loan Party that will leave it in no better or worse after-tax position (taking into account all out-of-pocket expenses of the Fronting Bank, Lender or Agent, as the case may be, than if the Indemnified Tax or Other Tax giving rise to such refund had not been imposed in the first instance); provided that the Loan Parties, upon the request of the Fronting Bank, Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agree promptly to return such refund ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant taxing authority) to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority. This clause (g) shall not be construed to require any Fronting Bank, Lender or Agent to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

(h) For the avoidance of doubt, any payments made by the Administrative Agent to a Lender shall be treated as payments made by the applicable Loan Party for purposes of this Section 3.01.

 

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Section 3.02. Illegality . If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful or otherwise prohibited, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful or otherwise prohibited, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrowers’ Agent through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall 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 shall upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may in compliance with applicable Law continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or promptly, if such Lender may not in compliance with applicable Law continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted and all amounts due, if any, in connection with such prepayment or conversion under Section 3.05. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

Section 3.03. Inability to Determine Rates . If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the applicable Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan, or that the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, or that Dollar or other applicable deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market, or other applicable market for the applicable amount and the Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers’ Agent and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers may revoke any pending Committed Loan Notice of, conversion to or continuation of such Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request, if applicable, into a Committed Loan Notice of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

Section 3.04. Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans .

(a) If any Lender or any Fronting Bank determines that as a result of a Change in Law after the Effective Date, or such Lender’s or such Fronting Bank’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender or such Fronting Bank of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loans or any Letters of Credit or any participations therein or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender or such Fronting Bank in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.04(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes or Excluded Taxes and (ii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c)), then from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender or such Fronting Bank setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender or such Fronting Bank such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Fronting Bank for such increased cost or reduction.

(b) If any Lender or any Fronting Bank determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the Effective Date, or compliance by such Lender or such Fronting Bank (or such Lender’s or such Fronting

 

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Bank’s Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or such Fronting Bank or any corporation controlling such Lender or such Fronting Bank as a consequence of such Lender’s or such Fronting Bank’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender’s or such Fronting Bank’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender or such Fronting Bank setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender or such Fronting Bank such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Fronting Bank for such reduction within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such demand.

(c) The Borrowers shall pay to each Lender and, as the case may be, each Fronting Bank, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurodollar funds or deposits, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each applicable Eurodollar Rate Loan of the Borrowers equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error) and (ii) as long as such Lender or such Fronting Bank shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of any Eurodollar Rate Loans or the Letters of Credit or participations therein of the Borrowers, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan or Letter of Credit or participation therein by such Lender or such Fronting Bank (as determined by such Lender or such Fronting Bank in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan; provided the Borrowers shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or cost from such Lender or such Fronting Bank. If a Lender or such Fronting Bank fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or cost shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Fronting Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Fronting Bank’s right to demand such compensation.

(e) If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.04, then such Lender will, if requested by the Borrowers, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Lending Office for any Loan affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Offices to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided further that nothing in this Section 3.04(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.04(a), (b), (c) or (d).

Section 3.05. Funding Losses . Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense actually incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Rate Loan of a Borrower on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise); or

 

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(b) any failure by a Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurodollar Rate Loan of such Borrower on the date or in the amount notified by such Borrower;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained; provided that no amount shall be payable by any Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.05 during any Cash Dominion Period with respect to the amount of any prepayment which is reborrowed on the same day as contemplated by the proviso to Section 2.02(a).

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by any Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank Eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

Section 3.06. Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation .

(a) Any Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III shall deliver a certificate to the Borrowers’ Agent setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent, such Fronting Bank or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(b) With respect to any Lender’s or any Fronting Bank’s claim for compensation under Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04 or 3.05, no Borrower shall be required to compensate such Lender or such Fronting Bank for any amount incurred more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the date that such Lender or such Fronting Bank notifies such Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that, if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such one hundred and twenty (120) day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender or any Fronting Bank requests compensation by a Borrower under Section 3.04, such Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans, or, if applicable, to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Eurodollar Rate Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans (or, if such conversion is not possible, repaid) on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04 or 3.05 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

 

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(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans (if possible), and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

(d) If any Lender gives notice to any Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of any of such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant to this Section 3.06 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurodollar Rate Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurodollar Rate Loans are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

Section 3.07. Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances .

(a) If at any time (i) any Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments described in Section 3.01 or Section 3.04 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make any Eurodollar Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then such Borrower may, on ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, replace such Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign without recourse pursuant to Section 10.07 (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrowers in each such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Assignees; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to such Borrower to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided further that (A) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Assignees shall have agreed to, and shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of, the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, (x) the Lender being replaced shall have the option of withdrawing such claims, in which case such Lender shall not be required to make such assignment and (y) such assignment, if effected, will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments.

(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s applicable Commitment and outstanding Loans and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the applicable Borrower or to the Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitment, L/C Exposure, Swingline Exposure and outstanding Loans, (B) all obligations of such Borrower owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans, L/C Exposure, Swingline Exposure or Commitments so assigned (including any amounts owed under Section 2.05, assuming for this purpose (in the case of a Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(i) or (iii)) that the Loans of such Lender were being voluntarily prepaid) shall be paid in full at par by the assignee Lender to such assigning Lender concurrently with such Assignment and Assumption and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, delivery to the assignee Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrowers, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, L/C Exposure, Swingline Exposure or Commitments, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. In

 

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connection with any such replacement, if any such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such replacement within five (5) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender, then such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on the part of the Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender.

(c) In the event that (i) any Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested that the Lenders consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires either the agreement of all or all affected Lenders or the agreement of the Lenders having aggregate Credit Exposures representing at least 66  2 / 3 % of the sum of all Credit Exposures in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (iii) the Required Lenders have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “ Non-Consenting Lender .”

Section 3.08. Survival . All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Total Commitment and repayment of all other payment Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV.

Conditions Precedent

Section 4.01. Conditions to the Effective Date . The effectiveness of this Agreement and the availability of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party to the extent such Loan Party is a party thereto, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement (including by all Lenders party hereto) and each other Loan Document (except the Collateral Documents not otherwise identified herein, the Notes, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and documents to be delivered after the Funding Date pursuant to Section 6.14(a));

(ii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party executing documents on the Effective Date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require (and as have been notified to each Borrower no later than three (3) Business Days before the Effective Date) evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party or is to be a party on the Effective Date;

(iii) a certificate, dated as of a recent date from the Secretary of State or other appropriate authority, evidencing the good standing of each Borrower and each other Loan Party in the jurisdiction of its organization (to the extent legally applicable in such jurisdiction);

 

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(iv) (A) the executed legal opinion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, special U.S. counsel to the Company and the other Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 with respect to the Loan Documents delivered as of the Effective Date;

(B) the executed legal opinion of Baker Botts LLP, special U.S. counsel to the Company and the other Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 with respect to the Loan Documents delivered as of the Effective Date;

(C) the executed legal opinion of Clifford Chance LLP, special Dutch counsel to the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-3 with respect to the Loan Documents delivered as of the Effective Date;

(D) the executed legal opinion of Gerald A. O’Brien, Deputy General Counsel to the Borrowers, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 with respect to the Loan Documents delivered as of the Effective Date; and

(v) a certificate signed by a Principal Financial Officer attesting to the Solvency of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) after giving effect pro forma to the Transactions.

(b) The Senior Notes shall have been issued and funded in a face amount not to exceed approximately $2,800,000,000 and the proceeds thereof shall have been (or shall be substantially contemporaneously herewith) deposited into an escrow account.

(c) The Senior Term Loan Facility shall be (or shall contemporaneously herewith become) effective and funded in an amount not to exceed $500,000,000 and the proceeds thereof shall have been (or shall be substantially contemporaneously herewith) deposited into an escrow account, pursuant to duly executed documents reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

(d) The European Securitization shall be (or shall contemporaneously herewith become) committed, subject to final documentation.

(e) Certified copies of UCC, United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, tax and judgment lien searches or equivalent reports or searches, each of a recent date listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents that name any Loan Party as debtor and that are filed in those state and county jurisdictions, as applicable, in which any Loan Party is organized or maintains its principal place of business and such other searches that are required by the Perfection Certificate or that the Administrative Agent deems reasonably necessary or appropriate, none of which encumber the Collateral covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents (other than Liens to be satisfied or discharged on the Funding Date pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization or Permitted Liens.

(f) Each Lender shall have received all documentation and other information mutually agreed to be required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the United States PATRIOT Act (Title III of Public Law 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ USA PATRIOT Act ”), including the information described in Section 10.20, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date.

 

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(g) The representations and warranties of each Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V (other than with respect to the Collateral Documents) shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided further that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects on such respective dates.

(h) Except as disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, since December 31, 2009, no event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect.

(i) The Co-Collateral Agents shall have received, and be satisfied in all respects with, an Appraisal Report and a field examination report with respect to the Available Inventory, and such Appraisal Report and field examination report shall each be dated no earlier than 120 days prior to the Effective Date.

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received prior to or substantially simultaneously with the Effective Date, reimbursement for the expenses to be received on the Effective Date pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (to the extent invoices for such expenses have been provided at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, Schedules 1.01C , 1.01D , 1.01K , 1.01L , 1.01M , 5.08 and 5.11 delivered by the Loan Parties for the Loan Documents on the Effective Date may be subsequently, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified on or prior to the Funding Date, to reflect changes arising from the transactions described in the Plan of Reorganization including to make administrative adjustments to such schedules required to accurately reflect the information set forth therein.

Section 4.02. Conditions to the Funding Date . The obligations of the Lenders and the Fronting Banks to make the Loans, assume the Existing Letters of Credit and issue Additional Letters of Credit under this Agreement shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions precedent has been (or shall substantially simultaneously be) satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.01), which date shall not be more than 120 days after the Effective Date:

(a) (1) The issuance by the Bankruptcy Court of a final order (x) reasonably satisfactory to each of the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners (i) confirming the Plan of Reorganization in accordance with section 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code and (ii) approving and authorizing the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Plan of Reorganization and otherwise not inconsistent with the provisions hereof and thereof (the “ Confirmation Order ”) and (y) that is in full force and effect, has not been stayed pending appeal, reversed, vacated or otherwise modified in a manner not reasonably satisfied to each of the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners and (2) other than satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent to this Agreement and other conditions to be satisfied substantially simultaneously therewith, satisfaction of all conditions precedent to effectiveness of the Plan of Reorganization in a manner reasonably satisfactory to each of the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Joint Bookrunners.

(b) Except as contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization, including transfers to certain litigation and environmental trusts, (i) the Company shall directly or indirectly own subsidiaries that own all of the assets and businesses directly or indirectly owned by

 

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LyondellBasell AF S.C.A. and its subsidiaries immediately prior to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Plan of Reorganization, (ii) each Borrower shall directly or indirectly own subsidiaries that own all or substantially all of the U.S.-based assets and businesses directly or indirectly owned by the Company and its subsidiaries immediately following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Plan of Reorganization and (iii) the cash expenditures to be made in respect of Specified Claims pursuant to such Plan of Reorganization shall not exceed $1,200,000,000.

(c) The execution and delivery of (i) the Collateral Documents providing a first priority security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in the ABL Facility Collateral and a second priority security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in the Collateral (other than the ABL Facility Collateral), in each case, in accordance with the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement, and in each case, subject to Permitted Liens, (ii) the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) a Note executed by each Borrower in favor of each Lender that has requested a Note more than three (3) Business Days prior to the Funding Date.

(d) No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under this Agreement.

(e) Prior to or substantially simultaneously with the satisfaction of the other conditions precedent hereto, receipt of proceeds by the Company from the issuance of common equity, pursuant to a rights offering or otherwise, of not less than $2,800,000,000.

(f) Substantially simultaneously with the Funding Date, the respective parties shall have executed and delivered documents relating to the other elements of the Exit Financing, and the conditions to effectiveness thereunder shall have been satisfied or waived by the parties thereto, and funds shall have been borrowed or received pursuant to offerings (as necessary to consummate the Plan of Reorganization), as follows:

 

  (i) the Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed approximately $2,800,000,000;

 

  (ii) the Senior Term Loan Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed approximately $500,000,000;

 

  (iii) the release of the proceeds of the Senior Term Loan Facility and the Senior Notes that were deposited into an escrow account on the Effective Date;

 

  (iv) the European Securitization, which shall be substantially similar in terms of facility size to the existing European securitization facility of the Company and its Subsidiaries provided that the conditions to effectiveness may be satisfied and initial funding under the European Securitization may occur after the Funding Date; and

 

  (v) Plan Roll-Up Notes in an aggregate principal amount of not more than approximately $3,250,000,000, with the obligors, collateral, interest rate, maturity, amortization, principal amount and other material terms summarized under Schedule 1.01B ; provided that the terms of the Plan Roll-Up Notes (including any replacement or refinancing thereof) may differ from those described in Schedule 1.01B at the Funding Date in any manner that would be permissible under the Senior Notes Indenture following the Effective Date.

 

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(g) After giving effect to the consummation of the Plan of Reorganization, a Change of Control will not have occurred.

(h) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of (i) customary legal opinions and (ii) customary officers’ certificates.

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, the insurance policies required by Section 6.07 (including, without limitation, flood insurance coverage) and the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents, each of which shall be endorsed or otherwise amended to include a “standard” or “New York” lender’s loss payable or mortgagee endorsement (as applicable) and shall name the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured (other than with respect to policies issued by OIL Insurance Limited), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(j) After giving effect to any Credit Extension on such date, Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Maximum Facility Availability on such date.

(k) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that each participation in an Existing Letter of Credit granted by the relevant Fronting Bank to a bank or financial institution that is not a Lender has been cancelled on or before the Funding Date as contemplated by Section 2.04(a).

(l) The Administrative Agent shall receive, either prior to or substantially simultaneously with the Funding Date, the fees to be received on the Funding Date referred to herein (to the extent invoices for such fees have been provided at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Funding Date) and in the Fee Letters (including reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Administrative Agent and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with the negotiation of the Loan Documents with respect thereto).

(m) The Co-Collateral Agents shall have received, and be satisfied in all respects with, an Appraisal Report and a field examination report with respect to the Available Inventory, and such Appraisal Report and field examination report shall each be dated no earlier than 120 days prior to such date.

(n) The Co-Collateral Agents shall have received, and be satisfied in all respects with, a completed Borrowing Base Certificate as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to such date and signed by a Principal Financial Officer.

(o) Excess Availability shall be not less than $750,000,000.

(p) The Administrative Agent shall have received certified copies of UCC lien searches or equivalent reports or searches, each of a recent date listing any financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents that name any Borrower as debtor and that are filed in those state jurisdictions in which any Borrower is organized.

(q) The Administrative Agent shall have received an executed “Acknowledgement of Receipt of Notice” for each such acknowledgement provided to the Borrowers not less than ten

 

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(10) Business Days prior to the Funding Date in connection with any “Notice of Special Flood Hazards, Flood Insurance Purchase Requirements, and Availability of Federal Disaster Relief Assistance” or similar notice required to be delivered by a Lender pursuant to 12 C.F.R. 339.9(a) (as amended from time to time) with respect to loans secured by a building or mobile home located or to be located in a special flood hazard area.

Section 4.03. All Borrowings . On the date of each Credit Extension, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans, the obligation of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans and the obligation of the Fronting Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit hereunder shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) The Administrative Agent or the relevant Fronting Bank shall have received a notice of such Credit Extension as required by Sections 2.02, 2.03 or 2.04, as applicable.

(b) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in the Loan Documents shall be, on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though made on and as of such date; provided that to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further , that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects on such respective dates.

(c) At the time of such Credit Extension, no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom which constitutes an Event of Default or a Default.

(d) After giving effect to such Credit Extension, Total Outstandings will not exceed the Maximum Facility Availability on such day.

(e) The making of such Borrowing or the issuance of such Letter of Credit, shall not violate any material requirement of law binding upon the Borrowers and shall not be enjoined temporarily, preliminarily or permanently.

(f) Each Credit Extension shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty on the date of such Credit Extension as to the applicable matters specified in paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section.

ARTICLE V.

Representations and Warranties

Each of the Company and each Borrower represents and warrants to the Agents and the Lenders that:

Section 5.01. Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws . Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and Legal Reservations, each Loan Party and each Significant Subsidiary (a) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing, in each case where such concept exists, under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite constitutional, corporate or other similar power and authority to (i) own or lease its material assets and carry on its business substantially as currently conducted and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing, in

 

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each case where such concept exists, under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws, orders, writs and injunctions and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case referred to in clause (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.02. Authorization; No Contravention . The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transactions, are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) in any material way, conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.06), or require any payment to be made under, (i) except payments as set forth in the funds flow memorandum dated the Funding Date and delivered to the Administrative Agent, which shall be consistent with the Plan of Reorganization and the other documentation governing the Transactions, any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order in any material way, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject in any material way; or (c) violate any material Law in any material way; except with respect to any conflict, breach or contravention or payment (but not creation of Liens) referred to in clause (b)(i), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention, violation or payment could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.03. Governmental Authorization; Other Consents . Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and Legal Reservations, no material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary for or required of a Loan Party in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof subject to the Intercreditor Agreements) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (i) filings, notices, consents and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.04. Binding Effect . This Agreement and each other Loan Document dated on or prior to the date this representation is made has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document dated on or prior to the date this representation is made constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is a party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity and the Legal Reservations, (ii) the need for filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties and (iii) the effect of foreign Laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries (other than those pledges made under the Laws of the jurisdiction of formation of the applicable Foreign Subsidiary).

 

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Section 5.05. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect .

(a) On the Effective Date, the Audited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein. During the period from December 31, 2009 to and including the Effective Date, there has been (x) no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any material part of the business or property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (y) no purchase or other acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any business or property (including any Equity Interest of any other Person) material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, which is not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or in the notes thereto or has not otherwise been disclosed in writing to the Lenders prior to the Effective Date.

(b) The forecasts of consolidated balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date have been prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation of such forecasts, it being understood that actual results may vary from such forecasts and that such variations may be material.

(c) Since December 31, 2009, there has been no event or circumstance that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.06. Litigation . There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened in writing or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.07. Ownership of Property; Liens .

(a) Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good record fee simple title (or otherwise holds full legal (and, if applicable, beneficial) ownership under applicable Law) to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all material Real Property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except for (x) minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes and (y) Liens permitted under Section 7.06 (other than such Liens permitted pursuant to clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Liens) and except where the failure to have such title could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) As of the Effective Date and Funding Date after giving effect to the transactions described in the Plan of Reorganization, Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate dated the Effective Date contains a true and complete list of each interest in material Real Property owned or ground leased by the Loan Parties and describes the type of interest therein held by each such entity.

Section 5.08. Environmental Matters . In each case, except as set forth on Schedule 5.08 ,

(a) There are no claims, actions, suits, proceedings, demands, notices or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, investigations alleging actual or potential liability of any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries under or for violation of, or otherwise relating to, any Environmental Law that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) Except for items that could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Loan Party and each of their respective Subsidiaries and each of their Real Property, other assets and operations are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, including all Environmental Permits; (ii) none of the properties currently or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, formerly, owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or formally proposed for listing on the National Priority List under CERCLA, or the German register of contaminated sites (Altlaster register) or any analogous list maintained pursuant to any Environmental Law; (iii) all asbestos or asbestos-containing material on, at or in any property or facility currently owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with Environmental Laws; and (iv) to the knowledge of each Loan Party, there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials by any Person on, at, under or from any property or facility currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries at any other location.

(c) The properties and facilities owned, leased or operated by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries do not contain any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute a violation of, (ii) require investigation or other response or corrective action under or (iii) could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which violations, actions and/or liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) None of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries is undertaking or financing, in whole or in part, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation, response or other corrective action relating to any actual or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at any property, facility or location pursuant to any Environmental Law except for such investigation, response or other corrective action that, individually or in the aggregate, could not, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) All Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored (collectively, “ Managed ”) by any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries at, or transported by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries to or from, any property or facility currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been Managed or transported in a manner which could not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries has contractually assumed, and is not subject or a party to any judgment, order, decree or agreement which imposes, any liability or obligation under or relating to any Environmental Law.

Section 5.09. Taxes .

Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Loan Parties and each of their respective Subsidiaries has (i) timely filed all Tax returns required to be filed and each such Tax return is true and correct in all respects and (ii) timely paid all Taxes levied or imposed upon it or its properties (whether or not shown on a Tax return) and satisfied all of its Tax withholding obligations, except (a) Taxes that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in compliance with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on its books and (b) Taxes or Tax returns of a Loan Party or one of its Subsidiaries the obligation of which to pay or file has been discharged or deferred in bankruptcy.

 

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Section 5.10. ERISA Compliance .

(a) Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each ERISA Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws.

(b) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur and (ii) neither any Loan Party, any Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.10(b), as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Except where noncompliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Foreign Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities and (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan.

Section 5.11. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests .

As of the Effective Date and the Funding Date (after giving effect to the transactions described in the Plan of Reorganization and any part of the Transaction that is consummated on or prior to the Effective Date and the Funding Date), no Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than dormant or inactive entities and those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.11 , and all of the outstanding Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and all Equity Interests owned by a Loan Party (or a Subsidiary of any Loan Party) in such Subsidiaries are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents and (ii) any Lien that is permitted under Section 7.06. As of the Effective Date and the Funding Date, Schedules 1(a) and 9(a) and (b) to the Perfection Certificate set forth the name, jurisdiction and ownership interest of each Loan Party in each direct Domestic Subsidiary or any direct, material Foreign Subsidiary which is not dormant or inactive, including the percentage of such ownership, and no such entities have any direct or indirect Significant Subsidiaries.

Section 5.12. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act .

(a) No Borrower is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of any Credit Extensions will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U.

(b) None of the Borrowers, any Person Controlling any Borrower, or any Subsidiary of any Borrower is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 5.13. Disclosure . As of the Effective Date, to the best of the Loan Parties’ knowledge, no report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) when taken as a whole contains any material misstatement of fact or, as at the Effective Date only, omits to state any material fact necessary to make

 

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the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.

Section 5.14. Anti-Terrorism Laws .

(a) To the best knowledge of the Loan Parties organized in the United States, no such Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof: (i) is, or is controlled by or is acting on behalf of, a Restricted Party; (ii) has received funds or other property from a Restricted Party; or (iii) is in breach of or is the subject of any action or investigation under any Anti-Terrorism Law.

(b) Each of the Loan Parties organized in the United States and, to the best of such Loan Parties’ knowledge, each Subsidiary thereof has taken reasonable measures to ensure compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Laws.

Section 5.15. Intellectual Property; Licenses, etc . Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries own, license or otherwise possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, know-how, database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ IP Rights ”) that are material to the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, without conflict with the rights of any Person, except to the extent such conflicts could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best of the Loan Parties actual knowledge, the operation of the businesses as currently conducted by each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries does not infringe upon any IP Rights held by any Person and no other Person is infringing on their IP Rights except for such infringements, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation brought against any Loan Party alleging the infringement or misuse of any IP Rights or otherwise relating to IP Rights is pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Except pursuant to licenses and other user agreements entered into by each Loan Party in the ordinary course of business, (i) each Loan Party owns and possesses the right to use the IP Rights identified with such Loan Party’s name on Schedule 11(a) or 11(b), as applicable, to the Perfection Certificate, and (ii) the registrations and applications listed on Schedules 11(a) and 11(b) are valid and in full force and effect, except, in each case, to the extent failure to own or possess such right to use or of such registrations to be valid and in full force and effect could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.16. Solvency . On the Effective Date, the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) after giving pro forma effect to the Transaction, are Solvent.

Section 5.17. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of Loans to be made hereunder shall be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital. In addition, the Company represents and covenants that it, any director, officer, agent, employee, parent or affiliate will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any affiliate, subsidiary, officer, agent, employee, joint venture partner or other Person, to make any offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value directly or indirectly to or for the benefit of any public official including any foreign official (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political

 

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party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office or for a third party to benefit any of the foregoing, if doing so would violate the law of any applicable jurisdiction including the FCPA and the U.K. Prevention of Corruption Act of 1906.

Section 5.18. Security Documents .

(a) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles and Legal Reservations, the Collateral Documents are or in the case of each Collateral Document delivered pursuant to Sections 4.02, 6.12 and 6.14, upon execution and delivery thereof, will be effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (or in favor of the relevant Secured Parties directly, as applicable), legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent intended to be created thereby and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate and registration achieved (if applicable), (ii) when all appropriate filings, recordings, endorsements, notarizations, stamping, registrations and/or notifications are made as required under applicable Law and (iii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Administrative Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Administrative Agent to the extent possession or control by the Administrative Agent is required by the Security Agreements), the Liens created by the Collateral Documents shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in (to the extent intended to be created thereby), all right, title and interest of the grantors in such Collateral, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder and with the priority required by the Collateral Documents (subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).

(b) When the Security Agreement governed by U.S. Law or a short form thereof is properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, the Liens created by such Security Agreement shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder (to the extent intended to be created thereby) in the IP Rights to the extent that a security interest can be created under Article 9 of the UCC and can be perfected by the filing of a financing statement in accordance therewith, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of rights of creditors generally and except to the extent that enforcement of rights and remedies set forth therein may be limited by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a court of law or a proceeding in equity), in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted hereunder (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a Lien on registered patents and copyrights acquired by the grantors thereof after the Effective Date).

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 5.18) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, no 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 (other than with respect to those pledges and security interests made under the Laws of the jurisdiction of formation of the applicable Foreign Subsidiary) in any Equity Interest of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign Law.

Section 5.19. No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments . As of the Effective Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B, neither the Company, Lyondell nor any of their subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Borrower, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, any Borrower or any of their subsidiaries, is aware of or, has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA and any applicable anti-corruption law, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate

 

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commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and any applicable anti-corruption law. As of the Effective Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B, to the knowledge of the Company, any Borrower and their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and any applicable anti-corruption law and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

Section 5.20. No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws . As of the Effective Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B , the operations of the Company, Lyondell and their subsidiaries (together with the conduct of any director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of the Company, Lyondell and their respective subsidiaries), to the knowledge of the Borrowers, are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any Borrower or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, threatened. As of the Effective Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B , to the knowledge of the Company, any Borrower and their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the Money Laundering Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

Section 5.21. No Conflict with OFAC Laws . As of the Effective Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B, neither the Company, Lyondell nor any of their subsidiaries (collectively (for purposes of this paragraph only), the “ Company ”) or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company is an individual or entity currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions. As of the Effective Date, the Company represents that it has not directly or indirectly used, the proceeds of the Loans, or lent, contributed or otherwise made available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Restricted Party, or in Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or any other country or territory that, at the time of such funding, was the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that would result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. As of the Effective Date, except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 1.01B, to the knowledge of the Company, any Borrower and their affiliates have conducted their businesses without violation of the Sanctions and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith. The Borrower will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Loans or the Letters of Credit or otherwise make available such proceeds to any affiliate, subsidiary, officer, agent, employee, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

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ARTICLE VI.

Affirmative Covenants

From and after the Funding Date, so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent obligations not yet accrued and payable) hereunder that is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (and not Cash Collateralized in accordance with Section 2.04(k)), each of the Company and each Borrower shall, and the Company shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, to:

Section 6.01. Financial Statements .

(a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, as soon as available, but in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days (or such earlier date on which the Company is required to make any public filing of such information) after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company beginning with the Fiscal Year 2010, a consolidated (and to the extent that any Subsidiaries of the Company are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries at the time of delivery, a consolidating) balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related consolidated (and consolidating, if applicable) statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all reported on without material qualification (including any “going concern” or like qualification) by an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing;

(b) (1) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender (as soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days (ninety (90) days in the case of the first two (2) fiscal quarters of the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2010) (or, in any case, such earlier date on which the Company is required to make any public filing of such information), after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated (and to the extent that any Subsidiaries of the Company are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries at the time of delivery, consolidating) balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated (and consolidating, if applicable) statements of income and cash flows, each for such fiscal quarter and the portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all certified (subject to normal quarterly and year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation and consistency by a Principal Financial Officer as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal quarterly and year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (2) deliver to the Administrative Agent for each Lender, promptly, any other information, documents and other reports which the Company or any Subsidiary is (when registered) required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

(c) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, promptly, and in any event no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated budget for the following Fiscal Year prepared by the Company for approval by its Board of Directors and the following two Fiscal Years (including (A) a projected consolidated cashflow statement and profit and loss account of financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of each such Fiscal Year, (B) in respect of each principal operating division of the Company and its Subsidiaries, an income statement beginning with EBITDA by business group and (C) a summary of the material underlying assumptions applicable thereto) (collectively, the “ Projections ”); and

 

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(d) During any Enhanced Reporting Period, deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, as soon as available, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the end of each month, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows, each for such month and the portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form (1) the figures for the corresponding month of the previous Fiscal Year and (2) the figures for the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations to deliver financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) will be satisfied with respect to financial information of the Company by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of the Company or (B) the Company’s Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC or prior to (or in lieu of any such requirement to file with the SEC, such equivalent information is made public by the Company in compliance with such corresponding obligations under the Senior Notes) plus consolidating financial information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), as applicable; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), all such materials to be reported on without material qualification (including any “going concern” or like qualification) by an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01 and 6.02(a) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Company (or any direct or indirect parent of the Company) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02 ; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Company’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another website identified in the notice provided pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph of this Section 6.01, 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, the Company shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Company shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a)(i) to the Administrative Agent; provided, however , that if such Compliance Certificate is first delivered by electronic means, the date of such delivery by electronic means shall constitute the date of delivery for purposes of compliance with Section 6.02(a)(i). Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and/or the Joint Bookrunners will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Company hereunder (collectively, “ Company Materials ”) by posting the Company Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “ 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 the Company or its securities) (each, a “ Public Lender ”). The Company hereby agrees that it will identify that portion of the Company Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Company 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; (x) by marking Company Materials “PUBLIC,” the Company shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Joint Bookrunners and the Lenders to treat such Company Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws ( provided , however , that to the extent such Company Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.08); (y) all Company Materials marked

 

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“PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and and/or the Joint Bookrunners shall be entitled to treat any Company Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

Section 6.02. Certificates; Other Information .

(a) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:

(i) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements required by Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Principal Financial Officer;

(ii) together with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate delivered in connection with the delivery of financial statements required under Section 6.01(a) pursuant to clause (i) above, (A) a description of each event, condition or circumstance during the last fiscal quarter covered by such Compliance Certificate requiring a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.05(b) and (B) a list of each Subsidiary of the Company that identifies each Subsidiary as a Restricted or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or confirming there has been no change since the date of the last such certificate; and

(iii) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may from time to time reasonably request. Any such information furnished to the Administrative Agent shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of Section 10.08 hereof and shall be identified as “PUBLIC,” as appropriate, in accordance with Section 6.01.

(b) Upon request by the Administrative Agent (which request shall be provided not later than the date on which the financial statements are due pursuant to paragraph (a) of Section 6.01), representatives of senior management of the Company reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Company shall give a presentation in each Fiscal Year (commencing with Fiscal Year 2011) to the Lenders within thirty (30) days after the Company has delivered its financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) about the business, financial performance and prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Section 6.03. Notices . Promptly after a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party has obtained knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default; and

(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company (x) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(a) or (b) (as applicable) and (y) setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. The Administrative Agent shall promptly communicate any notice received under this Section 6.03 to each Lender.

 

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Section 6.04. Payment of Obligations . Timely pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable in the normal conduct of its business, all its obligations and liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, to the extent the failure to pay or discharge the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.05. Preservation of Existence, etc . (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing, where such concept exists), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except in the case of each of clause (a) and (b) above, (i) to the extent that failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.07.

Section 6.06. Maintenance of Properties . Except if the failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted.

Section 6.07. Maintenance of Insurance . Maintain with reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its assets, properties and business against loss or damage to the extent available on commercially reasonable terms of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons of similar size engaged in the same or similar industry, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance (including captive industry insurance) reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons of similar size engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances (including flood insurance) by such other Persons to the extent available to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on commercially reasonable terms. Each such insurance policy shall name the Administrative Agent as additional insured (other than with respect to policies issued by Oil Insurance Limited) and “loss payee,” as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, if any portion of the Mortgaged Property is located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (or any amendment or successor act thereto) for which the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are eligible, then the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, with a financially sound and reputable insurer, flood insurance in an amount sufficient to comply with applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to such Act.

Section 6.08. Compliance with Laws . Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except to the extent the failure to comply therewith could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.09. Compliance with Environmental Laws; Environmental Reports .

(a) Comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons occupying Real Property to comply with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits applicable to its operations, facilities and Real Property, except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; obtain and renew all material Environmental Permits applicable to its operations, facilities and Real Property, except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and conduct all responses required by, and in accordance with, Environmental Laws, except where

 

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failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any response to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and, as appropriate, by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

(b) If a Default caused by reason of a breach of Section 5.08 or Section 6.09(a) shall have occurred and be continuing for more than twenty (20) days without the Company commencing activities reasonably likely to cure such Default in accordance with Environmental Laws, at the written request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders through the Administrative Agent, provide to the Lenders within forty-five (45) days after such request, at the expense of the Company or the Borrowers, an environmental assessment report regarding the matters which are subject of such Default, including, where appropriate, soil and/or groundwater sampling, prepared by environmental consulting firm and, in the form and substance, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and indicating the presence or absence of Hazardous Materials and the estimated cost of any compliance or response to address them.

Section 6.10. Books and Records . Maintain proper books of record and account, which reflect all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Loan Parties or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (it being understood and agreed that certain Foreign Subsidiaries maintain individual books and records in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in their respective countries of organization and that such maintenance shall not constitute a breach of the representations, warranties or covenants hereunder).

Section 6.11. Inspection Rights . Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders or, as provided in the second proviso below, any Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records as is reasonably specified, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants all at the reasonable expense of the Borrowers and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.11 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two (2) times during any calendar year at the Borrowers’ expense; provided further that when an Event of Default exists, 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 the Borrowers at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Company the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Company’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.11, at all times during such visits and inspections, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) must comply with all applicable site regulations as the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or employees may require by reasonable notice of the same.

Section 6.12. Additional Collateral; Additional Guarantors .

(a) Subject to this Section 6.12 and Section 6.14(b) and to the Agreed Security Principles, with respect to (x) any property located in the United States (excluding Equity Interests not subject to the delivery obligations of Section 6.12(b) pursuant to the terms thereof, to the extent such Equity Interests are deemed “located in the United States” for any reason) or (y) material property, in respect of IP Rights, in the case of (x) or (y), acquired after the Funding Date by any Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary that is intended to be subject to the Lien created by any of the Collateral Documents but is not so subject,

 

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promptly (and in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the acquisition thereof or such later time as the Administrative Agent acting reasonably and in good faith, agrees to) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments or supplements to the relevant Collateral Documents or such other documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably deem necessary or advisable in good faith to grant to the Administrative Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties or to the relevant Secured Parties directly, as applicable, a Lien on such property subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.06, and (ii) take all commercially reasonable actions necessary to cause such Lien to be duly perfected to the extent required by such Collateral Document in accordance with all applicable Law, including the filing of financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be reasonably requested in good faith by the Administrative Agent. Each Borrower shall otherwise take such commercially reasonable actions and execute and/or deliver to the Administrative Agent such documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably require to confirm the validity, perfection and priority (subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) of the Lien of the Collateral Documents on such after-acquired properties.

(b) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles with respect to any Person that is or becomes a direct, first-tier Subsidiary of the Company or a Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than a securitization entity of a Loan Party) after the Funding Date, promptly (and in any event within one hundred and twenty (120) days after such Person becomes such a Subsidiary or such later time as the Administrative Agent, acting reasonably and in good faith, agrees to) (i) subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, deliver to the Administrative Agent all certificates representing the Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) of such Subsidiary owned by such Loan Party that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement and together with undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized officer of the holder(s) of such Equity Interests, and all existing intercompany notes other than (x) held by any securitization entity or Basell Sales & Marketing B.V. or (y) which on an individual basis do not exceed €10,000,000 owing from such Subsidiary to any Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary and required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement, together with instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized officer of such Loan Party or, if necessary to perfect a Lien under applicable Law, by means of an applicable Collateral Document, create a Lien on such Equity Interests and intercompany notes in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties and (ii) cause any such new Subsidiary that is required to be a Guarantor under the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement (A) to execute a joinder agreement reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or such comparable documentation to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a joinder agreement to the applicable Collateral Documents (including the applicable Security Agreement or Guarantee Agreement), substantially in the form annexed thereto, and (B) to take all actions necessary or advisable in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent to cause the Lien created by the applicable Collateral Documents (including the Security Agreement) to be duly perfected to the extent required by such agreement in accordance with all applicable Law, including the filing of financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be reasonably requested in good faith by the Administrative Agent.

(c) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, in the case of a Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary, promptly grant to the Administrative Agent, within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the acquisition thereof or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may determine, acting reasonably and in good faith, a Mortgage on each parcel of Real Property located in the U.S. and owned in fee or otherwise with legal title in, or ground leased by, such Loan Party as is acquired by such Loan Party after the Funding Date and that, together with any improvements thereon, individually has a fair market value of at least $25,000,000 as additional security for the Obligations (unless the subject property is already mortgaged to a third party to the extent permitted hereunder).

 

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(i) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, in the case of a Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary promptly grant to the Administrative Agent, within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the acquisition thereof or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may determine acting reasonably and in good faith, a Mortgage in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent on each pipeline easement and other similar Real Property (except any such easement or other similar Real Property as would be excluded from the grant set forth in Section 2.1 of the applicable Mortgage in the penultimate paragraph therein) as is acquired by such Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary after the Funding Date as additional security for the Obligations (unless the subject property is already mortgaged to a third party to the extent permitted hereunder).

(ii) Such Mortgages shall be subject to the Agreed Security Principles and the Legal Reservations and satisfy the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement, and the Mortgages or instruments related thereto shall be duly recorded or filed in such manner and in such places as are required by Law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent and/or the Secured Parties required to be granted pursuant to the Mortgages and all taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith shall be paid in full. Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, such Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary shall otherwise take such commercially reasonable actions and execute and/or deliver to the Administrative Agent such documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably require to confirm the validity, perfection and priority of the Lien of any existing Mortgage or new Mortgage against such after-acquired Real Property (including a title policy), a survey and local counsel opinion (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) in respect of such Mortgage; provided that, no title policy, survey or legal counsel opinion shall be required with respect to any pipeline easement or similar Real Property.

(d) The foregoing shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets if and for so long as (i) in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom or (ii) the creation or perfection of such pledges or security interests would violate third party contracts existing as of the Effective Date or applicable Law. The Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Effective Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrowers, that perfection cannot be accomplished using commercially reasonable efforts by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.12 or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to this Section 6.12 shall be subject to the Agreed Security Principles, the Legal Reservations and exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents as in effect on the Effective Date and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.12 or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, any direct, first-tier Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any other Domestic Subsidiary of any Borrower that Guarantees any Junior Financing shall be a Guarantor hereunder for so long as it Guarantees such Indebtedness.

Section 6.13. ERISA . Promptly after any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following events that, individually or in the aggregate

 

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(including in the aggregate such events previously disclosed or exempt from disclosure hereunder, to the extent the liability therefor remains outstanding), would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, deliver to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders a certificate of a Principal Financial Officer setting forth details as to such occurrence and the action, if any, that the Loan Party or such ERISA Affiliate is required or proposes to take, together with any notices (required, proposed or otherwise) given to or filed with or by the Loan Party, such ERISA Affiliate, the PBGC, an ERISA Plan participant (other than notices relating to any individual participant’s benefits) or the ERISA Plan administrator with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has occurred; that an accumulated funding deficiency has been incurred or an application is to be made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding standard (including any required installment payments) or an extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code (or Section 430 of the Code as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006) with respect to an ERISA Plan; that an ERISA Plan having an Unfunded Current Liability has been or is to be terminated, reorganized, partitioned or declared insolvent under Title IV of ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof); that an ERISA Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability that has or will result in a lien under ERISA or the Code; that proceedings will be or have been instituted to terminate an ERISA Plan having an Unfunded Current Liability (including the giving of written notice thereof); that a proceeding has been instituted against a Loan Party or an ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 515 of ERISA to collect a delinquent contribution to an ERISA Plan; that the PBGC has notified a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of its intention to appoint a trustee to administer any ERISA Plan; that a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate has failed to make a required installment or other payment pursuant to Section 412 of the Code with respect to an ERISA Plan; or that a Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or will incur (or has been notified in writing that it will incur) any liability (including any contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of an ERISA Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code.

Section 6.14. Further Assurances .

(a) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, within the time periods set forth in Schedule 6.14(a) (subject to extension by the Administrative Agent in its discretion), perform each obligation and deliver each Collateral Document, in each case as set forth on Schedule 6.14(a) , with respect to the matters set forth therein, duly executed by each Loan Party party thereto, together with all documents and instruments required to perfect the security interest of the Administrative Agent in and otherwise comply with the Collateral and Guaranty Requirement with respect to the Collateral (if any) free of any other pledges, security interests or mortgages, except Liens permitted hereunder.

(b) Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in good faith from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents. If the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that they are required by applicable Law to have appraisals prepared in respect of the Real Property of any Loan Party constituting Collateral, the Borrowers shall provide to the Administrative Agent appraisals that satisfy the applicable requirements of the Real Estate Appraisal Reform Amendments of FIRREA and are otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(c) Each Borrower agrees promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after such change) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any change (i) in legal name of such Loan

 

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Party that is a grantor under the Security Agreement, (ii) in the identity or type of organization or corporate structure of any Guarantor domiciled in any jurisdiction of the United States, or (iii) in the jurisdiction of organization or organizational identification number of any Loan Party that is a grantor under the Security Agreement.

Section 6.15. Use of Proceeds . Use the proceeds of the Loans only for the purposes set forth in Section 5.17.

Section 6.16. Know Your Customer Requests .

(a) If:

(1) there is a Change in Law after the Effective Date;

(2) there is any change in the status of a Loan Party or in the composition of the shareholders of a Loan Party after the Effective Date or any Person becomes a Loan Party after the Effective Date; or

(3) there is a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,

and such event, condition or circumstance obliges the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (3) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, then each Loan Party shall promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender or on behalf of any Lender, to the Company supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested in good faith by the Administrative Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender, or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (3) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Administrative Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (3) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Loan Documents.

(b) Following any notification of requirement to add a Loan Party pursuant to Section 6.12, if the joinder of such additional Guarantor obliges the Administrative Agent or any Lender to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Company shall promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender or any prospective new Lender) supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested in good faith by the Administrative Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender or any prospective new Lender) in order for the Administrative Agent or such Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the joinder of such Subsidiary to this Agreement as an additional Guarantor.

Section 6.17. Borrowing Base Reports .

(a) Furnish to the Co-Collateral Agents (and the Co-Collateral Agents shall thereafter deliver to each Lender), as soon as available and in any event (i) within twenty-five (25) days after the last day of each of the first three calendar months after the Effective Date and (ii) within seventeen (17) days after the last day of each calendar month thereafter, a completed Borrowing Base Certificate calculating and certifying the Borrowing Base as of the end of such calendar month, signed on behalf of the Borrowers by a Principal Financial Officer;

 

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(b) During any Enhanced Reporting Period, furnish to the Co-Collateral Agents (and the Co-Collateral Agents shall thereafter deliver to each Lender) not later than Thursday of each calendar week (or if any Thursday is not a Business Day, the next following Business Day) a completed Borrowing Base Certificate calculating and certifying the estimated Borrowing Base as of the preceding Friday, signed on behalf of the Borrowers by a Principal Financial Officer; provided, that the Borrowers shall include an updated estimated computation of Available Inventory only in the immediate subsequent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered four (4) days or more after the fifteenth (15 th ) and last day of each calendar month (and each Borrowing Base Certificate shall clearly indicate the date as of which Available Inventory has been computed) and the Available Inventory for each week for which Available Inventory is not required to be calculated shall be the Available Inventory as calculated in the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered the prior week;

(c) Furnish to the Co-Collateral Agents (and the Co-Collateral Agents shall thereafter deliver to each Lender) promptly after any request therefor, such other information in such detail concerning the amount, composition and manner of calculation of the Borrowing Base as the Co-Collateral Agents may (on its own initiative or at the request of any Lender) reasonably request;

(d) Furnish to the Co-Collateral Agents (and the Co-Collateral Agents shall thereafter deliver to each Lender) as soon as practicable and in any event within five (5) Business Days after any disposition outside the ordinary course of business (including by way of casualty or condemnation) of ABL Facility Collateral having a book value exceeding $25,000,000, an updated Borrowing Base Certificate calculating (on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to such disposition and reflecting only the changes to the affected component of Eligible Inventory) and certifying such pro forma Borrowing Base as of the end of the most recent calendar month for which a Borrowing Base Certificate was delivered pursuant to clause (a) above; provided that to the extent required to be determined for the period from and after the Funding Date until the initial delivery of a Borrowing Base Certificate pursuant to Section 6.17(a) or Section 6.17(b), Excess Availability shall be determined on a pro forma basis based on the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.02(n). The Borrowing Base set forth in each Borrowing Base Certificate delivered with respect to each calendar month occurring after the calendar month covered by the updated Borrowing Base Certificate described in the preceding sentence and ending prior to any such disposition shall be calculated on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to such disposition;

(e) At the Borrowers’ option, no more frequently than quarterly, the Borrowers may obtain a new Appraisal Report, and the Borrowers shall submit to the Co-Collateral Agents such Appraisal Report, together with a Borrowing Base Certificate based on such Appraisal Report and otherwise complying with paragraph (a) above; and

(f) Furnish to the Administrative Agent promptly after the end of each calendar month, a report setting forth the computation of the average daily unrestricted cash of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (as determined by Lyondell from treasury records on a non-GAAP basis) for such calendar month.

Section 6.18. Information Regarding Collateral . Give the Administrative Agent written notice at least ten (10) days prior to (in the case of the following clause (ii) or (iii)) or within twenty (20) days after (in any other case) any change in any Borrower’s (i) name, (ii) form of organization, (iii) jurisdiction of organization, (iv) organizational number, (v) Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or (vi) address.

 

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Section 6.19. Collateral Audit . Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, a Co-Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders, permit the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and any of their respective designated representatives (including any consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers retained by the Administrative Agent or the Co-Collateral Agents) to conduct evaluations and appraisals of the assets included in the Borrowing Base and the Borrowers’ computation of the Borrowing Base, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested and, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon at least ten (10) Business Days’ (or, during the continuance of a Reporting/Audit Triggering Event of the type described in clause (b) or (c) of the definition of “Reporting/Audit Triggering Event”, five (5) Business Days’) prior notice; provided that other than during an Enhanced Reporting Period, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and their respective representatives shall conduct no more than two such collateral reviews and evaluations and no more than two such appraisals in any calendar year; provided, further , that during an Enhanced Reporting Period, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and their respective representatives shall conduct no more than four (4) such collateral reviews and evaluations and no more than four (4) such appraisals during such twelve (12)-month period. The Borrowers shall pay:

 

  (A) the documented fees and expenses of employees or other representatives of the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents (subject to the Collateral Audit Letters) plus such person’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in connection with periodic collateral reviews and evaluations (or in connection with an appraisal pursuant to (B) below); and

 

  (B) any inventory appraisal firm retained by the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents, in consultation with the Borrowers, to conduct any such appraisals.

The Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and any representative designated by the Administrative Agent or the Co-Collateral Agents to conduct such collateral reviews, evaluations and appraisals shall, during any review, inspection or other activity performed at any of the Borrowers’ plant sites, (X) be accompanied at all times by a plant safety representative (and the Borrowers hereby agree to cause such a plant safety representative to be available for such purpose at such reasonable hours as may be requested and upon reasonable prior notice) and (Y) comply at all times with the Borrowers’ rules regarding safety and security to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the Co-Collateral Agents or their respective representatives have been notified of such rules. The Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents shall furnish to each Lender a copy of the final written collateral review or appraisal report prepared in connection with such review or appraisal. The Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents shall furnish to the Borrowers a copy of the final appraisal report prepared in connection with any such appraisal, and shall provide the Borrowers with a summary of the ABL Facility Collateral analysis contained in any final written collateral review, in each case not less than two (2) Business Days prior to delivery thereof to the Lenders.

Each Lender (a) is deemed to have requested that the Co-Collateral Agents furnish such Lender, promptly after it becomes available, a copy of each collateral audit or examination report and report with respect to the Borrowing Base prepared or received by the Co-Collateral Agents (each collateral audit or examination report and report with respect to the Borrowing Base being referred to herein as a “ Report ” and collectively, “ Reports ”), appraisals with respect to the ABL Facility Collateral, (b) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Co-Collateral Agents (i) do not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any Report or appraisal or (ii) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report or appraisal, (c) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, that the Co-Collateral Agents or any other party or agent performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Borrowers and will rely significantly

 

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upon the Borrowers’ books and records, as well as on representations of the Borrowers’ personnel, and (d) agrees to keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its internal use in accordance with the terms of Section 10.8, and not to distribute or use any Report in any other manner.

Section 6.20. Restricted Accounts . At all times after the Funding Date cause to be maintained a system of deposit accounts complying with each of the requirements set forth below:

(a) Lockbox Accounts . All payments by or for the account of the Obligors under all Receivables of any Borrower will be deposited directly upon receipt by such Borrower to the credit of one or more of the applicable lockbox deposit accounts maintained with the Administrative Agent or another depositary bank approved in writing by the Administrative Agent (the “ Depositary Bank ”), and with the account numbers set forth opposite such Borrower’s name under the heading “ Lockbox Accounts ” in Schedule 6.20(a) (collectively, the “ Lockbox Accounts ”), each of which shall be under the “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the UCC) of the Administrative Agent. No deposits from any other source will be made to the Lockbox Accounts. The Depositary Bank will be instructed to transfer all credit balances in each Lockbox Account to the Cash Dominion Account not later than the close of business on each Business Day, and no other withdrawals shall be permitted except for withdrawals authorized in writing by the Administrative Agent for ordinary course recalls or credits relating to the Receivables or as set forth in any account control agreement entered into by the Administrative Agent with respect to such Lockbox Account. Such instructions will be irrevocable without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

(b) Cash Dominion Account . Each of the Borrowers will maintain a deposit account with Administrative Agent in the name of the Administrative Agent, and with such account number as set forth under the heading “Cash Dominion Account” opposite such Borrower’s name on Schedule 6.20(b) (collectively, the “ Cash Dominion Account ”), which shall be under the “control” (as defined in Section 9-104 of the UCC) of the Administrative Agent. No amounts shall be deposited in the Cash Dominion Account except as expressly contemplated by Section 6.20(a). Subject to Section 6.20(c), all amounts in the Cash Dominion Account shall be automatically transferred to such account or accounts as the Borrowers’ Agent may designate from time to time not later than the close of business on each Business Day.

(c) Application to Repayment . During each Cash Dominion Period, all amounts deposited to the Cash Dominion Account shall be applied pursuant to the instructions of the Administrative Agent for repayment of the Loans as required under Section 2.05(b)(iii) and, so long as no Default shall then be continuing, any balance remaining after such application shall be automatically transferred to such account or accounts as the Borrowers’ Agent may designate from time to time not later than the close of business on each Business Day.

ARTICLE VII.

Negative Covenants

From and after the Funding Date, so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent obligations not yet accrued and payable) hereunder that is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding and not Cash Collateralized, each of the Company and each Borrower shall not, nor shall the Company permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

Section 7.01. Indebtedness .

(1) Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and

 

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(2) other than any Borrower or any Guarantor, to issue any shares of Preferred Stock;

provided , however , that any Borrower and any Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and, subject to the third paragraph of this Section 7.01, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four (4) full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net cash proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four (4)-quarter period.

The foregoing limitations do not apply to:

(a) (i) Indebtedness under the Senior Notes issued on the Effective Date, and the guarantees thereof, and (ii) an aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding in the form of any other series of notes representing First Priority Lien Obligations (“other notes”) issued in one or more tranches under the Senior Notes Indenture, and the guarantees by the Guarantors thereof, if, (x) on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto (including a pro forma application of the proceeds thereof), the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.00 to 1.00 or (y) pursuant to a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing;

(b) Indebtedness under the Plan Roll-Up Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3,250,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(c) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Credit Facilities, as follows:

(i) Indebtedness under any Credit Facilities (other than Asset Backed Credit Facilities) in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,000 plus an aggregate additional principal amount of Indebtedness secured by a Lien outstanding at any one time such that on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the proceeds therefrom) the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would not exceed 2.00 to 1.00; provided that (x) regardless of whether such Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is satisfied, term loans may be Incurred under this subclause (c)(i) as part of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing and (y) the availability of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities shall be reduced for a period of time as a result of a Permitted Roll-Up Notes Refinancing as provided in the definition thereof; provided further that the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this subclause (i) shall be reduced by the amount of any (x) prepayments of term loans under Credit Facilities or (y) permanent reductions of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility (other than any such prepayments of this Agreement), in the case of each of (x) and (y) with the proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than any Asset Sale in respect of Specified ABL Facility Assets);

(ii) Indebtedness under Asset Backed Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (A) $1,750,000,000 and (B) the sum of 85% of the net book value of the accounts receivable of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and 65% of the net book value of the inventory of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (the “Covenant

 

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Borrowing Base”) less (x) in the case of the calculation of the Covenant Borrowing Base under this subclause (ii) (B), the amount of the Covenant Borrowing Base that is the subject of an on balance sheet Qualified Receivables Financing (it being understood that any of the Covenant Borrowing Base that is subject to arrangements for disposition or transfer in connection with an off-balance sheet Qualified Receivables Financing shall not be included in the Covenant Borrowing Base) and (y) in the case of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this subclause (ii)(B), the amount of any Indebtedness Incurred under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility; provided that any assets or property securing any Project Financing Incurred pursuant to clause (e)(ii) below shall be excluded when determining the Covenant Borrowing Base; provided further that Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this subclause (ii) shall be reduced by the amount of any permanent reductions of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility (other than any such prepayments of revolving credit facilities Incurred pursuant to clause (c)(i) above) with the proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than any Asset Sale in respect of Specified ABL Facility Assets); provided further that, in the event of an Asset Acquisition, Indebtedness may be Incurred against the Covenant Borrowing Base pursuant to the foregoing in anticipation of the completion of such Asset Acquisition on the assumption that the Covenant Borrowing Base of the subject of the Asset Acquisition has been acquired;

(iii) Indebtedness under any Oil Indexed Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $750,000,000; provided that amounts Incurred pursuant to an Oil Indexed Credit Facility will be required to reduce the amount of Indebtedness Incurred under the Covenant Borrowing Base to the extent Indebtedness in such amount as would no longer be permitted to be Incurred under subclause (ii) above (without duplication for the requirements of subclause (ii) above);

(d) Indebtedness existing on the Funding Date (other than the Senior Notes and Indebtedness described in clauses (b) and (c) above) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $400,000,000, after giving effect to the consummation of the Reorganization Plan, which shall have the obligors, collateral, maturity and amortization features summarized under “Description of Other Indebtedness and Financing Arrangements” in Schedule 1.01B , and guarantees of Indebtedness of Joint Ventures outstanding on the Funding Date, and operating leases of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Funding Date to the extent characterized as a Capitalized Lease Obligation after the Funding Date;

(e) (i) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, Disqualified Stock issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to finance (whether prior to or within two hundred and seventy (270) days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets); provided that Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (e)(i) is not Incurred to finance a Business Acquisition, (ii) Indebtedness Incurred in connection with any Project Financing or (iii) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to a Catalyst Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(f) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or similar requirements, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental or other permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

 

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(g) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with any acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(h) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries) any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Borrower or a Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Company under the Loans; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (h);

(i) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (i);

(j) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Borrower or a Guarantor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Borrower or a Guarantor (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities Incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of such Borrower or such Guarantor, as applicable, in respect of the Loans; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (j);

(k) Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred for speculative purposes but for the purpose of (1) fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Agreement to be outstanding; (2) fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; (3) fixing or hedging commodity price risk, including the price or cost of raw materials, emission rights, manufactured products or related commodities, with respect to any commodity purchases or sales; or (4) hedging the potential exposure in respect of certain executives’ and employees’ options over, or stock appreciation rights in relation to, shares of Royal Dutch Shell plc and BASF AG;

(l) (i) obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, tender, bid, judgment, appeal, performance or governmental contract bonds and completion guarantees, surety, standby letters of credit and warranty and contractual service obligations of a like nature, trade letters of credit and documentary letters of credit and similar bonds or guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or (ii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to any of the Credit Facilities, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

 

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(m) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or, subject to the third paragraph of this Section 7.01, Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (m), does not exceed the greater of $750,000,000 and 3.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of Incurrence (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (m) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (m) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 from and after the first date on which the Company, or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 without reliance upon this clause (m));

(n) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company, any Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor and Preferred Stock of any Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference not greater than 200% of the net cash proceeds received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since immediately after the Funding Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (which proceeds are contributed to the Company) or cash contributed to the capital of the Company (in each case other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to, or contributions received from, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) as determined in accordance with clauses (ii) and (iii) of the definition of “Applicable Amount” to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied pursuant to such clauses to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof);

(o) any guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Agreement; provided that (i) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Loans or the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Loans, as applicable, any such guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligations with respect to the Loans substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Loans or the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Loans, as applicable, and (ii) if such guarantee is of Indebtedness of the Company, such guarantee is Incurred in accordance with Section 6.12(b) solely to the extent such covenant is applicable;

(p) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 and clauses (a), (d), (e), (n) and (q) of this Section 7.01 or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums) and original issue discount, expenses, defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith; provided that any such Indebtedness until reclassified in accordance with this Agreement shall remain Incurred pursuant to clauses (a), (d), (e), (n) and (q), as applicable (subject to the following proviso, “ Refinancing Indebtedness ”), prior to its maturity; provided , however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average

 

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Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Loans then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Loans or the obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of the Loans, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Loans or such obligations of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, to at least same extent or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, of the same issuer; and

(3) shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of a Borrower or a Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

provided further that subclause (1) of this clause (p) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations;

(q) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Company or, subject to the third paragraph of this Section 7.01, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (A) Incurred to finance an Asset Acquisition or (B) Incurred by a Person in connection with or anticipation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of an Asset Acquisition or to finance an Asset Acquisition or (y) a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as a result of an Asset Acquisition or assumed in connection with an Asset Acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and, in any such case under this subclause (y), not Incurred in connection with or in anticipation of, such Asset Acquisition; provided that, in the case of clause (y), the holders of any such Indebtedness do not, at any time, have direct or indirect recourse to any property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property or assets that are the subject of such Asset Acquisition; provided that after giving effect to such Asset Acquisition, either:

(1) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of this covenant; or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than immediately prior to such Asset Acquisition;

(r) Indebtedness Incurred in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is without recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

(s) 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; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days of its Incurrence;

(t) Indebtedness under any Treasury Services Agreement or any Structured Financing Transaction;

 

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(u) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (u), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (u), does not exceed the greater of $350,000,000 and 3.50% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Foreign Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (u) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (u) but shall be deemed Incurred for the purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which such Foreign Subsidiary could have Incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance upon this clause (u));

(v) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (1) the financing of insurance premiums or (2) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(w) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company to the extent described in Section 7.02(4);

(x) Indebtedness Incurred on behalf of, or representing guarantees of Indebtedness of, Joint Ventures of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, the greater of $250,000,000 and 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company; and

(y) Indebtedness Incurred by Lyondell Basell Australia Pty Ltd. and its successors in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $80,000,000; provided that such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than Australia.

Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors may not Incur Indebtedness or issue Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock under the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 or clauses (m) or (q)(x) (or clause (o) to the extent constituting a guarantee of Indebtedness Incurred under the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 or clauses (m) or (q)(x)) of the second paragraph of this Section 7.01 if, after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or issuance (including a pro forma application of the net cash proceeds therefrom), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors Incurred or issued pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (m) and (q)(x) (or clause (o) to the extent constituting a guarantee of Indebtedness Incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or clauses (m) or (q)(x)) of the second paragraph of this Section 7.01, collectively, would exceed the greater of $400,000,000 and 4.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01:

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (y) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 7.01, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 7.01; provided that Indebtedness Incurred, or committed for, under the Credit Facilities and the Plan Roll-Up Notes on or before the Funding Date or pursuant to an Oil Indexed Credit Facility shall at all times be deemed to be Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(b) and (c); and

 

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(2) at the time of Incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the first and second paragraphs above without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to the second paragraph above when calculating the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph above.

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of liquidation preference 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 or issuance of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this covenant. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall 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 covenant.

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; or if any such Indebtedness is subject to a Currency Agreement with respect to the currency in which such Indebtedness is denominated covering principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness and such interest and premium, if any, shall be determined after giving effect to all payments in respect thereof under such Currency Agreement; 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 shall 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.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7.01, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur pursuant to this Section 7.01 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness, solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Section 7.02. Restricted Payments .

Make any Restricted Payment, unless at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

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(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the provisions of the first paragraph of Section 7.01; and

(c) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made after the Funding Date, including the Fair Market Value of non-cash amounts constituting Restricted Payments and Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (2), (6)(b), (8), (12)(b) and (16) of the following paragraph, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next paragraph below, shall not exceed the Applicable Amount at such time.

The foregoing provisions do not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

(2) (a) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“ Retired Capital Stock ”) of the Company or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of Equity Interests of the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company) (collectively, including any such contributions, “ Refunding Capital Stock ”), (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of Refunding Capital Stock, and (c) if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (6) of this paragraph and not made pursuant to clause (2)(b), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which are used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of the Company) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(3) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, any Borrower or any Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of any Borrower, the Company or any Guarantor that is Incurred in accordance with Section 7.01 so long as:

a. the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value ( plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired, any tender premiums, plus any defeasance costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith),

b. such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Loans or such Guarantor’s obligations in respect of the Loans, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value,

 

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c. such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and (y) ninety-one (91) days following the last maturity date of any Senior Notes then outstanding, and

d. such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Subordinated Indebtedness being redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date that is ninety-one (91) days following the last maturity date of any Senior Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(4) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided , however , that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (4) do not exceed $35,000,000 in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $70,000,000 in any calendar year; provided further , however , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

a. the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company that occurs after the Funding Date ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 7.02(3)) or be used as the basis for the Incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 7.01(n), plus

b. the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company, any direct or indirect parent entity (to the extent contributed to the Company) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Funding Date;

provided that the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (a) and (b) above in any calendar year; provided further that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former employees, directors, officers or consultants of the Company, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 7.02 or any other provision of this Agreement;

 

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(5) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or Incurred in accordance with Section 7.01 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Fixed Charges”;

(6) (a) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Funding Date; and (b) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (2) of this paragraph; provided , however , in the case of each of (a) and (b) above of this clause (6), that for the most recently ended four (4) full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Company would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(7) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $250,000,000 and 1.25% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), plus 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any Investment made pursuant to this clause (7);

(8) (i) Restricted Payments by the Company in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000 per annum, and (ii) following a Primary Offering only, the payment of dividends on the listed Equity Interests at a rate not to exceed 6% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by the Company or Lyondell in connection with such a Primary Offering or any subsequent Primary Offering;

(9) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(10) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $350,000,000 and 1.75% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company at the time made;

(11) the payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of Lyondell that files a consolidated tax return that includes Lyondell and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, by virtue of such parent being the common parent of a consolidated or combined tax group of which Lyondell and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries are members) in an amount not to exceed the amount that Lyondell and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of Federal, state or local taxes (as the case may be) if Lyondell and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid such taxes as a standalone taxpayer (or standalone group);

(12) the payment of Restricted Payments, if applicable:

a. in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of Lyondell to pay fees and expenses (including legal, audit, tax, including franchise tax, expenses) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to,

 

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and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, directors and employees of any direct or indirect parent of Lyondell and general corporate operating and overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of Lyondell in each case to the extent such fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of Lyondell, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries;

b. in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and that has been guaranteed by and treated as Indebtedness of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, Incurred in accordance with Section 7.01 (it being agreed that (i) all interest expense shall be included in the calculation of the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” of the Company and (ii) no contribution of such proceeds may be included in the calculation of Restricted Payments capacity or in the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred based on contributions to the Company); and

c. in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company to pay fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Company, related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent that has been undertaken to finance the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(13) repurchases of Equity Interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries 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;

(14) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;

(15) Restricted Payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(16) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.06 and 4.08 of the Senior Notes Indenture; provided that, all Senior Notes tendered by the holders of the Senior Notes in connection with a Change of Control Offer, Asset Sale Offer or Collateral Asset Sale Offer (each as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture), as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value in accordance with the requirements of the Senior Notes Indenture;

(17) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 7.07; provided that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, no Event of Default under Section 8.01(j) shall have occurred and be continuing;

(18) any Restricted Payment made in connection with the Emergence Transactions;

 

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(19) distributions by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any Joint Venture of chemicals to a holder of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture if such distributions are made pursuant to a provision in a Joint Venture agreement or other arrangement entered into in connection with the establishment of such Joint Venture or Restricted Subsidiary that requires such holder to pay a price for such chemicals equal to that which would be paid in a comparable transaction negotiated on an arm’s-length basis (or pursuant to a provision that imposes a substantially equivalent requirement); and

(20) any Restricted Payments under any Treasury Services Agreement or any Structured Financing Transaction;

provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (3), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (12)(b) above, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding clause (10) of the second paragraph of this Section 7.02, prior to March 31, 2012 the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay any cash dividend or make any cash distribution on, or in respect of, the Company’s Capital Stock or purchase for cash or otherwise acquire for cash any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company for the purpose of paying any cash dividend or making any cash distribution to, or acquiring Capital Stock of any direct or indirect parent of the Company for cash from, the Sponsors, or guarantee any Indebtedness of any Affiliate of the Company for the purpose of paying such dividend, making such distribution or so acquiring such Capital Stock to or from the Sponsors, in each case by means of the exception provided by clause (10) of the second paragraph of this Section 7.02, if at the time and after giving effect to such payment, the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than 2.00 to 1.00.

Section 7.03. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries .

Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock; or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements existing and contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Funding Date, including pursuant to the Senior Term Loan Facility, this Agreement, the Plan Roll-Up Notes, the European Securitization and the other Credit Facilities;

(2) the Senior Notes Indenture, the Senior Notes or the other notes permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 7.01(a) (including, without limitation, any Liens permitted by this Agreement or the indenture for such other notes);

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(4) any agreement or other instrument (including those governing Capital Stock) of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 7.01 and 7.06 that limit the right of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(8) customary provisions in Joint Venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, subleases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) any encumbrance or restriction in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided such restrictions only apply to the applicable receivables and related intangibles;

(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (a) of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary, (b) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary so long as such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Loans (as determined in good faith by the Company) or (c) of any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in connection with any Project Financing; provided that in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Funding Date by Section 7.01;

 

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(13) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 7.02 and any Permitted Investment;

(14) customary provisions in Hedging Obligations permitted under this Agreement and entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

(15) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (14) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, as determined in good faith by the Company, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, (1) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (2) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

Section 7.04. Asset Sales .

Cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Loans or such Restricted Subsidiary’s obligations in respect of the Loans) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

(b) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company into cash within one hundred eighty (180) days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

(c) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of 3.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company and $600,000,000 at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (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) shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this provision.

 

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Section 7.05. Transactions with Affiliates .

Make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25,000,000, unless:

(a) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $75,000,000, the Company delivers to the Administrative Agent a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (a) above.

The foregoing provisions do not apply to the following:

(1) transactions between or among the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) and any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of Lyondell and any direct parent of Lyondell;

(2) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.02 and Permitted Investments;

(3) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, managers, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company;

(4) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (a) of the preceding paragraph;

(5) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to officers, directors, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith;

(6) any agreement as in effect as of the Funding Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Funding Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by the Company;

(7) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any registration rights agreement to which it is a

 

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party as of the Funding Date, and, any amendment thereto or similar agreements or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Funding Date shall only be permitted by this clause (7) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Funding Date;

(8) the Emergence Transactions, including the payment of fees and expenses paid in connection therewith;

(9) (a) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (b) transactions with Joint Ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry norm;

(10) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(11) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Person;

(12) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as appropriate, in good faith;

(13) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement that complies with Section 7.02(12);

(14) any contribution to the capital of the Company;

(15) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person that is an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries solely because a director of such Person is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(16) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(17) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(18) any employment agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(19) transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company in an Officer’s Certificate) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth in this Agreement; and

(20) transactions entered into by a Person prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary ( provided such transaction is not entered into in contemplation of such event).

Section 7.06. Liens .

Create, Incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures any Indebtedness on any asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.

Section 7.07. Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets .

(a) Solely with respect to the Company, the Company may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) the Company is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, Canada or any province thereof or any state which was a member of the European Union on December 31, 2003 (other than Greece) (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Loans is a corporation;

(2) the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and the obligations pursuant to an assumption agreement or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in compliance with the Intercreditor Agreements;

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either (a) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of Section 7.01; or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

 

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(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer complies with this Agreement.

The Successor Company (if other than the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under the Loan Documents and the Loans, and in such event the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Loan Documents and the Loans. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this covenant, without complying with the foregoing clause (4), the Company may (A) merge with an Affiliate that has no material assets or liabilities and that is incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing Lyondell in any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Canada or any province thereof or any state which was a member state of the European Union on December 31, 2003 (other than Greece) and (B) may otherwise convert its legal form under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.

(b) Solely with respect to Lyondell, Lyondell may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not Lyondell is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(1) Lyondell is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than Lyondell) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (Lyondell or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Borrower”); provided that in the case where the surviving Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Loans is a corporation;

(2) the Successor Borrower (if other than Lyondell) expressly assumes all the obligations of Lyondell under the Loan Documents and the Loans pursuant to an assumption agreement or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in compliance with the Intercreditor Agreements;

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four (4)-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either (a) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of Section 7.01; or (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction; and

 

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(5) Lyondell shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Agreement.

The Successor Borrower (if other than Lyondell) will succeed to, and be substituted for, Lyondell under the Loan Documents and the Loans, and in such event Lyondell will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Loan Documents and the Loans. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this covenant, without complying with the foregoing clause (4), Lyondell may (A) merge with an Affiliate that has no material assets or liabilities and that is incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing Lyondell, as the case may be, in any state of the U.S. or the District of Columbia and (B) may otherwise convert its legal form under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization so long as there remains a corporate co-obligor. This Section 7.07 will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(c) Solely with respect to any Pledgor, subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement governing release of assets and property securing the Loans upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Pledgor, no Pledgor will, and the Company will not permit any Pledgor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Pledgor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(1) either (a) such Pledgor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Pledgor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Pledgor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Pledgor”) and the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Pledgor under the Loan Documents and the Collateral Documents pursuant to documents or instruments in form required by the Loan Documents and in compliance with the Intercreditor Agreements, or (b) such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 7.04; and

(2) the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Agreement.

Subject to certain limitations described in the Loan Documents, the Successor Pledgor (if other than such Pledgor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Pledgor under the Loan Documents and such Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Loans, and such Pledgor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Loan Documents and such Pledgor’s obligations in respect of the Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing such Pledgor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Pledgor is not increased thereby and (2) a Pledgor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Pledgor or the Company or may convert its legal form under the laws of reorganization of its jurisdiction.

 

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In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Pledgor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (collectively, a “ Transfer ”) to the Company or any Pledgor.

Section 7.08. Financial Covenant . If with respect to any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2010, the Covenant Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio calculated as of the end of such four-quarter period is less than 1.00:1.00 (each such period, an “ FCC Period ”), permit the occurrence or existence of a Financial Covenant Triggering Event on or after the date on which the financial statements for such period were received by the Administrative Agent but prior to the date on which the Administrative Agent receives the financial statements with respect to a subsequent four quarter period.

ARTICLE VIII.

Events of Default and Remedies

Section 8.01. Events of Default . The occurrence of any of the following on or after the Funding Date shall constitute an event of default (an “ Event of Default ”):

(a) Non-Payment . Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants . Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in (i) Sections 6.03(a), 6.05 (solely with respect to the Company and the Borrowers) or Article VII, (ii) Section 6.17(a) and such failure continues for two (2) Business Days and (iii) Section 6.17(b) and such failure continues for one (1) Business Day; or

(c) Other Defaults . Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Company or the Borrowers; or

(d) Representations and Warranties . Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, in any Borrowing Base Certificate or in any other document that is an exhibit to a Loan Document (or any certification by a Principal Financial Officer or any Borrower expressly contemplated by this Agreement) shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default . Any Loan Party or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary if each member of such group were in default of this clause (e) at any one time) (i) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder or owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) having an aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount or (ii) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness of not less than the Threshold Amount (any such Indebtedness, “ Threshold Indebtedness ”), or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such

 

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Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders of beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise) prior to its Stated Maturity; provided that this clause (e)(ii) shall 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 failure is unremedied and is not waived or subject to forbearance, by the holders of such Indebtedness prior to any termination of the Commitments or acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 8.01; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc . Any of the Company, any Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary if each member of such group were in default of this clause (f) at any one time) to the fullest extent permitted under applicable mandatory provisions of law institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or files for the opening of insolvency proceedings, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors generally; or a third person files for the opening of insolvency proceedings that result in the entry of an order for relief or remains undismissed, undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee (not being a custodian), custodian, conservator, liquidator (not being a bewindvoerder ), rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property under any applicable Debtor Relief Laws; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment . (i) Any of the Company, any Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary if each member of such group were in default of this clause (g) at any one time) becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts in excess of the Threshold Amount as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy in each case, for the purposes of any Subsidiary domiciled in the United Kingdom, ignoring the deeming provisions of Section 123(1)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986; or

(h) Judgments . There is entered against any Loan Party or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary if each member of such group were in default of this clause (h) at any one time) one or more final judgments or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied coverage) and such judgments or orders shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

(i) Invalidity of Guaranties . Any material portion of the Guaranties of the Obligations, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted

 

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under Section 7.04 or 7.05) or as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the satisfaction in full of all the Obligations (subject, in the case of the Company, to the Agreed Security Principles and the Legal Reservations), ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document or the validity or priority of a Lien as required by the Collateral Documents (subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) on a material portion of the Collateral; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the payment Obligations and termination of the Total Commitment), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Loan Document; or it becomes unlawful for any Loan Party to perform any of its payment Obligations under the Loan Documents; or

(j) Change of Control . There occurs or shall exist any Change of Control; or

(k) Collateral Documents . Subject in the case of the Company to the Agreed Security Principles and the Legal Reservations, any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Sections 4.01, 4.02, 6.12 or 6.14 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof or solely as a result of acts or omissions of the Administrative Agent or any Lender) ceases to create a valid and perfected Lien, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents (subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement) on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01, except (i) to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the failure of the Administrative Agent to (A) maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents or (B) file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements, (ii) as to Collateral consisting of Real Property to the extent that such losses are covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and such insurer has not denied or failed to acknowledge coverage, or (iii) any of the Equity Interests of any Borrower ceasing to be pledged pursuant to any Security Agreement free of Liens other than Liens created by such Security Agreement or any nonconsensual Liens arising solely by operation of Law; or

(l) ERISA . An ERISA Event or any similar event with respect to a Foreign Plan occurs which, together with all other ERISA Events (or similar events with respect to Foreign Plans) that have occurred, has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

then, and in any such event (other than an event with respect to a Loan Party described in paragraph (f)) above, and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, or at the written direction of the Required Lenders shall, by written or telecopied notice to the Borrowers, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate forthwith the Commitments, (ii) demand cash collateral as provided in Section 2.04(k), (iii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared due and payable, together with accrued interest and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall become forthwith due and payable both as to principal and interest, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding and (iv) exercise any and all remedies under the Loan Documents and under applicable Law available to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; provided , however , that, in the event of a default with respect to a Loan Party described in paragraph (f) above, the Commitments shall automatically terminate, the deposit of cash collateral as provided in Section 2.04(k) shall automatically be required and 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, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

Administrative Agent and Other Agents

Section 9.01. Agent . Each of the Lenders and Fronting Banks irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents selected and appointed by such Administrative Agent. Each of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through Affiliates or its or its Affiliates’ employees. The exculpatory provisions of the following paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent, to the Affiliates of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent and to the directors, officers and employees of the Administrative Agent, any such sub-agent and their respective Affiliates.

Each of the Lenders and Fronting Banks irrevocably authorizes each Co-Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to such Co-Collateral Agent by the terms thereof together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each Co-Collateral Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents selected and appointed by such Co-Collateral Agent. Each Co-Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through Affiliates or its or its Affiliates’ employees. The exculpatory provisions of the following paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent, to the Affiliates of such Co-Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent and to the directors, officers and employees of such Co-Collateral Agent, any such sub-agent and their respective Affiliates.

The Administrative Agent is hereby expressly authorized and directed by the Lenders to the extent provided in this Agreement, without hereby limiting any implied authority, (a) to receive on behalf of the Lenders all payments of principal of and interest on the Loans and all other amounts due to the Lenders under the Loan Documents, and promptly to distribute to each Lender its proper share of each payment so received; (b) to give notice on behalf of each of the Lenders to the Borrowers of any Event of Default specified in this Agreement of which the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge acquired in connection with its agency hereunder; and (c) to distribute to each Lender copies of all notices, financial statements and other materials delivered by the Borrowers pursuant to the Loan Documents as received by the Administrative Agent.

None of the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable as such for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under the Loan Documents or in connection therewith (a) at the request or with the approval of the Required Lenders (or, if otherwise specifically required hereunder, the consent of all the Lenders) or (b) in the absence of its or their own bad faith, gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. Each Lender acknowledges that it has decided to enter into this Agreement and to extend the Loans hereunder based on its own analysis of the creditworthiness of the Borrowers and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Co-Collateral Agents shall bear any responsibility for such creditworthiness.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Co-Collateral Agent shall be responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for the effectiveness, enforceability, genuineness, validity or due execution of the

 

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Loan Documents or any other agreements or certificates, requests, financial statements, notices or opinions of counsel or for any recitals, statements, warranties or representations contained in the Loan Documents or in any such instrument or be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants, conditions, agreements or obligations of the Loan Documents or any other agreements on the part of any Loan Party and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents shall, in the absence of knowledge to the contrary, be entitled to accept any certificate furnished pursuant to any Loan Document as conclusive evidence of the facts stated therein and shall be entitled to rely on any note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, teletype or telecopy message, statement, order or other document which it reasonably believes to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person or Persons. It is understood and agreed that the Administrative Agent and each Co-Collateral Agents may exercise its respective rights and powers under other agreements and instruments to which it is or may be a party and engage in other transactions with Lyondell or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate as though it were not the agent of the Lenders hereunder.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents may consult with legal counsel selected by it in connection with matters arising under the Loan Documents and any action taken or suffered in good faith by it in accordance with the opinion of such counsel shall be full justification and protection to it. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents may exercise any of its powers and rights and perform any duty under the Loan Documents through agents or attorneys.

The Lenders shall ratably, in accordance with their Credit Exposures at the time of demand for indemnification hereunder, indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Co-Collateral Agent, in its respective capacities as agent on behalf of the Lenders (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrowers pursuant to the terms hereof and without limiting the obligations of the Borrowers to do so) against any cost, expense (including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as results from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct) that such Agent may suffer or incur in connection with this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by it under the Loan Documents.

The Administrative Agent and either Co-Collateral Agent may at any time give 30 days’ prior written notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrowers. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with Borrowers, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States; provided that such successor shall comply with the requirements of Section 3.01(d) prior to becoming the successor under this Agreement; provided, further that, so long as there has been no Event of Default, the Required Lenders shall not appoint a foreign agent as successor if such appointment would result in a tax gross-up or indemnification payment under this Agreement unless (i) the Required Lenders determine, in their reasonable discretion, that such appointment is necessary to avoid material adverse economic, legal or regulatory consequences, (ii) the appointment is at the request of the Borrowers’ Agent or (iii) the appointment is required by law. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above provided that if the Agent shall notify Borrowers and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security as nominee until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed), (2) in the case of a retiring Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be

 

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made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this paragraph and (3) all communications and determinations provided to be made by the Co-Collateral Agents acting jointly shall be made by the remaining Co-Collateral Agent until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Co-Collateral Agent as provided for above in this paragraph (or if both Co-Collateral Agents shall resign, then clause (2) above shall apply). Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article IX and Section 10.05 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, partners, employees, agents, advisors and attorneys-in-fact of such Agent and Affiliates in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as Agent.

The Lenders hereby acknowledge that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Co-Collateral Agent shall be under any duty to take any discretionary action permitted to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement unless it shall be requested in writing to do so by the Required Lenders or, where required, all the Lenders.

Actions to be taken by the Co-Collateral Agents jointly under this Agreement shall be taken in accordance with the Co-Collateral Agents’ Side Letter.

No Agent other than the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents shall have any responsibility, obligation or liability whatsoever under the Loan Documents in such capacity (other than as set forth in Section 10.14).

Section 9.02. Collateral and Guaranty Matters .

(a) The Lenders irrevocably agree:

(i) Subject to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, solely with respect to ABL Facility Collateral, Section 9.02(b), Liens on Collateral securing the Obligations will be automatically and unconditionally released:

(A) as to any property or asset (including Capital Stock of a Subsidiary of the Company), to enable the Company, the Borrowers and the Pledgors to consummate the disposition of such property or asset to the extent not prohibited by clause (E) below or under Section 7.02 or Section 7.04;

(B) to release Excess Proceeds and Collateral Excess Proceeds (each as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture) to the Borrowers that remain unexpended after the conclusion of an Asset Sale Offer or a Collateral Asset Sale Offer (each as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture) conducted in accordance with the Senior Notes Indenture and not required to be made a part of the Collateral;

(C) in respect of the property and assets of a Pledgor, upon the designation of such Pledgor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.02 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

 

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(D) in respect of the property and assets of a Guarantor upon release of the Guaranty of such Guarantor;

(E) in the case of the property and assets of a specific Pledgor, upon such Pledgor making a Transfer of such assets to any Restricted Subsidiary of a Borrower that is not a Pledgor; provided that (1) such Transfer is not subject to Section 7.07 and (2) the aggregate net book value of the assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are at any time Collateral (excluding cash proceeds of accounts receivable, inventory and related assets) that are so transferred pursuant to this clause (E) subsequent to the Funding Date shall not exceed 5% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of Lyondell and its Restricted Subsidiaries per year and shall not be in an amount that will result in an Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to qualify as an Excluded Subsidiary in accordance with the definition thereof; provided further , that Liens on all property and assets of any Subsidiary of Lyondell Europe Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be automatically and unconditionally released upon any transfer of such Subsidiary;

(F) as permitted under Section 10.01;

(G) as to the pledge of Capital Stock of first-tier Foreign Subsidiaries, in connection with a reorganization, change or modification of the direct or indirect ownership of Foreign Subsidiaries by the Company, the Borrowers or a Pledgor, as applicable, in compliance with this Agreement, a release may be obtained as to such Capital Stock in connection with the substitution of pledge of 65% of the voting Capital Stock and 100% of the non-voting Capital Stock of any one or more new or replacement first-tier Foreign Subsidiaries pursuant to valid Collateral Documents; or

(H) upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions.

(ii) to release or 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 under clauses (16) and (23) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”;

(iii) that any Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty (A) upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions or (B) if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder; provided that no such release shall occur if such Guarantor continues to be a guarantor in respect of any Junior Financing; and

(iv) to release any Lien on any pipeline easement and other similar Real Property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document in connection with an Asset Sale of pipeline easements pursuant to clause (f) of the definition of “Asset Sale” subject to and in accordance with the following:

(A) the Administrative Agent have been furnished evidence satisfactory to them that the swap of assets contemplated in clause (f) of the definition of “Asset Sale” relating to the release being requested satisfies the requirements of clause (f) of the definition of “Asset Sale” and

(B) in connection with such disposition and as a condition to the granting of such release, (I) the Loan Party acquiring the new pipeline easements and other similar Real Property has obtained titled to such Real Property, (II) the Administrative Agent has received a Mortgage duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party with respect to such Real Property, such

 

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Mortgage being free of any Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 7.06, and (III) such Loan Party has delivered to the Administrative Agent such existing surveys, existing abstracts, certificates, title documents, existing appraisals, legal opinions and other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in good faith with respect to any such Real Property.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.02. In each case as specified in this Section 9.02, the Administrative Agent will (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to), at the Borrowers’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as the Borrowers may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.02.

For purposes of this Section 9.02(a):

Contingent Secured Obligation ” means, at any time, any Obligation that is contingent in nature at such time, including any Obligation that is: (i) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it, (ii) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time or (iii) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations.

Non Contingent Secured Obligation ” means at any time any Obligation (or portion thereof) that is not a Contingent Secured Obligation at such time.

Release Conditions ” means the following conditions for releasing all the Guaranties and terminating all the Liens on the Collateral:

(i) all Commitments under this Agreement shall have expired or been terminated;

(ii) all Non-Contingent Secured Obligations shall have been paid in full; and

(iii) no Contingent Secured Obligation (other than contingent indemnification and expense reimbursement obligations as to which no claim shall have been asserted) shall remain outstanding;

provided that Contingent Secured Obligations shall not include obligations with respect to L/C Exposure under this Agreement so long as (x) no Event of Default under this Agreement has occurred and is continuing and (y) the Borrowers and the Guarantors shall have deposited with the Administrative Agent cash in an amount at least equal to 105% of the L/C Exposure, which cash may be invested in Cash Equivalents, or caused a bank acceptable to the applicable Fronting Bank to issue a letter of credit in an amount at least equal to 105% of the L/C Exposure naming the Administrative Agent as beneficiary.

(b) None of Sections 9.02(a)(i)(B), (C), (D), (E) and (G), 9.02(a)(ii) and (iv) shall be applicable to the ABL Facility Collateral.

(c) The Administrative Agent may accept, without enquiry, the title (if any) a Loan Party may have to any asset over which security is intended to be created by any Collateral Document.

 

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(d) Parallel Debt

(i) In this subsection (d):

(A) “ Administrative Agent Claim ” means any amount which a Loan Party owes to the Administrative Agent under this clause; and

(B) “ Secured Party Claim ” means any amount which a Loan Party owes to a Secured Party under or in connection with the Loan Documents.

(ii) Unless expressly provided to the contrary in any Loan Document, the Administrative Agent holds:

(A) the benefit of any Administrative Agent Claims; and

(B) any proceeds of security,

for the benefit, and as the property, of the Secured Parties and so that they are not available to the personal creditors of the Administrative Agent.

(iii) The Administrative Agent will separately identify in its records the property rights referred to in paragraph (ii) above.

(iv) Paragraphs (ii) to (iii) above do not apply to any security created by a Collateral Document governed by Dutch law.

(v) Each Loan Party must pay the Administrative Agent, as an independent and separate creditor, an amount equal to each Secured Party Claim on its due date.

(vi) The Administrative Agent may enforce performance of any Administrative Agent Claim in its own name as an independent and separate right. This includes any suit, execution, enforcement of security, recovery of guarantees and applications for and voting in respect of any kind of insolvency proceeding.

(vii) Each Secured Party must, at the request of the Administrative Agent, perform any act required in connection with the enforcement of any Administrative Agent Claim. This includes joining in any proceedings as co-claimant with the Administrative Agent.

(viii) Unless the Administrative Agent fails to enforce an Administrative Agent Claim within a reasonable time after its due date, a Secured Party may not take any action to enforce the corresponding Secured Party Claim unless it is requested to do so by the Administrative Agent.

(ix) Discharge by a Loan Party of a Secured Party Claim will discharge the corresponding Administrative Agent Claim in the same amount.

(x) Discharge by a Loan Party of an Administrative Agent Claim will discharge the corresponding Secured Party Claim in the same amount.

(xi) The aggregate amount of the Administrative Agent Claims will never exceed the aggregate amount of Secured Party Claims.

(xii) A defect affecting an Administrative Agent Claim against a Loan Party will not affect any Secured Party Claim.

 

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(xiii) A defect affecting a Secured Party Claim against a Loan Party will not affect any Administrative Agent Claim.

(xiv) Each Administrative Agent Claim is created on the understanding that and provided that the Administrative Agent will:

(A) share the benefit, including in particular the proceeds of the Administrative Agent Claim, with the other Secured Parties; and

(B) pay those proceeds to the Secured Parties, in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreements.

(xv) Each party agrees that the Administrative Agent:

(A) will be the joint and several creditor (together with the relevant Secured Party) of each and every obligation of each Loan Party towards each Secured Party under this Agreement; and

(B) will have its own independent right to demand performance by each Loan Party of those obligations.

(xvi) Discharge by a Loan Party of any obligation owed to the Administrative Agent or another Secured Party shall, to the same extent, discharge the corresponding obligation owing to the other.

(xvii) Without limiting or affecting the Administrative Agent’s rights against each Loan Party (whether under this paragraph or under any other provision of the Loan Documents), the Administrative Agent agrees with each other Secured Party (on a several and divided basis) that, subject to the paragraph below, it will not exercise its rights as joint and several creditor with a Secured Party except in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreements.

Nothing in this subsection (d) shall in any way limit the Administrative Agent’s right to act in the protection or preservation of rights under or to enforce any Collateral Document as contemplated by this Agreement and/or the relevant Collateral Document (or to do any act reasonably incidental to any of the above).

ARTICLE X.

Miscellaneous

Section 10.01. Amendments, etc . Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, except as set forth in Section 4.01, any Exhibit or Schedule thereto), and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and such Loan Party and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that a waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any condition precedent or of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

 

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(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce or forgive the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under this Agreement or any payment of an L/C Disbursement or any fee or other amounts payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Loans (except pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii)) shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest);

(c) reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein (except in connection with the waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates (which waiver shall be effective with the consent of the Required Lenders)) on, any Loan or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document (or change the timing of payments of such fees or other amounts) without the written consent of each Lender holding such Loan or to whom such fee or other amount is owed;

(d) change any provision of this Section 10.01, Section 2.13, Section 2.14, the definition of “Required Lenders,” or “Pro Rata Share” or Section 10 of the Security Agreement without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(e) release or (except as expressly contemplated hereby) subordinate the Lien of the Collateral Documents as to all or subatantially all of the ABL Facility Collateral or the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions (for the avoidance of doubt no transaction permitted by Section 7.05 shall be deemed a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral) without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) release all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranties (for the avoidance of doubt no release of Guaranties permitted by the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed a release of all or substantially all of the aggregate value of the Guaranties) without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) contractually subordinate any obligation in right of payment to any other obligation of any Loan Party, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby;

(h) amend or modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of any Agent, any Fronting Bank (including, without limitation, any provisions relating to the consent of any Fronting Bank, any provisions relating to Defaulting Lenders and any provisions relating to Cash Collateralization requirements and any component definitions contained in any of the foregoing) or the Swingline Lender without its prior written consent; and

(i) amend or modify the definitions of “Available Inventory”, “Available Receivables”, “Borrowing Base”, “Collateral Availability”, “Eligible Inventory”, “Eligible Receivables”, “Excess Availability”, “Financial Covenant Triggering Event”, “Ineligible Inventory” or “Ineligible Receivables”, in each case without the prior written consent of Lenders having aggregate Credit Exposures representing at least 66  2 / 3 % of the sum of all Credit Exposures at such time; provided that any increase in any percentage set forth in the definition of “Available Inventory” or in the definition of “Available Receivables”, or any amendment of the definition of “Available Inventory” or the definition of “Available Receivables” that would have the effect of so increasing any such percentage, shall require the prior written consent of each Lender.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except as may be required by clause (a), (b) or (c) above; provided that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent or each Co-Collateral Agent, as applicable, in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent, as applicable, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (ii) Section 10.07(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification.

Any provision of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement may be amended or waived on behalf of the Lenders by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such amendment shall change the order of priority of payments with respect to ABL Facility Collateral set forth in Section 3.1 of the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby.

Section 10.02. Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies .

(a) General . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission or other form of electronic communication). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to any Borrower or the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrowers’ Agent and the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent.

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii)(A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(c)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.

(b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures . Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile or other form of electronic communication. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan Parties, the Agents and the Lenders.

 

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(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders . The Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrowers even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrowers shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrowers in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

Section 10.03. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies . No failure by any Lender, any Fronting Bank or the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by applicable Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Agent, any Lender or any Fronting Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time of such funding or issuance.

Section 10.04. Attorney Costs and Expenses . Each Borrower agrees (a) if the Effective Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and the Joint Lead Arrangers for all reasonable invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses (other than Indemnified Taxes or Excluded Taxes, which are governed by Section 3.01) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs, and (b) if the Funding Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents, the Joint Lead Arrangers and each Lender for all invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, and including all respective Attorney Costs of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents); provided that, such costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of the Commitment Fee obligations shall be reimbursed by the Borrowers without the requirement that the Funding Date occur. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other (reasonable, in the case of clause (a)) out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Total Commitment and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid promptly after receipt by the Borrowers of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses, or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

Section 10.05. Indemnification by the Borrowers . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrowers shall indemnify and hold harmless each Joint Lead Arranger, Joint Bookrunner, Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, and directors,

 

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officers, partners, employees, counsel, agents, trustees, investment advisors and attorneys-in-fact of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including attorney costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use thereof or of the proceeds therefrom, or (c) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any property or facility currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary, (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto or (e) solely with respect to any Fronting Bank, any refusal by such Fronting Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit issued by such Fronting Bank if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit (all the foregoing, collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”), in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any affiliate, director, officer, partner, employee, agent or attorney-in-fact of such Indemnitee, as determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee or the Borrowers or any Subsidiary have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Effective Date). In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, any Loan Party’s directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents are consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor; provided , however , that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund such amount to the extent that there is a final judicial or arbitral determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Total Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. This Section 10.05 shall not apply with respect to any Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or any Other Taxes indemnifiable under Section 3.01) other than Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim, excluding Taxes for which the Indemnitee has been indemnified under Section 3.01.

Section 10.06. Payments Set Aside . To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to any Agent, any Lender or any Fronting Bank, or any Agent, any Lender or any Fronting Bank exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent, such Lender or such Fronting Bank in

 

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its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall, to the fullest extent possible under provisions of applicable Law, be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred and (b) each Lender and each Fronting Bank severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.

Section 10.07. Successors and Assigns .

(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any Affiliate of a Fronting Bank that issues any Letter of Credit). No Borrower may assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Lenders.

(b) Each Lender may assign all or a portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment (if still in existence) and the Loans at the time owing to it) to any assignee (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries); provided , however , that (i) except in the case of an assignment by a Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender, to another Lender or to a Related Fund of a Lender, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of an assignment of all or a portion of a Commitment or any Lender’s obligations in respect of its LC Exposure or Swingline Exposure, regardless of the identity of the assignee, each Fronting Bank and the Swingline Lender) must consent to such assignment in writing (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (ii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement as a Lender, (iii) after giving effect to any such assignment, (A) the aggregate amount of the Credit Exposure of the assigning Lender (together with its Related Funds and its Affiliates) shall be either (x) $0 or (y) $10,000,000 or more and (B) the aggregate amount of the Credit Exposure of the assignee Lender (together with its Related Funds and its Affiliates) shall be in the case of a Lender, $10,000,000 or more (or, in any case, any other smaller amount agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers); and (iv) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent for its acceptance and recording in the Register an Assignment and Acceptance, together with (except in the case of assignment to another Lender or an Affiliate or a Related Fund of a Lender) a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 ( provided that only one such fee shall be required in the case of multiple assignments by a Lender on a single day to funds managed or advised by the same investment advisor if such funds are not Lenders hereunder); provided , further , that any consent of the Borrowers otherwise required under this paragraph shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. The Credit Exposures held by or assigned to or by any Person and its Related Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of determining compliance with the amount thresholds specified in this Section. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, which effective date shall be (unless waived by the Administrative Agent) at least five (5) Business Days after the execution thereof, (A) the assignee thereunder (an “ Assignee ”) 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 (B) the assignor 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 or the remaining portion of the assignor’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, the assignor shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 as well as to any interest and Unused Commitment Fee accrued for its account hereunder and not yet paid).

 

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(c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assignor and the Assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the Borrowers as follows: (i) such assignor warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned free and clear of any adverse claim; (ii) except as set forth in clause (i) above, the assignor makes no other representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto, or the financial condition of the Borrowers or the performance or observance by the Borrowers of any of their Obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (iii) such Assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements described in Section 6.01 or the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, as applicable, 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; (v) such Assignee will independently and without reliance upon the assignor 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; (vi) such Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents, as are delegated to such Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such Assignee agrees that it will, to the extent of the interest assigned to it, perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by the Lenders.

(d) The Borrowers agree that each Lender may without notice to or the consent of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, any Fronting Bank or the Swingline Lender sell participations to (each, a “ Participant ”) one or more banks or other entities (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the same portion of the Revolving Loans owing to it) and the Borrowers agree that any purchaser of a participation in such Loans so acquired may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, setoff, counterclaim or otherwise with respect to any and all moneys owing by the Borrowers to such purchaser as fully as if such purchaser were a Lender acquiring such Loans hereunder in the amount of such participation so long as the Borrower is notified of the Participant’s participation hereunder and such Participant complies with Section 10.08 as if it were a Lender prior to such exercise; provided , however , that (i) such selling Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the Borrowers for the performance of its obligations hereunder, (iii) the participating lenders or other entities shall be entitled to the benefit (subject to the requirements and limitations, including requirements to provide any applicable forms under Section 3.01) of the cost protection provisions contained in Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05, to the same extent as if they were such Lender (but the amount claimed by any participating lender or other entity shall not exceed the amount that could have been claimed by the Lender from which it acquired its participation) and (iv) the Borrowers, the Agents, the Fronting Banks 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, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Borrowers relating to the Loans and to approve, without the consent of or consultation with any participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement (other than amendments, modifications or waivers with respect to Fees payable hereunder or an increase in the amount of principal of or a decrease in the rate at which interest is payable on the Loans, or an extension of the dates fixed for payments of principal of or interest on the Loans or payments of Fees). 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

 

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related interest amounts) of each Participant’s participation (the “ Participant Register ”). 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. Such Lender shall permit the Loan Parties to review such information as reasonably needed for the Borrowers to comply with their obligations under this Agreement or under any applicable U.S. Federal tax law.

(e) Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 10.07, disclose to the Assignee or Participant or proposed assignee or participant any information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries furnished to the Lenders (including pursuant to Section 6.10) by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, each such Assignee or Participant or proposed assignee or participant shall execute an agreement whereby such Assignee or Participant shall agree (subject to customary exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to Lyondell and its any Subsidiary received from the Agents or Lenders.

(f) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent (and acting only to the extent required by Section 163(f) of the Code) of the Borrowers shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York 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 Commitment (if any) of, and the principal amount (and related interest amounts) of the Loans and L/C Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof (the “ Register ”), and no such Assignment and Acceptance shall be effective until so recorded. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error and the Borrowers, the Agents, the Fronting Banks 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 the Borrowers at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. Upon its receipt of an executed Assignment and Acceptance, together with any Note subject to such assignment, and the payment of any processing and registration fee, the Administrative Agent shall (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the parties thereto. This Section 10.07(f) shall be construed so that the obligations under this Agreement and the Loan Documents are at all times maintain in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any related regulations (or any other relevant or successor provisions of the Code or such related regulations).

(g) Any Lender may at any time pledge all or any portion of its rights under the Loan Documents to secure obligations of such Lender, without the consent of any party, without notice to any party and without payment of fees, in accordance with applicable law, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge shall release any Lender from its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “ Granting Bank ”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “ SPC ”) of such Granting Bank, identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Bank to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, the option to provide to the Borrowers all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Bank would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.02; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment to make any Loan by any SPC and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Bank shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall be deemed to utilize the Commitments of all the Lenders to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made

 

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by the Granting Bank. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any payment under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable, for so long as, and to the extent, the related Granting Bank makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees that, prior to the date that is one (1) year and one (1) day after the payment in full of all outstanding senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or similar proceedings under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.07, any SPC may assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to its Granting Bank or to any financial institutions providing liquidity and/or credit facilities to or for the account of such SPC to fund the Loans made by such SPC or to support the securities (if any) issued by such SPC to fund such Loans; provided , however , that except in the case of an assignment to a Granting Bank or a financial institution that is either an affiliate of such SPC or another Lender, the Administrative Agent and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers must consent to such assignment in writing (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld). Each SPC shall execute an agreement whereby such SPC shall agree (subject to customary exceptions) to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Borrowers and their Affiliates received from the Agents or Lenders. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including requirements to provide any applicable forms under Section 3.01), but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder and (iv) the Granting Lender shall keep a register substantially in the form of Participant Register described above of each SPC which has funded all or any part of any Loan that such Lender would have otherwise been obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 10.08. Confidentiality . Each of the Agents, the Fronting Banks, the Lenders and the SPCs agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential) solely for purposes of this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby; (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority; (c) to the extent required by applicable Law or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Company), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(g), counterparty to a Hedging Obligation, Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement; (f) with the written consent of the Company; (g) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; (h) to any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any Lender; (i) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries received by it from such Lender); or (j) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder, under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement or rights hereunder or thereunder. In addition, the Agents and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and publicly available information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar

 

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service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “ Information ” means all information received from the Loan Parties relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or its business, other than any such information that is publicly available to any Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; provided that, in the case of information received from a Loan Party after the Effective Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential or is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03.

Section 10.09. Setoff . In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and its Affiliates (the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents, in respect of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses payable hereunder) is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Company and the Borrowers, any such notice being waived by the Company and the Borrowers (on their own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates, the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or the Co-Collateral Agents hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and each Lender under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, the Co-Collateral Agents and such Lender may have.

Section 10.10. Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If any Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

Section 10.11. Counterparts . This Agreement and each other Loan Document (where applicable under the relevant laws) may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by electronic mail or telecopier of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier.

 

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Section 10.12. Integration . This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter except for any such prior agreements which by the express terms thereof survive the execution of this Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control unless, in the case of such other Loan Documents governed by any Law other than a state of the United States, such control would result, such other Loan Document being invalid or unenforceable, in which case, the relevant provision of the Loan Document will prevail; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

Section 10.13. Survival of Representations and Warranties . Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent, each Fronting Bank and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent, any Fronting Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as of the time made as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

Section 10.14. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and such other Loan Document shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.15. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (OTHER THAN ANY LOAN DOCUMENT EXPRESSLY GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT, EACH FRONTING BANK AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. EACH LOAN PARTY, EACH AGENT, EACH FRONTING BANK AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES (OTHER THAN TELECOPIER) IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

167


Section 10.16. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY . 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 THE 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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 10.17. Binding Effect . This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender, that each such Lender, has executed it, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Loan Parties, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in accordance with Section 10.07 (if applicable), and except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.

Section 10.18. 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 from Dollars into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase Dollars with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of each Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent, either Co-Collateral Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than Dollars be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase Dollars with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of Dollars so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent from a Borrower in Dollars, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of Dollars so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent or either Co-Collateral Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable Law).

Section 10.19. Lender Action . Each Lender agrees that it shall not take or institute any actions or proceedings, judicial or otherwise, for any right or remedy against any Loan Party or any other obligor under any of the Loan Documents (including the exercise of any right of setoff, rights on account of any banker’s lien or similar claim or other rights of self-help), or institute any actions or proceedings, or otherwise commence any remedial procedures, with respect to any Collateral or any other property of any such Loan Party, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The provisions of this Section 10.19 are for the sole benefit of the Lenders and shall not afford any right to, or constitute a defense available to, any Loan Party.

Section 10.20. USA PATRIOT Act . 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 each Loan Party that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Loan Party, which information includes the name, address and tax

 

168


identification number of such Loan Party and other information regarding such Loan Party that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and is effective as to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

Section 10.21. 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 Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that: (i)(A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agents and the Joint Lead Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Company and the Borrowers and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each Loan Party has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate and (C) each Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii)(A) each Agent, each Joint Lead Arranger, and each Joint Bookrunner 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 the Company and the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Joint Lead Arranger nor any Joint Bookrunner has any obligation to the Company and the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of each Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, and no Agent or Joint Lead Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties or their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Agents and the Joint Lead Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

Section 10.22. Certain Dutch Matters . Any obligation, guaranty or undertaking granted or assumed by a Person incorporated or organized under the laws of The Netherlands pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be deemed not to be undertaken or incurred by such Person to the extent that the same would constitute unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of Section 2:207c or 2:98c of the Dutch Civil Code or any other applicable financial assistance rules under any relevant jurisdiction (the “ Prohibition ”) and the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt it is expressly acknowledged that the relevant Persons incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands will continue to guaranty and secure all such obligations which, if included, do not constitute a violation of the Prohibition.

Section 10.23. Agent for Service of Process . The Company agrees that promptly following request by the Administrative Agent it will appoint and maintain an agent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to receive service of process in New York City.

ARTICLE XI.

The Obligors

Section 11.01. Appointment and Authorization of Borrowers’ Agent . Each of the Borrowers irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Borrowers’ Agent, as agent on its behalf, to exercise in its discretion all of the rights and powers of the Borrowers or any of them under the Loan Documents. Each of the Borrowers irrevocably agrees that the Agents and the Lenders may conclusively rely on the authority of the Borrowers’ Agent in the exercise of such rights and powers.

 

169


Section 11.02. Joint and Several Obligations . The obligations of the Borrowers under the Loan Documents shall be joint and several. The Agents and the Lenders may enforce against any one or more Borrowers the obligations of the Borrowers to make the payments due under the Loan Documents, and each Borrower shall be responsible to the Agents and the Lenders for the full amount of such payments due. The obligations of each of the Borrowers under the Loan Documents shall be unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:

(i) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in respect of any obligation of any other Borrower under any Loan Documents, by operation of law or otherwise;

(ii) any release, impairment, non-perfection or invalidity of any direct or indirect security for any obligation of any other Borrower under any Loan Documents;

(iii) any change in the existence, structure or ownership of any other Borrower;

(iv) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any other Borrower or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any other Borrower under any Loan Documents;

(v) any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any other Borrower for any reason of any Loan Documents, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit the payment by any other Borrower of the principal of or interest on any Note or any other amount payable by any other Borrower under any Loan Documents; or

(vi) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by any other Borrower or any other corporation or Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder.

Section 11.03. Contribution; Subordination . Each Borrower (a “ Contributing Borrower ”) agrees that when a payment shall be made by any other Borrower under the Loan Documents upon enforcement thereof (such other Borrower, the “ Claiming Borrower ”), the Contributing Borrower shall indemnify the Claiming Borrower in an amount equal to the amount of such payment multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the Contributing Borrower on the Funding Date (or, with respect to any Borrower becoming a party hereto after the Effective Date, the date such Contributing Borrower became a Borrower) and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all Borrowers on the Funding Date (or, in the case of any Borrower becoming a party hereto after the Funding Date, the date such Borrower became a Borrower). All rights of the Borrowers under this Section and any other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all amounts payable by the Borrowers pursuant to the Loan Documents.

Section 11.04. Limitation on Obligations of Borrowers . In the event that in any action or proceeding involving any state or foreign corporate law, or any state, Federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, the obligations of any Borrower under this Agreement shall be held or determined to be void, avoidable, invalid or

 

170


unenforceable (including, without limitation, because of any applicable state or Federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers), then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the amount of such liability of a Borrower shall, without any further action by any Loan Party, Agent or Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Borrower’s “ Maximum Liability ”). This Section with respect to the Maximum Liability of each Borrower is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Agents and the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Loan Party nor any other person or entity 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 void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable under applicable law.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

171


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.
LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY
EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP
HOUSTON REFINING LP
LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS LLC
By:  

/s/ C. Kent Potter

  Name:   C. Kent Potter
  Title:   Authorized Person

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Co-Collateral Agent, Swingline Lender, Fronting Bank and Lender

By:  

/s/ David Jaffe

  Name:   David Jaffe
  Title:   Director/Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, as Co-Collateral Agent

By:  

/s/ Sanat Amladi

  Name:   Sanat Amladi
  Title:   Vice President
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Fronting Bank
By:  

/s/ Sanat Amladi

  Name:   Sanat Amladi
  Title:   Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, as Lender

By:  

/s/ Sanat Amladi

  Name:   Sanat Amladi
  Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Sanat Amladi

  Name:   Sanat Amladi
  Title:   Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Lender

By:  

/s/ Shaheen Malik

  Name:   Shaheen Malik
  Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Kevin Buddhdew

  Name:   Kevin Buddhdew
  Title:   Associate

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., as Lender

By:  

/s/ Peter Zippelius

  Name:   Peter Zippelius
  Title:   Authorized Signatory
MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Peter Zippelius

  Name:   Peter Zippelius
  Title:   Authorized Signatory

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Mary E. Evans

  Name:   Mary E. Evans
  Title:   Associate Director
By:  

/s/ Irja R. Otsa

  Name:   Irja R. Otsa
  Title:   Associate Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


Bank of America, N.A., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Joy L. Bartholomew

  Name:   Joy L. Bartholomew
  Title:   Senior Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Ann E. Sutton

  Name:   Ann E. Sutton
  Title:   Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Frank Fazio

  Name:   Frank Fazio
  Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Philip Saliba

  Name:   Philip Saliba
  Title:   Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Jennifer Heard

  Name:   Jennifer Heard
  Title:   Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


State of California Public Employees’ Retirement System (“CalPERS”) as Lender

By:  

/s/ J. Michael Claybar, Jr.

  Name:   J. Michael Claybar, Jr.
  Title:   Portfolio Manager

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Marc Graham

  Name:   Marc Graham
  Title:   Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


Regions Bank, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Barry S. Renow

  Name:   Barry S. Renow
  Title:   Attorney-In-Fact

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


Burdale Capital Finance, Inc., as Lender
By:  

/s/ Steven Sanicola

  Name:   Steven Sanicola
  Title:   Director
By:  

/s/ Antimo Barbieri

  Name:   Antimo Barbieri
  Title:   Senior Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


ING Capital LLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Jerry L. McDonald

  Name:   Jerry L. McDonald
  Title:   Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]


RZB Finance LLC, as Lender
By:  

/s/ Christoph Hoedl

  Name:   Christoph Hoedl
  Title:   First Vice President
By:  

/s/ Randall Abrams

  Name:   Randall Abrams
  Title:   Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT]

Exhibit 10.22

EXECUTION VERSION

SECURITY AGREEMENT

dated as of

April 30, 2010

among

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY,

as a Grantor and as Borrowers’ Agent

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP,

HOUSTON REFINING LP,

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS LLC,

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES, N.V.,

and

THE OTHER GRANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Grantors

and

CITIBANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

         P AGE
SECTION 1 .   Definitions    2
SECTION 2 .   Grant of Transaction Liens    7
SECTION 3 .   General Representations and Warranties    9
SECTION 4 .   Further Assurances; General Covenants    12
SECTION 5 .   Investment Property    13
SECTION 6 .   Restricted Accounts    15
SECTION 7 .   Transfer Of Record Ownership    15
SECTION 8 .   Right to Vote Securities    15
SECTION 9 .   Remedies upon Event of Default    16
SECTION 10 .   Application of Proceeds    19
SECTION 11 .   Authority to Administer Collateral    20
SECTION 12 .   Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral    21
SECTION 13 .   General Provisions Concerning the Administrative Agent    21
SECTION 14 .   Termination of Transaction Liens; Release of Collateral    23
SECTION 15 .   Additional Grantors    23
SECTION 16 .   Notices    23
SECTION 17 .   No Implied Waivers; Remedies Not Exclusive    24
SECTION 18 .   Successors and Assigns    24
SECTION 19 .   Amendments and Waivers    24
SECTION 20 .   Choice of Law    24
SECTION 21 .   Waiver of Jury Trial    24
SECTION 22 .   Severability    25
SECTION 23 .   Intercreditor Agreement Controlling    25
SECTION 24 .   Control by or Delivery to Term Loan Administrative Agent    25
SECTION 25 .   Agreement to be Bound by Credit Agreement    25


EXHIBIT :

 

Exhibit A    Security Agreement Supplement

 

ii


SECURITY AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT dated as of April 30, 2010 among LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, as a Grantor and as Borrowers’ Agent; EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, HOUSTON REFINING LP, a Delaware limited partnership, LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES, N.V., a naamloze vennootschap (a public limited liability company) formed under the laws of The Netherlands, and the other Grantors party hereto, each as a Grantor; and CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

WHEREAS, each Borrower has entered into the Credit Agreement described in Section 1 hereof, pursuant to which such Borrower intends to borrow funds and obtain letters of credit for the purposes set forth therein;

WHEREAS, each Borrower has guaranteed the foregoing obligations of each other Borrower;

WHEREAS, each Borrower is willing to secure its obligations under the Credit Agreement, by granting Liens on its assets to the Administrative Agent as provided in the Collateral Documents;

WHEREAS, each Guarantor is an affiliate of the Borrowers (or, in the case of any Guarantor who is a Borrower, each other Borrower), will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement and has guaranteed the foregoing obligations of each Borrower (or, in the case of any Guarantor who is a Borrower, each other Borrower) and is willing to secure its guarantee thereof by granting Liens on its assets to the Administrative Agent as provided in the Collateral Documents;

WHEREAS, the Lenders and the Fronting Banks are not willing to make loans or issue or participate in letters of credit under the Credit Agreement unless (i) the foregoing obligations of each Borrower are secured as described above and (ii) each guarantee thereof is secured by Liens on assets of the relevant Guarantor as provided in the Collateral Documents;

WHEREAS, concurrently herewith the Grantors are entering into certain other security agreements with respect to the Collateral to secure their obligations under the Senior Term Loan Facility, the Senior Notes and the Plan Roll-Up Notes and priority under each of these security agreements will be regulated by the Intercreditor Agreement;

WHEREAS, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, upon any foreclosure or other enforcement of the Collateral Documents, the net proceeds of the relevant Collateral are to be received by or paid over to the Administrative Agent and applied as provided herein;


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1 . Definitions.

(a) Terms Defined in Credit Agreement . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section 1 have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for in the Credit Agreement. The rules of construction specified in Sections 1.02 and 1.05 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

(b) Terms Defined in UCC . As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning specified in the UCC:

 

Term

   UCC

Account

   9-102

Authenticate

   9-102

Certificated Security

   8-102

Certificate of Title

   9-102

Chattel Paper

   9-102

Deposit Account

   9-102

Document

   9-102

Entitlement Holder

   8-102

Equipment

   9-102

Financial Asset

   8-102 & 103

General Intangibles

   9-102

Instrument

   9-102

Inventory

   9-102

Investment Property

   9-102

Record

   9-102

Securities Account

   8-501

Securities Intermediary

   8-102

Security

   8-102 & 103

Security Entitlement

   8-102

Supporting Obligations

   9-102

Tangible Chattel Paper

   9-102

 

2


(c) Additional Definitions . The following additional terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

Collateral ” means the Non-Company Collateral and the Company Collateral.

Control ” has the meaning specified in UCC Section 8-106, 9-104 or 9-106, as may be applicable to the relevant Collateral.

Copyright License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right to use, copy, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works, display or publish any records or other materials on which a Copyright is in existence or may come into existence.

Copyrights ” means all the following: (i) all copyright rights in any published or unpublished work of authorship, whether copyrightable or not, databases and other compilations of information, and user manuals and other training documentation related thereto, copyrights therein and thereto arising under the laws of the United States or any other country, (ii) all registrations and applications for copyrights under the laws of the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) all renewals of any of the foregoing, (iv) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing, and (v) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Credit Agreement ” means the Credit Agreement dated as of April 8, 2010 among the Company, the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Co-Collateral Agent, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as Co-Collateral Agent and the other agents and parties thereto.

Excluded Collateral ” means, to the extent expressly excluded from the collateral securing the Plan Roll-Up Notes, the Senior Notes and the Senior Term Loan Facility, (i) any fee-Owned Real Property with a value of less than $25 million and all Real Property leasehold interests (other than interest in ground leases agreed on the Funding Date), (ii) motor vehicles and other assets covered by a Certificate of Title, (iii) letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts, other than (x) the Restricted Accounts and (y) such letter of credit rights, commercial tort claims and deposit accounts that constitute Proceeds or Supporting Obligations of any Collateral, (iv) the Equity Interests of any

 

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Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or of any special purpose subsidiary whose material assets are comprised solely of the Equity Interests of such joint venture, where the pledge of such Equity Interests would be prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement pertaining to such joint venture, (v) Equity Interests in each of (a) PO Offtake, LP and (b) POSM II Properties Partnership, L.P., in each case to the extent that and only for so long as the pledge of such Equity Interests is prohibited by the terms of the organizational documents of such entity or any joint venture agreement to which such entity is subject, (vi) any Equipment owned by a Grantor that is subject to a purchase money security interest (within the meaning of Section 9-103 of the UCC) so long as the contract or other agreement in which such security interest is granted prohibits the creation of any other security interest on such, (vii) any contract, lease, license, Intellectual Property or other document so long as (and only to the extent that) the grant of a security interest therein would (a) violate a restriction in such contract, lease, license, Intellectual Property or documents or under any law, regulation, permit, order or decree of any Governmental Authority, unless and until all required consents shall have been obtained (for the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions described herein shall not include negative pledges or similar undertakings in favor of a lender or other financial counterparty), (b) invalidate or terminate such contract, lease, instrument, license, Intellectual Property, or other document or the rights therein or thereunder, or (c) give any other party in respect of any such Intellectual Property, or expressly give any other party in respect of any such contract, lease, instrument, license or other document, the right to invalidate or terminate such contract, lease, instrument, license, Intellectual Property, or other document or its obligations thereunder and (viii) any Equity Interests to the extent that, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests would violate law applicable thereto; provided, however, that the limitations set forth in clause (vii) above shall not affect, limit, restrict or impair the grant by a Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in any such Collateral to the extent that an otherwise applicable prohibition or restriction on such grant is rendered ineffective by any applicable law, including the UCC.

Grantors ” means each Borrower and the Guarantors.

Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual and industrial property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other confidential or proprietary intellectual property, software and all registrations, additions and improvements to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.

 

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License ” means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement relating to Intellectual Property to which any Grantor is a party.

Original Grantor ” means any Grantor that grants a Lien on any of its assets hereunder on the Funding Date.

own ” refers to the possession of sufficient rights in property to grant a security interest therein as contemplated by UCC Section 9-203, and “ acquire ” refers to the acquisition of any such rights.

Patent License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right with respect to any Patent or any invention now or hereafter in existence, whether patentable or not, whether a patent or application for patent is in existence on such invention or not, and whether a patent or application for patent on such invention may come into existence or not.

Patents ” means (i) inventions, patentable designs, all letters patent and design letters patent of the United States or any other country and all applications for letters patent or design letters patent of the United States or any other country, including applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, revisions and extensions of any of the foregoing, (ii) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Permitted Liens ” means (i) the Transaction Liens and (ii) any other Liens on the Collateral permitted to be created or assumed or to exist pursuant to Section 7.06 of the Credit Agreement.

Personal Property Collateral ” means all property included in the Collateral except Real Property Collateral.

Pledged ”, when used in conjunction with any type of asset, means at any time an asset of such type that is included (or that creates rights that are included) in the Collateral at such time. For example, “Pledged Equity Interest” means an Equity Interest that is included in the Collateral at such time.

 

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Post-Petition Interest ” means any interest that accrues after the commencement of any case, proceeding or other action, relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of any one or more of the Grantors (or would accrue but for the operation of applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws), whether or not such interest is allowed or allowable as a claim in any such proceeding.

Proceeds ” means all proceeds of, and all other profits, products, rents or receipts, in whatever form, arising from the collection, sale, lease, exchange, assignment, licensing or other disposition of, or other realization upon, any Collateral, including all claims of the relevant Grantor against third parties for loss of, damage to or destruction of, or for proceeds payable under, or unearned premiums with respect to, policies of insurance in respect of, any Collateral, and any condemnation or requisition payments with respect to any Collateral.

Real Property Collateral ” means all real property (including leasehold interests in real property) included in the Collateral.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employers, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Restricted Account ” has the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement.

Secured Agreement ”, when used with respect to any Secured Obligation, refers collectively to each instrument, agreement or other document that sets forth obligations of any Borrower, obligations of a guarantor and/or rights of the holder with respect to such Secured Obligation.

Secured Guarantee ” means, with respect to each Guarantor, its guarantee of the Secured Obligations under the Guarantee Agreement (including any guarantee supplement delivered pursuant to Section 16 thereof).

Secured Obligations ” means the “Obligations” under and as defined in the Credit Agreement.

Secured Parties ” means the holders from time to time of the Secured Obligations.

Security Agreement Supplement ” means a Security Agreement Supplement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, signed and delivered to the Administrative Agent for the purpose of adding a Subsidiary as a party hereto pursuant to Section 16 and/or adding additional property to the Collateral.

 

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Trademark License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence granting to any Grantor, or pursuant to which any Grantor grants to any other Person, any right to use any Trademark.

Trademarks ” means (i) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, service marks, logos, brand names, trade dress, designs and all other source or business identifiers, and the rights in any of the foregoing which arise under applicable law, (ii) the goodwill of the business symbolized thereby or associated with each of them, (iii) all registrations and applications in connection therewith and all renewals of any of the foregoing, including registrations and applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any State thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, including those described in Schedule 11(a) to the Perfection Certificate, (iv) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (v) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

Transaction Liens ” means the Liens granted by the Grantors under the Collateral Documents.

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any Transaction Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than New York, “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

SECTION 2 . Grant of Transaction Liens.

(a) Each Borrower, in order to secure its Secured Obligations, and each Guarantor listed on the signature pages hereof (other than the Company), in order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, grants to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in all the following property of such Borrower or such Guarantor, as the case may be, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and regardless of where located (the “ Non-Company Collateral ”):

(i) all Accounts;

 

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(ii) all Chattel Paper;

(iii) the Restricted Accounts;

(iv) all Documents;

(v) all Equipment;

(vi) all General Intangibles (including (x) any Equity Interests in other Persons that do not constitute Investment Property and (y) any Intellectual Property);

(vii) all Instruments;

(viii) all Inventory;

(ix) all Investment Property;

(x) all Supporting Obligations;

(xi) all books and records (including customer lists, credit files, printouts and other computer generated materials and records) of such Grantor pertaining to any of its Collateral;

(xii) such Grantor’s ownership interest in all cash held in the Restricted Accounts from time to time and all other money in the possession of the Administrative Agent;

(xiii) all other personal property or assets of such Grantor; and

(xiv) all Proceeds of the Collateral described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xiii);

provided that the Excluded Collateral is excluded from the foregoing security interests; provided further that the Non-Company Collateral shall not include Equity Interests other than (i) any Equity Interests directly owned by any Borrower or a Guarantor of any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of such Borrower or such Guarantor, respectively, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and (ii) 100% of the Equity Interests directly owned by a Borrower or a Guarantor of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary of such Borrower or such Guarantor, respectively, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; provided that the Non-Company Collateral shall not include voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent (but only to the extent) required to prevent the Non-Company Collateral from including more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary.

 

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(b) The Company, in order to secure its Secured Guarantee and the Secured Guarantee of each other Guarantor, grants to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in (i) any Equity Interests directly owned by the Company of any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and (ii) 100% of the Equity Interests directly owned by the Company of any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary of the Company, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the “ Company Collateral ”); provided that the Company Collateral shall not include voting Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, to the extent (but only to the extent) required to prevent the Company Collateral from including more than 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary.

(c) With respect to each right to payment or performance included in the Collateral from time to time, the Transaction Lien granted therein includes a continuing security interest in (i) any Supporting Obligation that supports such payment or performance and (ii) any Lien that (x) secures such right to payment or performance or (y) secures any such Supporting Obligation.

(d) The Transaction Liens are granted as security only and shall not subject the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to, or transfer or in any way affect or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to any of the Collateral or any transaction in connection therewith.

SECTION 3 . General Representations and Warranties. Each Grantor represents and warrants that:

(a) Such Grantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction identified as its jurisdiction of organization in the Perfection Certificate.

(b) With respect to each Original Grantor, Schedule 9(a) to the Perfection Certificate lists all Equity Interests in direct Wholly Owned Subsidiaries owned by such Grantor as of the Funding Date (other than Equity Interests of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant, inactive or otherwise immaterial). Such Grantor holds all such Equity Interests directly ( i.e. , not through a Subsidiary, a Securities Intermediary or any other Person).

(c) With respect to each Original Grantor, as of the Funding Date, (i) Schedule 9(b) to the Perfection Certificate lists all Securities owned by such

 

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Grantor (except Securities evidencing Equity Interests in Subsidiaries and Affiliates) and (ii) Schedule 12 to the Perfection Certificate lists all Securities Accounts to which Financial Assets are credited in respect of which such Grantor owns Security Entitlements.

(d) All Pledged Equity Interests owned by such Grantor are owned by it free and clear of any Lien other than Permitted Liens. All shares of capital stock included in such Pledged Equity Interests (including shares of capital stock in respect of which such Grantor owns a Security Entitlement) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of such Pledged Equity Interests is subject to any option to purchase or similar right of any Person. Such Grantor is not and will not become a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement (except the Loan Documents) which restricts in any manner the rights of any present or future holder of any Pledged Equity Interest with respect thereto.

(e) Except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Loan Documents, Laws or securities laws generally, or any Permitted Liens, the Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, materially impair, materially delay or otherwise affect in any manner material and adverse to the Secured Parties the pledge of such Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto.

(f) Such Grantor has good and marketable title to all its Collateral (subject to exceptions that are, in the aggregate, not material), free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens. For purposes of clarification, in the event that any Collateral consisting of Patents now owned or hereafter acquired is successfully challenged, such successful challenge will not constitute a breach of this provision.

(g) Such Grantor has not performed any acts that might prevent the Administrative Agent from enforcing any of the provisions of the Collateral Documents or that would limit the Administrative Agent in any such enforcement. No financing statement, security agreement, mortgage or similar or equivalent document or instrument covering all or part of the Collateral owned by such Grantor is on file or of record in any jurisdiction in which such filing or recording would be effective to perfect or record a Lien on such Collateral, except financing statements, mortgages or other similar or equivalent documents with respect to Permitted Liens. After the Funding Date, no Collateral owned by such Grantor will be in the possession or under the control of any other Person having a claim thereto or security interest therein, other than a Permitted Lien.

 

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(h) The Transaction Liens on all Personal Property Collateral owned by such Grantor (i) have been validly granted, (ii) will attach to each item of such Collateral on the Funding Date (or, if such Grantor first obtains rights thereto on a later date, on such later date) and (iii) when so attached, will secure all the Secured Obligations or such Grantor’s Secured Guarantee, as the case may be.

(i) When the relevant Mortgages have been duly executed and delivered, the Transaction Liens on all Real Property Collateral owned by such Grantor as of the Funding Date will have been validly created and will secure all the Secured Obligations or such Grantor’s Secured Guarantee, as the case may be. When such Mortgages have been duly recorded, such Transaction Liens will rank prior to all other Liens (except Permitted Liens) on such Real Property Collateral.

(j) Such Grantor has delivered a counterpart to the Perfection Certificate to the Administrative Agent. With respect to each Original Grantor, information set forth in Schedule 1(a) to the Perfection Certificate is correct and complete in all respects, and all other information set forth therein is correct and complete in all material aspects as of the Funding Date; provided that any such information that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language is correct and complete in all respects as of the Funding Date.

(k) When UCC financing statements describing the Collateral as “all assets” have been filed in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Transaction Liens will constitute perfected security interests in the Personal Property Collateral owned by such Grantor to the extent that a security interest therein may be perfected by filing pursuant to the UCC, prior to all Liens and rights of others therein except Permitted Liens, to the extent such Liens have priority by operation of law.

(l) Such Grantor has taken, and will continue to take, all actions necessary under the UCC to perfect its interest in any Accounts or Chattel Paper purchased or otherwise acquired by it, as against its assignors and creditors of its assignors.

(m) Such Grantor’s Collateral is insured as required by the Credit Agreement.

(n) All of such Grantor’s Inventory has or will have been produced in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended.

(o) Other than a Restricted Account, there is no Deposit Account into which any collections or other payments or proceeds in respect of Pledged

 

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Inventory of any Borrower or Pledged Receivables of any Borrower are to be deposited. No funds other than ABL Facility Collateral or proceeds thereof will be deposited in any Lockbox Account or the Cash Dominion Account.

SECTION 4 . Further Assurances; General Covenants. Each Grantor covenants as follows:

(a) Such Grantor will at its own expense, from time to time, take any actions reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and any other commercially reasonable actions necessary in order to:

(i) defend title to such Grantor’s Collateral, except that Grantor will only be obligated to defend title of the Intellectual Property that is material to the operation of its business as a whole and as currently conducted (it being understood that each Grantor shall have the right to dispose of Collateral to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement);

(ii) create, preserve, perfect, confirm or validate the Transaction Liens on such Grantor’s Collateral;

(iii) in the case of each Restricted Account, cause the Administrative Agent to have Control thereof;

(iv) enable the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties to obtain the full benefits of the Collateral Documents; or

(v) enable the Administrative Agent to exercise and enforce any of its rights, powers and remedies with respect to any of such Grantor’s Collateral.

Such Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and file such financing statements or continuation statements in such jurisdictions with such descriptions of collateral (including “all assets” or “all personal property” or other words to that effect) and other information set forth therein as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable for the purposes set forth in the preceding sentence. Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Administrative Agent to file in any such jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

(b) Such Grantor will not (i) change its name or organizational form or structure, (ii) change its location (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-307) or (iii) become bound, as provided in UCC Section 9-203(d) or otherwise, by a security agreement entered into by another Person, unless it shall have given the Administrative Agent 30 days’ prior notice thereof and taken all actions that may be required under Section 6.14 of the Credit Agreement.

 

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(c) Such Grantor will not sell, lease, exchange, assign, license, terminate, abandon or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of its Collateral; provided that such Grantor may do any of the foregoing unless (i) doing so would violate a covenant in the Credit Agreement or (ii) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and either (A) the Administrative Agent shall have notified such Grantor that its right to do so is terminated, suspended or otherwise limited or (B) the maturity of any or all of the Secured Obligations shall have been accelerated. Concurrently with any sale, lease or other disposition (except a sale or disposition to another Grantor or a lease) permitted by the foregoing proviso , the Transaction Liens on the assets sold or disposed of (but not in any Proceeds arising from such sale or disposition) will cease immediately without any action by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party. The Administrative Agent will, at such Grantor’s expense, execute and deliver to the relevant Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence the fact that any asset so sold or disposed of is no longer subject to a Transaction Lien.

(d) Such Grantor will, promptly upon request, provide to the Administrative Agent all information and evidence concerning such Grantor’s Collateral that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time to enable it to enforce the provisions of the Collateral Documents.

SECTION 5 . Investment Property. Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

(a) Certificated Securities. On the Funding Date (in the case of an Original Grantor) or the date on which it signs and delivers its first Security Agreement Supplement (in the case of any other Grantor), such Grantor will deliver to the Administrative Agent as Collateral hereunder all certificates representing Pledged Certificated Securities and Tangible Chattel Paper then owned by such Grantor (other than any Pledged Certificated Security of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant or inactive). Thereafter, whenever such Grantor acquires any other certificate representing a Pledged Certificated Security (other than any Pledged Certificated Security of any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is dormant or inactive) or if any direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary of which such Grantor owns a Pledged Certificated Security ceases to be dormant or inactive, such Grantor will immediately deliver such certificate to the Administrative Agent as Collateral hereunder. The provisions of this subsection are subject to the limitation in Section 5(d) in the case of voting Equity Interests in a Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party.

 

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(b) Perfection as to Certificated Securities. When such Grantor delivers the certificate representing any Pledged Certificated Security owned by it to the Administrative Agent and complies with Section 5(c) in connection with such delivery, (i) the Transaction Lien on such Pledged Certificated Security will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others, (ii) the Administrative Agent will have Control of such Pledged Certificated Security and (iii) the Administrative Agent will be a protected purchaser (within the meaning of UCC Section 8-303) thereof.

(c) Delivery of Pledged Certificates . All certificates in respect of Pledged Certificated Securities, when delivered to the Administrative Agent, will be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d) Foreign Subsidiaries. A Grantor will not be obligated to comply with the provisions of this Section at any time with respect to any voting Equity Interest in a Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party if and to the extent (but only to the extent) that such voting Equity Interest is excluded from the Transaction Liens at such time pursuant to the proviso at the end of Section 2(a) or the proviso at the end of Section 2(b) and/or the comparable provisions of one or more Security Agreement Supplements.

(e) Compliance with Applicable Foreign Laws. If and so long as the Collateral includes (i) any Equity Interest in, or other Investment Property issued by, a legal entity organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States or (ii) any Security Entitlement in respect of a Financial Asset issued by such a foreign legal entity, the relevant Grantor will upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent take all such action as may be required under the laws of such foreign jurisdiction to ensure that the Transaction Lien on such Collateral ranks prior to all Liens and rights of others therein.

(f) Certification of Limited Liability Company and Partnership Interests . Any limited liability company and any partnership controlled by any Grantor shall either (a) not include in its operative documents any provision that any Equity Interests in such limited liability company or such partnership be a “security” as defined under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or (b) certificate any Equity Interests in any such limited liability company or such partnership. To the extent an interest in any limited liability company or partnership controlled by any Grantor and pledged hereunder is certificated or becomes certificated, each such certificate shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5(a) and such Grantor shall fulfill all other requirements under Section 5 applicable in respect thereof.

 

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SECTION 6 . Restricted Accounts. Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

(a) All cash proceeds of ABL Facility Collateral will be deposited, upon or promptly after the receipt thereof, in a Restricted Account.

(b) In respect of each Restricted Account, the depositary bank’s jurisdiction (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-304) will at all times be a jurisdiction in which Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code is in effect.

(c) So long as the Administrative Agent has Control of a Restricted Account, the Transaction Lien on such Restricted Account will be perfected, subject to no prior Liens or rights of others (except the depositary bank’s right to deduct its normal operating charges and any uncollected funds previously credited thereto and any Permitted Lien.

SECTION 7 . Transfer Of Record Ownership. At any time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may upon five Business Days’ notice to the Borrowers’ Agent (and to the extent that action by it is required, the relevant Grantor, if directed to do so by the Administrative Agent, will as promptly as practicable) cause each of the Pledged Securities (or any portion thereof specified in such direction) to be transferred of record into the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee. Each Grantor will take any and all actions reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to facilitate compliance with this Section. The Administrative Agent will promptly give to the relevant Grantor copies of any notices and other communications received by the Administrative Agent with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee.

SECTION 8 . Right to Vote Securities. (a) Unless and until (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Administrative Agent shall have notified the Borrowers that the rights of the Grantors are being suspended under this Section 8:

(i) each Grantor will have the right, from time to time, to vote and to give consents, ratifications and waivers with respect to any Pledged Security owned by it and the Financial Asset underlying any Pledged Security Entitlement owned by it, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver to such Grantor or as specified in such request such proxies, powers of attorney, consents, ratifications and waivers in respect of any such Pledged Security that is registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee or any such Pledged Security Entitlement as to which the Administrative Agent or its nominee is the Entitlement Holder, in each case as shall be specified in such request and be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

 

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(ii) each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable Laws; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Equity or Pledged Debt, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and shall if certificated be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent).

(b) If (A) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) the Administrative Agent shall have notified the Borrowers that the rights of the Grantors are being suspended under this Section 8, the Administrative Agent will have the exclusive right to the extent permitted by law to vote, to give consents, ratifications and waivers and to take any other action with respect to the Pledged Investment Property, the other Pledged Equity Interests and the Financial Assets underlying the Pledged Security Entitlements, with the same force and effect as if the Administrative Agent were the absolute and sole owner thereof, and each Grantor will take all such action as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time to give effect to such right; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, each Grantor shall have the exclusive right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor would otherwise be entitled to exercise, in each case pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a) of this Section 8.

SECTION 9 . Remedies upon Event of Default. (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may, upon five Business Days’ notice to the Borrowers’ Agent, exercise (or cause its sub-agents to exercise) any or all of the remedies available to it (or to such sub-agents) under the Collateral Documents.

 

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(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may, upon five Business Days’ notice to the Borrowers’ Agent, exercise on behalf of the Secured Parties all the rights of a secured party under the UCC (whether or not in effect in the jurisdiction where such rights are exercised) with respect to any Personal Property Collateral and, in addition, the Administrative Agent may, upon five Business Days’ notice (which notice shall state the time, date and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made) to the Borrowers’ Agent and subject to any mandatory provisions of law, sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any exchange, broker’s board or at any of the Administrative Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such time or times and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Administrative Agent may deem commercially reasonable, irrespective of the impact of any such sales on the market price of the Collateral; provided that any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any Secured Party may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any such sale and (with the consent of the Administrative Agent, which may be withheld in its discretion) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, held at such time or times within ordinary business hours, to use and apply all or any part of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price of any Collateral payable at such sale.

(c) Upon any sale of Collateral by the Administrative Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Administrative Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid to the Administrative Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay or appraisal that it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Administrative Agent shall not be obliged to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given.

 

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(d) The Administrative Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.

(e) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Grantor hereby waives any claim against any Secured Party arising because the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Administrative Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. The Administrative Agent may disclaim any warranty, as to title or as to any other matter, in connection with such sale or other disposition, and its doing so shall not be considered adversely to affect the commercial reasonableness of such sale or other disposition.

(f) In case any sale of all or any part of the Collateral is made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Administrative Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability in case any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again, subject to the same rights and duties set forth herein.

(g) Notice of any such sale or other disposition shall be given to the relevant Grantor(s) as (and if) required by Section 11.

(h) For the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement, each Grantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, automatically upon the notice by the Administrative Agent of the exercise of remedies to the Grantors pursuant to Article VIII of the Credit Agreement after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, an irrevocable license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the Grantors), to use, license or sub-license any of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, except where the grant of such license will terminate or invalidate such Intellectual Property; provided that, anything in this Section 9(h) to the contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees that, on the date the Grantors cure such Event of Default, such license to the Administrative Agent will immediately terminate upon the cure date, but any sub-licenses granted by the Administrative Agent will remain in full force and effect; provided that such sub-licenses will have terms that are substantially similar to the Grantors’ prior Intellectual Property licenses, and further provided that such sub-licenses (whether exclusive or non-exclusive) shall explicitly reserve the Grantor’s right to use such sub-licensed Intellectual Property in its own business.

 

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(i) The foregoing provisions of this Section shall apply to Real Property Collateral only to the extent permitted by applicable law and the provisions of any applicable Mortgage or other document.

SECTION 10 . Application of Proceeds. (a) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may (i) after having given five Business Days’ notice to the Borrowers’ Agent apply any cash held in the Restricted Accounts and/or (ii) apply the proceeds of any sale or other disposition (notice of which sale or other disposition shall have been given by the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Agreement and the Loan Documents) of all or any part of the Collateral, in accordance with, and in the order of priorities specified in, the Intercreditor Agreement. Any and all such cash and other proceeds held by the Administrative Agent which the Administrative Agent is entitled, under the priority of payments set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, to distribute to the Secured Parties for repayment of the Secured Obligations shall be made in the following order of priorities:

first , to pay the fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Co-Collateral Agents payable under the Loan Documents;

second, to pay ratably all interest (including Post-Petition Interest) on the Secured Obligations and all other fees payable under the Credit Agreement, until payment in full of all such interest and fees shall have been made;

third , to pay the unpaid principal of the Secured Obligations ratably, until payment in full of the principal of all Secured Obligations shall have been made; and

fourth , to pay all other Secured Obligations ratably, until payment in full of all such other Secured Obligations shall have been made.

The Administrative Agent may make such distributions hereunder in cash or in kind or, on a ratable basis, in any combination thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Collateral posted in respect of Letters of Credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement shall be applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Credit Agreement.

(b) In making the payments and allocations required by this Section, the Administrative Agent may rely upon information supplied to it pursuant to

 

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Section 14(c). All distributions made by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall be final (except in the event of manifest error) and the Administrative Agent shall have no duty to inquire as to the application by any Secured Party of any amount distributed to it.

SECTION 11 . Authority to Administer Collateral. Each Grantor irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent its true and lawful attorney, with full power of substitution, in the name of such Grantor, any Secured Party or otherwise, for the sole use and benefit of the Secured Parties, but at the Grantor’s expense, as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by law to exercise, at any time from time to time while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all or any of the following powers with respect to all or any of such Grantor’s Collateral:

(a) to demand, sue for, collect, receive and give acquittance for any and all monies due or to become due upon or by virtue thereof,

(b) to settle, compromise, compound, prosecute or defend any action or proceeding with respect thereto,

(c) to sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of the same or the proceeds or avails thereof, as fully and effectually as if the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner thereof, and

(d) to extend the time of payment of any or all thereof and to make any allowance or other adjustment with reference thereto;

provided that, except in the case of Personal Property Collateral that is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market, the Administrative Agent will give the relevant Grantor at least ten days’ prior written notice of the time and place of any public sale thereof or the time after which any private sale or other intended disposition thereof will be made. Any such notice shall (i) contain the information specified in UCC Section 9-613, (ii) be Authenticated, (iii) be sent to the parties required to be notified pursuant to UCC Section 9-611(c) and (iv) in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange; provided that, if the Administrative Agent fails to comply with this sentence in any respect, its liability for such failure shall be limited to the liability (if any) imposed on it as a matter of law under the UCC.

 

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SECTION 12 . Authority of Administrative Agent. By acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and any other Collateral Documents, each Secured Party other than the Administrative Agent (whether or not a signatory hereto) shall be deemed irrevocably to agree that it shall not take any action (i) to enforce any provisions of this Agreement or any other Collateral Document against any Grantor or (ii) to exercise any remedy hereunder or thereunder, including the giving of any consents or approvals relating thereto, in each case except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Collateral Document. In furtherance of the foregoing provision of this Section 12, each Secured Party other than the Administrative Agent, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof and of the other Collateral Documents, agrees that it shall have no right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral hereunder or thereunder, it being understood and agreed by such Secured Party that all rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties.

SECTION 13 . Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral. Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody and preservation thereof, the Administrative Agent will have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any sub-agent or bailee or any income therefrom or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. The Administrative Agent will be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession or control if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its own property, and will not be liable or responsible for any loss or damage to any Collateral, or for any diminution in the value thereof, by reason of any act or omission of any sub-agent or bailee selected by the Administrative Agent in good faith, except to the extent that such liability arises from the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 14 . General Provisions Concerning the Administrative Agent.

(a) The provisions of Article IX of the Credit Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and shall be binding upon all Grantors and all Secured Parties, in connection with this Agreement and the other Collateral Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Collateral Documents that the Administrative Agent is required in writing to exercise by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the

 

21


circumstances as provided in the Credit Agreement), and (iii) 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 any failure to disclose, any information relating to any Grantor that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of any Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Transaction Lien, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of their directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable as such for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under the Collateral Documents or in connection therewith (a) at the request or with the approval of the Required Lenders (or, if otherwise specifically required hereunder, the consent of all the Lenders) or (b) in the absence of its or their own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrowers’ Agent.

(b) Sub-Agents and Related Parties . The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers through one or more sub-agents appointed by it. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of its duties and exercise any of its rights and powers through its Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of Section 12 and this Section shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent.

(c) Information as to Secured Obligations and Actions by Secured Parties. For all purposes of the Collateral Documents, including determining the amounts of the Secured Obligations and whether a Secured Obligation is a Contingent Secured Obligation or not, or whether any action has been taken under any Secured Agreement, the Administrative Agent will be entitled to rely on information from (i) its own records for information as to the Lenders, the Fronting Banks or the Administrative Agent, their Secured Obligations and actions taken by them, (ii) any Secured Party for information as to its Secured Obligations and actions taken by it, to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not obtained such information from its own records, and (iii) the Borrowers’ Agent, to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not obtained information from the foregoing sources. Nothing in this Section 14(c) shall prevent any Grantor from contesting any amounts claimed by any Secured Party in any information so supplied.

(d) Refusal to Act . The Administrative Agent may refuse to act on any notice, consent, direction or instruction from any Secured Parties or any agent,

 

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trustee or similar representative thereof that, in the Administrative Agent’s opinion, (i) is contrary to law or the provisions of any Collateral Document, (ii) may expose the Administrative Agent to liability (unless the Administrative Agent shall have been indemnified, to its reasonable satisfaction, for such liability by the Secured Parties that gave such notice, consent, direction or instruction) or (iii) is unduly prejudicial to Secured Parties not joining in such notice, consent, direction or instruction.

SECTION 15 . Termination of Transaction Liens; Release of Collateral. (a) The Transaction Liens granted by each Guarantor (other than the Borrowers) shall terminate when its Secured Guarantee is released pursuant to Section 5 of the Guarantee Agreement.

(b) The Transaction Liens granted by each Borrower and each Guarantor shall terminate in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement.

(c) Upon any termination of a Transaction Lien or release of Collateral, the Administrative Agent will, at the expense of the relevant Grantor, execute and deliver to such Grantor such documents as such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence the termination of such Transaction Lien or the release of such Collateral, as the case may be.

(d) Unless expressly agreed otherwise between a Grantor and the Administrative Agent, in the event that any security interest in the Collateral granted pursuant to Section 2 hereof is not required to be so granted pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any applicable Agreed Security Principle, if no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from any release under this Section, such security interest in such Collateral shall be released automatically; provided that, the applicable Grantor shall provide notification of such release to the Administrative Agent promptly.

SECTION 16 . Additional Grantors. Any Subsidiary of the Company may become a party hereto by signing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Security Agreement Supplement, whereupon such Subsidiary shall become a “Grantor” as defined herein.

SECTION 17 . Notices. Each notice, request or other communication given to any party hereunder shall be given in accordance with Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement, and in the case of any such notice, request or other communication to a Grantor other than a Borrower, shall be given to it in care of the Borrowers’ Agent.

 

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SECTION 18 . No Implied Waivers; Remedies Not Exclusive. No failure by the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising and no course of dealing with respect to, any right or remedy under any Collateral Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party of any right or remedy under any Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies specified in the Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law.

SECTION 19 . Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties. If all or any part of any Secured Party’s interest in any Secured Obligation is assigned or otherwise transferred, the transferor’s rights hereunder, to the extent applicable to the obligation so transferred, shall be automatically transferred with such obligation. This Agreement shall be binding on the Grantors and their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 20 . Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended, modified or terminated except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent, with the consent of such Lenders as are required to consent thereto under Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement. No such waiver, amendment or modification shall (i) be binding upon any Grantor, except with its written consent, or (ii) affect the rights of a Secured Party (other than a Lender) hereunder more adversely than it affects the comparable rights of the Lenders hereunder, without the consent of such Secured Party.

SECTION 21 . Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law and except to the extent that remedies provided by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York are governed by the laws of such jurisdiction.

SECTION 22 . Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY COLLATERAL DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,

 

24


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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 23 . Severability. If any provision of any Collateral Document is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the other provisions of the Collateral Documents shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties in order to carry out the intentions of the parties thereto as nearly as may be possible and (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision in such jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability thereof in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 24 . Intercreditor Agreement Controlling. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the liens and security interests granted to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Administrative Agent hereunder, in each case, with respect to the Collateral are subject to the limitations and provisions for the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms or conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

SECTION 25 . Control by or Delivery to Term Loan Collateral Agent or the Senior Notes Collateral Agent. Any provision of this Agreement requiring delivery of Collateral to or control of Collateral by the Administrative Agent shall be deemed satisfied to the extent that such Collateral is delivered to or controlled by the Term Loan Collateral Agent or the Senior Notes Collateral Agent under and as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 26 . Agreement to be Bound by Credit Agreement. By entry into this Agreement, each Guarantor agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, the provisions of Section 3.01 (Taxes) and Articles VI (Affirmative Covenants) and VII (Negative Covenants) and all provisions that are expressed to be binding on any Loan Party) with the same force and effect as if it were a signatory thereto.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BASELL NORTH AMERICA INC.

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, LP

EQUISTAR GP, LLC

EQUISTAR LP, LLC

HOUSTON REFINING LP

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL ACETYLS HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL F&F HOLDCO, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL FINANCE COMPANY

LYONDELLBASELL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES, LLC

LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES N.V.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL OVERSEAS SERVICES, INC.

LYONDELL CHIMIE FRANCE LLC

LYONDELL REFINING COMPANY LLC

By:  

            /s/ Gerald A. O’Brien, Vice President

  Name:   Gerald A. O’Brien
  Title:   Authorized Person


LYONDELL CHEMICAL DELAWARE COMPANY

LYONDELL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, L.P.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY 1 INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC.

LYONDELL CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, L.P.

LYNDELL EUROPE HOLDINGS INC.

LYONDELL REFINING I LLC

By:  

            /s/ Francis P. McGrail

  Name:   Francis P. McGrail
  Title:   Authorized Person


CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

By:  

            /s/ Michael Smolow

  Name:   Michael Smolow
  Title:   Vice President

EXHIBIT 10.23

Master Receivables Purchase Agreement

CONFORMED COPY

THIS MASTER RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made on 4 May 2010.

B ETWEEN :

 

(1) BASELL SALES & MARKETING COMPANY B.V. , a company incorporated in the Netherlands, being a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of the Parent and whose registered office is at Weena 737, 3013 AM Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with registered number 34245062 ( BSM in its capacity as a Seller hereunder and in its capacity as a Servicer under the Servicing Agreement);

 

(2) LYONDELL CHEMIE NEDERLAND B.V. , a company incorporated in the Netherlands, being an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent and whose registered office is at Weena 737, 3013 AM Rotterdam, The Netherlands with registered number 24314683 ( LCN in its capacity as a Seller hereunder and in its capacity as a Servicer under the Servicing Agreement);

 

(3) BASELL POLYOLEFINS COLLECTIONS LIMITED, incorporated in Ireland whose registered office is at 53 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland, and its permitted successors and assigns (the Master Purchaser );

 

(4)

CITICORP TRUSTEE COMPANY LIMITED , a company incorporated in England and Wales (registered number 00235914) whose registered office is at 14 th Floor, Citigroup Centre, 33 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB (the Security Trustee ); and

 

(5) CITIBANK, N.A. , LONDON BRANCH a banking association incorporated in New York acting through its London branch at Citigroup Centre, 33 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB (the Funding Agent ).

B ACKGROUND :

(A) The Sellers wish to sell and the Master Purchaser wishes to purchase all the Receivables originated by the Sellers from time to time by virtue of the Sale of Products to Obligors located in Eligible Countries on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Agreement.

(B) The terms and conditions under which such Receivables are sold are set out herein.

I T IS AGREED as follows:

1. D EFINITIONS AND I NTERPRETATION

1.1 Capitalised terms in this Agreement (including the Recitals) shall, except where the context otherwise requires and save where otherwise defined in this Agreement, have the meanings given to them in the Master Definitions and Framework Deed executed by, among others, each of the parties to this Agreement on 28 April 2010 (as the same may be amended, varied or supplemented from time to

 

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Master Receivables Purchase Agreement

CONFORMED COPY

 

time with the consent of the parties to it) (the Framework Deed ) and this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the principles of construction set out in the Framework Deed.

1.2 In addition, the provisions set out in Clauses 3 ( Agreement ) to 23 ( Trustee Act ) of the Framework Deed (the Framework Provisions ) shall be expressly and specifically incorporated into this Agreement, as though they were set out in full in this Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the Framework Provisions, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.

1.3 This Agreement is the Master Receivables Purchase Agreement referred to in the Framework Deed.

2. S ALE OF R ECEIVABLES

Sale and Purchase

2.1 Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set out in Schedule 1 ( Conditions Precedent ) to the Framework Deed and pursuant to Clause 17 ( Conditions Precedent ) of the Framework Deed, each Seller and the Master Purchaser agree that each Seller hereby sells and assigns and the Master Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase on each Purchase Date during the Securitisation Availability Period, on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement:

 

(a) all Receivables owing to each Seller by an Obligor located in an Eligible Country, which are originated by either Seller (as the case may be) on such Purchase Date;

 

(b) all rights, title, benefit and interest in and to such Receivable, including any Value Added Tax;

 

(c) all Related Contract Rights with respect to such Receivable; and

 

(d) any Related Security with respect to such Receivable.

2.2 Each Seller and the Master Purchaser acknowledge and agree that all rights, title, benefit and interest in and to a Receivable, the Related Contract Rights and the Related Security purchased pursuant to Clause 2.1 shall be transferred and assigned automatically on the date on which such Receivables arise.

Transfer of German law governed Receivables

2.3 BSM represents and warrants that as of the Closing Date the BSM German Transfer Agreement has not been terminated and remains in full force and effect, as amended on or about the date hereof.

2.4 LCN represents and warrants that as of the Closing Date the LCN German Transfer Agreement has not been terminated and remains in full force and effect, as amended on or about the date hereof.

 

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Master Receivables Purchase Agreement

CONFORMED COPY

 

2.5 The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the legal transfer of title in respect of the Receivables governed by German law and any Related Contract Rights and Related Security (either governed by German law in relation to rights or located in Germany in relation to movable objects ( bewegliche Sachen )) agreed to be sold and assigned by each of BSM and LCN to the Master Purchaser pursuant to Clause 2.1, shall be effected pursuant to the BSM German Transfer Agreement and the LCN German Transfer Agreement, respectively.

True sale

2.6 For the avoidance of doubt, the parties confirm their intention that the assignment of Receivables pursuant to this Agreement shall constitute a true sale of such Receivables, and not a loan or a security arrangement for any obligations of the Sellers. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Transaction Documents, the Master Purchaser shall have full title and interest in and to the Receivables and the Master Purchaser shall be free to further dispose of such Receivables subject to the Encumbrances created and any restrictions it has accepted under the terms of the Master Purchaser Deed of Charge or any other Master Purchaser Security Document.

2.7 Subject to Clause 6.1 and Clause 6.3, in respect of notification to the Obligors, the Sellers and the Master Purchaser agree and acknowledge that the transfer and assignment of all right, title, benefit and interest to the Receivables, the Related Contract Rights and the Related Security pursuant to Clause 2.1 shall be valid and effective against all third parties as from the transfer and assignment of the Receivables in accordance with Clauses 2.1 and 2.2.

3. D ETERMINATION , P AYMENT OF THE P URCHASE P RICE AND O THER P AYMENTS

3.1 The Purchase Price in respect of each Purchased Receivable consists of the Initial Purchase Price and the Deferred Purchase Price for such Purchased Receivable, as determined in accordance with this Clause 3.

3.2 The Master Purchaser and the Sellers agree that the Purchase Price shall be calculated in respect of each Purchased Receivable by the Servicers. In respect of the Purchased Receivables purchased during any Determination Period, each Seller shall procure that on the Reporting Date immediately preceding the Settlement Date which relates to such Determination Period, the aggregate Outstanding Balances of all the Purchased Receivables purchased from that Seller during that period shall be identified in the relevant Servicer’s Determination Report together with the aggregate Initial Purchase Price for those Purchased Receivables and any Deferred Purchase Price payable on the immediately succeeding Settlement Date.

3.3 The Sellers and the Master Purchaser further acknowledge and agree that:

 

(a)

prior to a Cash Control Event (or following the cure of a Cash Control Event), no payment of Initial Purchase Price or Advance Purchase Price shall be made by the Master Purchaser on any day to the extent that it would result in the aggregate amount then standing to the credit of the Daily Sweep Receivables Purchaser Transaction Accounts being less than the aggregate of the amounts

 

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Master Receivables Purchase Agreement

CONFORMED COPY

 

 

that are estimated by the Funding Agent to be payable by the Master Purchaser on the following Settlement Date at items (a) to (c) of the EUR Pre-Enforcement Priority of Payments and at items (a) to (c) of the US$ Pre-Enforcement Priority of Payments (the EUR PoP Reserve Amounts and the US$ PoP Reserve Amounts , respectively); and

 

(b) the Master Purchaser will only be obliged to make payment on any date for Receivables purchased under this Agreement to the extent that on such date:

 

  (i) there shall be sufficient funds, denominated in the same currency as such Receivables, standing to the credit of the Master Purchaser Accounts and available for such purpose in accordance with this Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Master Purchaser Deed of Charge and the Intercreditor and Indemnity Deed; or

 

  (ii) there is Advance Purchase Price which has been paid to the relevant Seller which is available to be applied towards payment of Initial Purchase Price in accordance with Clause 3.8; or

 

  (iii) if that date is a Settlement Date, to the extent that a drawing can be made:

 

  (A) under the EUR Subordinated VLN Facility (in respect of a payment for EUR Receivables) or the US$ Subordinated VLN Facility (in respect of a payment for US$ Receivables); or

 

  (B) under the Variable Funding Facilities,

in each case subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant facilities.

Initial Purchase Price

3.4 The Initial Purchase Price in respect of a Purchased Receivable purchased pursuant to Clause 2.1 shall be due and payable by the Master Purchaser to the Relevant Seller:

 

(a) prior to a Cash Control Event (other than the event specified in paragraph (c) of that definition) or following the cure of a Cash Control Event, in accordance with Clause 3.3 and Clauses 3.5 to 3.9; or

 

(b) following a Cash Control Event (other than the event specified in paragraph (c) of that definition) which has occurred and is continuing but prior to the Programme Termination Date, on the next Settlement Date after the Purchase Date for such Purchased Receivable subject to Clause 3.3(b) and in accordance with the applicable Master Purchaser Priority of Payment.

3.5 The Master Purchaser and each Seller agree that for the purposes of Clauses 3.3(b) and 3.4(a), the Initial Purchase Price in respect of Purchased Receivables shall be due and payable by the Master Purchaser to the Relevant Seller:

 

(a) on the Purchase Date of such Purchased Receivables, to the extent of Collections received into the Master Purchaser Accounts on that Purchase Date and available for such purpose in accordance with Clause 3.3(a);

 

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(b) to the extent that those Collections are not sufficient for such purpose:

 

  (i) on that immediately following Business Day by application of any Advance Purchase Price available for the purpose in accordance with Clause 3.8, to the extent of that amount; or

 

  (ii) on the immediately following Business Day, by application of amounts standing to the credit of the relevant Daily Sweep Receivables Purchaser Transaction Account and available for the purpose in accordance with Clause 3.3(b) and Clause 3.6(b)(i), to the extent of that amount (unless such Business Day is a Settlement Date, in which case the Initial Purchase Price shall only be payable under this Clause 3.5(b)(ii) in accordance with the relevant Master Purchaser Priority of Payment); and

 

(c) to the extent that any Initial Purchase Price does or would remain unpaid following any payments made under Clause 3.5(a) or (b), on each subsequent date on which amounts are standing to the credit of the Master Purchaser Accounts and available for the purpose in accordance with Clause 3.3 and Clauses 3.6(b)(i) and 3.8.

Payment of Daily Shortfall Amounts and Daily Excess Amounts whilst Downgrade Event outstanding

3.6 For so long as a Downgrade Event is outstanding, if on any day (other than a Settlement Date):

 

(a) there is a Daily Shortfall Amount, the Sellers shall pay to the Master Purchaser by transfer to the Daily Sweep Receivables Purchaser Transaction Account an amount equal to that Daily Shortfall Amount and such payment shall be by 2 p.m. (London time) available to be applied towards payments of Initial Purchase Price on future dates subject to and in accordance with Clause 3.3, 3.5 and 3.6 and to the extent not so applied, to be applied in accordance with the Master Purchaser Priorities of Payments on the next Settlement Date;

 

(b) there is a Daily Excess Amount, the Master Purchaser shall pay to the Sellers by transfer to the Seller Account an amount equal to that Daily Excess Amount and such payment shall be applied (i) first to the payment of any Initial Purchase Price which then remains unpaid and (ii) to the extent that no Initial Purchase Price remains unpaid following such application in payment of Advance Purchase Price to the Sellers. Any such payment of Advance Purchase Price shall be deemed to be made to the Sellers on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in Clauses 3.8 and 3.9 of this Agreement.

3.7 In respect of any payment of Initial Purchase Price to be made pursuant to Clause 3.5 and 3.6, the Master Purchaser shall procure that the Servicers debit the

 

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relevant Master Purchaser Accounts and credit in favour of the Sellers the relevant Seller Account, subject to and in accordance with Clauses 4.4 and 4.5 ( Transfers between Master Purchaser Accounts – prior to a Cash Control Event ) of the Servicing Agreement.

Advance Purchase Price

3.8 Subject to the provisions of Clause 3.3 and 3.6 above, the Sellers and the Master Purchaser agree that, prior to the Programme Termination Date and so long as a Cash Control Event has not occurred, or if it has occurred, is not continuing, to the extent that the aggregate Collections on any date exceed the aggregate amount of the Initial Purchase Price of Receivables purchased on such date or in the circumstances described in Clause 3.6(b)(ii), an amount equal to such excess Collections, or as applicable, the amount specified in Clause 3.6(b)(ii) shall be paid to each Seller by way of advance payment made by the Master Purchaser to each Seller on account of the Initial Purchase Price that will or may become payable by the Master Purchaser to each Seller for purchases of Receivables on subsequent Purchase Dates (the Advance Purchase Price ). Any Advance Purchase Price paid to a Seller shall, to the extent that such Advance Purchase Price has not been repaid by the Seller to the Master Purchaser, be applied towards the Initial Purchase Price payable to such Seller in respect of Purchased Receivables which arise on subsequent Purchase Dates.

Return of Advance Purchase Price

3.9 Each Seller shall, in respect of any Advance Purchase Price received by it to the extent it has not been applied towards the payment of Initial Purchase Price in accordance with Clauses 3.5 3.5 and 3.8, repay that Advance Purchase Price to the Master Purchaser by transfer to the Daily Sweep Receivables Purchaser Transaction Account:

 

(a) if a Downgrade Event is not outstanding, no later than 11 a.m. on the Settlement Date following the Determination Period in which the Advance Purchase Price was paid to the relevant Seller; and

 

(b) for so long as a Downgrade Event is outstanding, no later than 2 p.m. on any Business Day and to the extent to which it is required to be repaid in accordance with Clause 3.6(a) and 3.6(b).

Payment of Deferred Purchase Price

3.10 Subject to the provisions of Clause 3.3(b), the Deferred Purchase Price in respect of a Purchased Receivable shall be payable by the Master Purchaser to the Relevant Seller as deferred consideration as follows:

 

(a) on each Settlement Date, subject to and in accordance with the relevant Master Purchaser Priority of Payments, the Master Purchaser shall pay to the Relevant Seller as the aggregate Deferred Purchase Price in respect of all Purchased Receivables sold previously hereunder to the Master Purchaser by such Seller an amount equal to the DPP Collections applicable to that Seller collected during the immediately preceding Determination Period; and

 

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(b) with effect from the end of the Securitisation Availability Period the payment of any amounts of Deferred Purchase Price which would otherwise be payable to a Seller in accordance with paragraph (a) above shall be deferred to the date when:

 

  (i) all amounts outstanding under the Variable Funding Agreement and the Notes and any other amounts payable in priority to such Deferred Purchase Price in the applicable Master Purchaser Priority of Payments shall have been paid in full; and

 

  (ii) no Note Purchaser or Noteholder shall have any commitment under the Variable Funding Agreement or any Note and no Master Purchaser Secured Creditor ranking senior to the Sellers in respect of such Deferred Purchase Price in the applicable Master Purchaser Priority of Payments shall be owed any amount by the Master Purchaser.

No Other Payment for Purchased Receivables

3.11 The Master Purchaser shall not be obliged to pay any sum to a Seller in respect of the Purchase Price of a Purchased Receivable except as provided for in this Clause 3.

Set-offs for Stamp Duty

3.12 The Master Purchaser shall be entitled, (to the extent applicable and if it so elects and in or towards satisfaction of the Relevant Seller’s obligations) to off-set against the Purchase Price or any part of it payable by it any stamp duty or any similar tax or duty on documents or the transfer of title to property arising in the context of this Agreement which has not been paid by the Relevant Seller.

Liens and rescission

3.13 Each Seller agrees that for any unpaid amounts of Purchase Price due on any date, it shall not have and (to the extent it has, it waives) any liens including any unpaid seller’s lien. Each Seller irrevocably waives the right to seek the rescission of this Agreement.

4. R EPURCHASE OF C REDIT I NSURED R ECEIVABLES

4.1 The Master Purchaser shall, if so requested in writing by a Seller at the time of delivery of a Servicer’s Determination Report, on the Settlement Date following delivery of such Servicer’s Determination Report, sell and assign any Purchased Receivable, the Related Contract Rights and the Related Security to the Relevant Seller if that Seller has certified in writing that a Credit Insurer has required the assignment to it of any claims or rights under the Contract to which such Purchased Receivable relates or otherwise relating to such Purchased Receivable in connection with any payment to that Seller by such Credit Insurer in respect of its Credit Insurance Policy provided in relation to such Contract or Purchased Receivable.

 

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4.2 As consideration for the sale and assignment of any Purchased Receivable pursuant to Clause 4.1, the Relevant Seller shall pay to the Master Purchaser on such Settlement Date by transfer to a Master Purchaser Account an amount equal to the Outstanding Balance of the relevant Purchased Receivable on such Settlement Date and the amount paid by the Relevant Seller pursuant to this Clause 4.2 shall be treated as a Deemed Collection in respect of the relevant Purchased Receivable.

5. R EPRESENTATIONS , W ARRANTIES AND U NDERTAKINGS

Representations and Warranties by each Seller on the Closing Date

5.1 On the Closing Date, each Seller represents and warrants to the Master Purchaser, the Security Trustee and the Funding Agent in the terms set out in paragraphs (a) to (e) and (h) of Part A of Schedule 1 hereto with reference to the facts and circumstances then subsisting.

Representations and Warranties by each Seller on the Funding Date

5.2 On the Funding Date, each Seller represents and warrants to the Master Purchaser, the Security Trustee and the Funding Agent in the terms set out in Part A of Schedule 1 hereto with reference to the facts and circumstances then subsisting.

Representations and Warranties by each Seller on each Purchase Date

5.3 On each Purchase Date, each Seller represents and warrants to the Master Purchaser, the Security Trustee and the Funding Agent in the terms set out in Part A of Schedule 1 hereto, and in respect of the Purchased Receivables sold or purported to be sold by it to the Master Purchaser on that Purchase Date, in the terms set out in Part B of Schedule 1 hereto, in each case with reference to the facts and circumstances then subsisting.

General Undertakings of each Seller

5.4 Each Seller undertakes with the Master Purchaser, the Security Trustee and the Funding Agent as follows:

 

(a) Compliance with Laws, Etc.:

It will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders and preserve and maintain its corporate existence, all its rights, franchises, qualifications, licences, authorisations and privileges except to the extent that the failure so to comply or the failure so to preserve could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) Compliance with Transaction Documents and Solvency Certificate:

 

  (i) Until such time as all the liabilities of each Seller and the Master Purchaser under the Transaction Documents have been discharged and without prejudice to Clause 5.5, it shall deliver to the Master Purchaser:

 

  (A) (i) prior to the occurrence of a Termination Event, Potential Termination Event or Cash Control Event, not later than 30 days after every anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) after the occurrence of a Termination Event, Potential Termination Event or Cash Control Event, not later than 30 days after each third Settlement Date, a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 3 from the Authorised Representative of the relevant Seller stating that, to the best of such director’s or directors’ knowledge, the relevant Seller during such period has observed or performed all of its undertakings, and satisfied every condition, contained in this Agreement to be observed, performed or satisfied by it on or prior to the date of such certificate, and that such director(s) has no knowledge of any Termination Event, Potential Termination Event or Cash Control Event except as specified in such certificate;

 

  (B) on the third Business Day prior to each Settlement Date a solvency certificate in the form contained in Schedule 2; and

 

  (C) promptly and from time to time such information, documents, records or reports concerning such Receivables and/or the Obligors (to the extent such Obligors have given their consent to that effect, where required) and such additional financial information in connection therewith as the Master Purchaser may reasonably request.

 

  (ii) It shall promptly notify the Master Purchaser immediately upon being notified of or becoming aware of the occurrence of any Termination Event, Potential Termination Event or Cash Control Event.

 

  (iii) It shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that all information and reports furnished by it or on its behalf under the Transaction Documents are accurate in all material respects.

 

(c) Offices, Records, Name and Organisation:

It will keep its principal place of business and chief executive office at the applicable address set out in Schedule 5 hereto or such other address in the Netherlands as may, upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice, be notified to the Funding Agent, the Security Trustee and the Master Purchaser. It shall procure that records concerning the Purchased Receivables sold or purported to be sold by it are kept at either (i) its principal place of business or (ii) the principal place of business of any sub-agent appointed under Clause 15 ( Sub Contracts ) of the Servicing Agreement. It will not change its name or its status as a private company with limited liability, unless (i) it shall have provided the Funding Agent and the Master Purchaser with at least 30 days’ prior written notice thereof, and (ii) no later than the effective date of such change, all actions, documents and agreements reasonably requested by the Master Purchaser or the Funding Agent to protect and perfect the Master

 

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Purchaser’s interest in the Receivables, the Related Security and the other assets of the Seller in which a security interest is granted under the Transaction Documents have been taken and completed. It will also maintain and implement administrative and operating procedures (including, without limitation, an ability to recreate records evidencing Purchased Receivables and Related Contract Rights in the event of the destruction of the originals thereof), and keep and maintain all documents, books, records and other information reasonably necessary for the collection of all Purchased Receivables sold or purported to be sold by it (including, without limitation, records adequate to permit the daily identification of each Purchased Receivable and all Collections of and adjustments to each existing Purchased Receivable).

 

(d) Performance and Compliance with Contracts and the Seller Credit and Collection Procedures:

It will, at its expense, timely and fully perform and comply with all material provisions, covenants and other promises required to be observed by it under the Contracts related to the Purchased Receivables, and timely and fully comply in all material respects with the relevant Seller Credit and Collection Procedures in regard to each Purchased Receivable and the Related Contract Rights.

 

(e) Extension or Amendment of Receivables:

Except as provided in Clause 5.4(d) above or to protect the Master Purchaser’s interest in the Purchased Receivables it will not (and will not permit the Servicer or the Master Purchaser to) extend, amend or otherwise modify the terms of any Purchased Receivable, or amend, modify or waive any term or condition of any Contract related thereto, provided that it shall at all times comply with the relevant Seller Credit and Collection Procedures.

 

(f) Change in business or Seller Credit and Collection Procedures:

It will not make any change in the character of its business or in the relevant Seller Credit and Collection Procedures that could, in either case, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(g) Change in Payment Instructions to Obligors:

It will not add or terminate any bank, post office box or bank account as an Account Bank or a Master Purchaser Account, or make any changes to the instructions to Obligors regarding payments to be made to the Master Purchaser or payments to be made to any Master Purchaser Account (which instructions shall be, for the avoidance of doubt, in accordance with Clause 6 hereof), unless (i) the Funding Agent shall have given its prior written consent to such addition, termination or change, and (ii) a security document and/or bank account agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Funding Agent shall have been entered into in respect of each new bank, post office box or bank account, as the case may be.

 

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(h) Deposit to Master Purchaser Accounts:

It will (or will cause the relevant Servicer to) comply with the provisions of Clause 6 below. If it shall receive any Collections otherwise than directly into a Master Purchaser Account, it shall immediately (and in any event within one Business Day) deposit the same to a Master Purchaser Account and any such amount received by a Seller shall be held by such Seller on trust for the Master Purchaser until such time as such amount is paid into a Master Purchaser Account. It will not deposit or otherwise credit, or cause to be deposited or credited, to any Master Purchaser Account, cash or cash proceeds other than Collections. It undertakes not to open any accounts, in its name or otherwise, into which Obligors will be directed to make payments in respect of Purchased Receivables other than the Master Purchaser Accounts.

 

(i) Marking of Records:

At its expense, it will maintain in its data processing records and systems a list of Purchased Receivables that have been sold and assigned in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(j) Further Assurances:

It agrees from time to time, at its expense, promptly to execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and to take all further actions, that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Funding Agent may reasonably request, to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the interests in the Receivables purchased under this Agreement, or to enable the Master Purchaser or the Funding Agent to exercise and enforce their respective rights and remedies under this Agreement.

 

(k) Transaction Documents:

It will not amend, waive or modify any provision of any Transaction Document without the prior written consent of the Funding Agent and the Master Purchaser.

 

(l) Nature of Business:

It will not engage in any business other than the Sale of Products and the transactions contemplated in the Transaction Documents.

 

(m) Mergers, Etc.:

It will not merge with or into or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions), all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock or other ownership interest of, or enter into any joint venture or partnership agreement with, any person, other than as contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Funding Agent.

 

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(n) Distribution, Etc.:

It will not declare or make any dividend payment or other distribution of assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations or securities on account of any shares of any class of its shares, or return any capital to its shareholders as such, or purchase, retire, defease, redeem or otherwise acquire for value or make any payment in respect of any shares of any class of its capital stock or any warrants, rights or options to acquire any such shares, now or hereafter outstanding; provided , however , that it may declare and pay cash dividends to its shareholders so long as (i) no Termination Event or Potential Termination Event shall then exist or would occur as a result thereof, (ii) such dividends are in compliance with all applicable law including the corporate law of the state of its incorporation, and (iii) such dividends have been approved by all necessary and appropriate corporate action.

 

(o) Debt:

It will not incur any debt:

 

  (i) from a bank or other financial institution except in the ordinary course of its activities, or

 

  (ii) from any other member of the LyondellBasell Group where such inter-company debt (x) represents the onloan (directly or indirectly) of debt incurred from a bank or other financial institution which is not (A) Seller Permitted Indebtedness or (B) incurred by a Seller in the ordinary course of business or (C) incurred pursuant to this Agreement, and (y) where the aggregate amount outstanding of all such inter-company debt incurred by LCN and BSM would be, when taking into account the proposed additional debt, in excess of EUR 100 million or the equivalent thereof of any amount in any currency other than EUR at any time at the spot rate of euro exchange of the Funding Agent for the exchange of such currency against the euro at 11 a.m. (London time) on the date of determination,

other than any debt incurred pursuant to this Agreement and the Seller Permitted Indebtedness, nor will it create any Encumbrance on its assets other than a Seller Permitted Encumbrance.

 

(p) Place of business

Each Seller undertakes that:

 

  (i) it will:

 

  (A) maintain its registered office in the jurisdiction of its incorporation; and

 

  (B) maintain its “centre of main interests” (as that expression is used in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1346/2000 of 29 May 2000 on insolvency proceedings (the Insolvency Regulation )) in the Netherlands; and

 

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  (ii) it will not maintain an “establishment” (as that expression is used in the Insolvency Regulation) in any jurisdiction other than the Netherlands, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Kazakhstan and Slovakia.

Information Undertakings of the Sellers:

5.5 Either LCN or BSM will provide to, or procure that there are provided to, the Funding Agent and the Master Purchaser (in multiple copies, if requested by the Funding Agent or the Master Purchaser) the following:

 

(a) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year, management accounts of the Parent and each Seller as of the end of such quarter certified by the chief financial officer of the Parent and each Seller respectively;

 

(b) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the LyondellBasell Group, a copy of the consolidated annual report for such year for the LyondellBasell Group, containing financial statements for such year audited by independent public accountants of recognised national standing;

 

(c) at the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in paragraph (b) of this Clause 5.5, a certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of each Seller to the effect that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, no Termination Event has occurred and is continuing or, if any Termination Event has occurred and is continuing, specifying the nature and extent thereof;

 

(d) as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the occurrence of each Termination Event or Potential Termination Event, a statement of the chief financial officer of the relevant Seller setting forth details of such Termination Event or Potential Termination Event and the action that such Seller has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(e) at least 30 days prior to any change in the name or jurisdiction of organisation of a Seller, a notice setting forth the new name or jurisdiction of organisation and the effective date thereof;

 

(f) so long as any Capital shall be outstanding, as soon as possible and in any event no later than the day of occurrence thereof, notice that a Seller has stopped selling pursuant to this Agreement, all newly arising Receivables;

 

(g) promptly provide to the Funding Agent and the Master Purchaser a copy of any auditors’ report delivered in relation to any Seller, whether in connection with a semi-annual or annual audit or otherwise;

 

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(h) promptly provide to the Funding Agent and the Master Purchaser details of any court proceedings to which any Seller is a party or of any events or proceedings of which any Seller is aware which may result in any Seller becoming subject to proceedings before the courts of any jurisdiction in respect of which, if such proceedings were to be determined against the relevant Seller, the liability of the relevant Seller in respect of which proceedings would in aggregate exceed EUR 25,000,000; and

 

(i) promptly notify the Funding Agent and the Master Purchaser of the occurrence of any event specified in paragraphs (p), (q) or (r) of Schedule 2 ( Termination Events ) to the Framework Deed in relation to the Parent.

Covenant of the Sellers; Reviews

5.6 Until the latest of the Programme Termination Date or the date on which no Receivable shall be outstanding or the date all other amounts owed by the Sellers hereunder to the Master Purchaser or the Funding Agent are paid in full:

 

(a) each Seller will, at its expense, from time to time, upon prior written notice, during regular business hours as requested by the Funding Agent, permit the Funding Agent, or its agents or representatives:

 

  (i) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from all books, records and documents (including, without limitation, computer tapes and disks) in the possession or under the control of such Seller, as the case may be, relating to Purchased Receivables and the Related Security, including, without limitation, the Contracts, and

 

  (ii) to visit the offices and properties of such Seller, for the purpose of examining such materials described in paragraph (i) above, and to discuss matters relating to Purchased Receivables and the Related Security or such Seller’s performance under the Transaction Documents or under the Contracts with any of the officers or employees of such Seller having knowledge of such matters,

 

(b)

the Funding Agent may appoint independent public accountants or other persons acceptable to the Funding Agent to carry out a Review and to prepare and deliver to the Funding Agent and the Master Purchaser a written report with respect to the Receivables and the Seller Credit and Collection Procedures (including, in each case, the systems, procedures and records relating thereto) on a scope and in a form reasonably requested by the Funding Agent (acting on the instruction, and with the prior written consent of the Note Purchasers). The expense of four periodic Reviews in each calendar year shall be borne by the Sellers; provided, however, that after the occurrence and during the continuance of an event which, but for notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a Servicer Default, or after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Potential Termination Event or a Termination Event, or if there shall occur a material change in Seller Credit and Collection Procedures or in a Servicer’s reporting systems relating to the Receivables or used in the preparation of the Servicer Reports, or data in any Servicer Report is incorrect

 

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or any Seller has difficulty providing the data to the Servicers or following an audit report indicating an audit deficiency, the expense of any additional audits, examinations, reports and visits as the Funding Agent shall deem necessary under the circumstances shall be borne by the Sellers.

Representations and Warranties by the Master Purchaser on the Closing Date and on the Funding Date

5.7 The Master Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to each of the Sellers and the Funding Agent on the Closing Date and on the Funding Date as follows:

 

(a) Status : it is duly incorporated with limited liability and validly existing under the laws of Ireland;

 

(b) Powers and Authorisations : the documents which contain or establish its constitution include provisions which give power, and all necessary corporate authority has been obtained and action taken, for it to own its assets, carry on its business and operations as they are now being conducted and to sign and deliver, and perform the transactions contemplated in, the Transaction Documents to which it is a party;

 

(c) Legal Validity: its obligations under the Transaction Documents constitute, or when executed by it will constitute, its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganisation, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally;

 

(d) Ordinary course of business: the Master Purchaser represents and warrants that each remittance in respect of the Purchased Receivables by any of the Sellers to the Master Purchaser under this Agreement will have been (i) in payment of a debt incurred by the Seller in the ordinary course of business or financial affairs of the Seller and the Master Purchaser and (ii) made in the ordinary course of business or financial affairs of the Seller and the Master Purchaser;

 

(e) Non-Violation : the execution, signing and delivery of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the performance of any of the transactions contemplated in any of them:

 

  (i) do not and will not contravene or breach or constitute a default under or conflict or be inconsistent with or cause to be exceeded any limitation on it or the powers of its directors imposed by or contained in:

 

  (A) any law, statute, decree, rule, regulation or licence to which it or any of its assets or revenues is subject or of any order, judgment, injunction, decree, resolution, determination or award of any court or any judicial, administrative, or governmental authority or organisation which applies to it or any of its assets or revenues; or

 

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  (B) any document which contains or establishes its constitution; and

 

  (ii) as of the Funding Date, do not and will not contravene or breach or constitute a default under or conflict or be inconsistent with or cause to be exceeded any limitation on it or the powers of its directors imposed by or contained in any agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bond, or any other document, instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which any of its assets or revenues is bound or affected;

 

(f) Consents: no authorisation, approval, consent, licence, exemption, registration, recording, filing or notarisation and no payment of any duty or tax and no other action whatsoever which has not been duly and unconditionally obtained, made or taken is required to ensure the creation, validity, legality, enforceability or priority of its liabilities and obligations or of the rights of the Sellers against it under the Transaction Documents save for (i) the delivery of the particulars of the security created pursuant to the Master Purchaser Security Documents in the prescribed form to the Registrar of Companies in Ireland within 21 days of the creation of such security in accordance with section 99 of the Companies Act, 1963 (as amended) of Ireland and (ii) the delivery of the particulars of such security to the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland in accordance with section 1001 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 (as amended) of Ireland; and

 

(g) Solvency: it is solvent and able and expects to be able to pay its debts as they fall due.

6. P ROTECTION OF INTERESTS AND NOTIFICATIONS TO OBLIGORS

6.1 BSM undertakes that it shall:

 

(a) subject to Clause 6.2, include in all Invoices issued by it in respect of Purchased Receivables the following wording (or a translation of such wording, approved by the Funding Agent, in a language appropriate to the relevant Obligor):

“Notice is hereby given that the receivable owed by you in respect of the amounts set out in this invoice has been sold and assigned by Basell Sales & Marketing Company B.V. to Basell Polyolefins Collections Limited (a company incorporated in Ireland with registered number 405558 whose registered office is at 53 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland) in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of a master receivables purchase agreement dated 4 May 2010 (as amended); and

 

(b) instruct all Obligors to pay amounts in respect of BSM Purchased Receivables directly into a Master Purchaser Account.

 

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6.2 For the purposes of Clause 6.1(a), BSM shall include such wording on all Invoices issued by it or on its behalf in respect of Purchased Receivables as follows:

 

(a) from the Closing Date, it shall include on all Invoices the wording from the beginning of the first line up to but excluding the words ‘4 May 2010 (as amended)’ on the seventh line of the paragraph and in its place the Invoice shall include instead the words ‘29 June 2006’ ; and

 

(b) as soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing Date and in any event within fifteen Business Days of the Closing Date, it shall include on all Invoices, in its entirety, the paragraph provided for in Clause 6.1(a).

6.3 LCN undertakes that it shall:

 

(a) include in all Invoices issued by it thereafter in respect of Purchased Receivables the following wording (or a translation of such wording, approved by the Funding Agent, in a language appropriate to the relevant Obligor):

“Notice is hereby given that the receivable owed by you in respect of the amounts set out in this invoice has been sold and assigned by Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V. to Basell Polyolefins Collections Limited (a company incorporated in Ireland with registered number 405558 whose registered office is at 53 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland) in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of a master receivables purchase agreement dated 4 May 2010 (as amended) and that Basell Polyolefins Collections Limited has assigned such receivable by way of security to Citicorp Trustee Company Limited (a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 00235914 whose registered office is at 14 th Floor, Citigroup Centre, 33 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB) in accordance with and subject to the terms of a deed of charge dated 4 May 2010 (as amended, restated and supplemented from time to time) or a German assignment agreement dated 28 April 2010 (in the case of a receivable governed by German law)”; and

 

(b) instruct all Obligors to pay amounts in respect of LCN Purchased Receivables directly into a Master Purchaser Account.

6.4 For the purposes of Clause 6.3(a), LCN shall include such wording on all Invoices issued by it or on its behalf in respect of Purchased Receivables as follows:

 

(a) from the Closing Date, it shall include on all Invoices the wording in Clause 6.3(a) except:

 

  (i) for the words ‘28 April 2010’ wherever such words appear and in its place the Invoice shall include instead the words ‘8 July 2009’; and

 

  (ii) for the words ‘4 May 2010’ wherever such words appear and in its place the Invoice shall include instead the words ‘29 June 2006’;

 

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(b) as soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing Date and in any event within fifteen Business Days of the Closing Date, it shall include on all Invoices, in its entirety, the paragraph provided for in Clause 6.3(a)

6.5 BSM will on or before the Closing Date execute a power of attorney substantially in the form set out in Part A of Schedule 4 (the BSM Master Purchaser Receivables Power of Attorney ) and deliver the same to the order of the Master Purchaser on such date.

6.6 LCN will on or before the Closing Date execute a power of attorney substantially in the form set out in Part B of Schedule 4 (the LCN Master Purchaser Receivables Power of Attorney ), and together with the BSM Master Purchaser Receivables Power of Attorney, the Master Purchaser Receivables Powers of Attorney and each a Master Purchaser Receivables Power of Attorney ) and deliver the same to the order of the Master Purchaser on such date.

6.7 Each Seller hereby agrees and acknowledges that, if at any time the Funding Agent determines, in its discretion, that such actions would be necessary or desirable for the protection of the interests of the Master Purchaser, the Note Purchasers and/or the Noteholders, or is so directed by the Note Purchasers under the Intercreditor and Indemnity Deed, the Funding Agent and the Master Purchaser shall each be entitled to, and the Master Purchaser (if so instructed by the Funding Agent) shall take such action as it reasonably considers to be necessary in order to, recover any amount outstanding in respect of Purchased Receivables or to improve, protect, preserve or enforce the Master Purchaser’s rights against the Obligors in respect of Purchased Receivables.

6.8 Each Seller undertakes that if, following the notification to an Obligor of the sale and assignment of Purchased Receivables owed by such Obligor, such Obligor contacts the Seller, the Seller shall confirm to the Obligor the sale and assignment of the relevant Purchased Receivable, that the Master Purchaser is entitled to all amounts owed in respect of the Purchased Receivable and that the Obligor should comply with any payment instructions received from the Master Purchaser, the Funding Agent or any Alternate Collection Agent.

7. T ERMINATION

Termination Event – no further obligation to purchase

7.1 If any Termination Event shall occur and be continuing, the Master Purchaser may in its discretion, and the Funding Agent shall if so directed by Note Purchasers, deliver a Termination Event Notice to each of the Sellers, the Parent and the Servicers. Upon delivery of such Termination Event Notice, the Master Purchaser shall have no further obligation to purchase any further Receivables from the Sellers. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the date of delivery of a Termination Event Notice, the Programme Termination Date shall have occurred and on such date the Master Purchaser shall have no further obligation to purchase any further Receivables from the Sellers.

 

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Termination Event – Set off

7.2 Following the occurrence of a Termination Event due to any insolvency event affecting a Seller, each of the Master Purchaser, the Funding Agent and the Security Trustee shall be entitled without notice (but shall not be obliged) to set off any obligation which is due and payable by that Seller and unpaid against any obligation (whether or not matured) owed under any Transaction Document by the Master Purchaser or the Funding Agent (as the case may be) to that Seller regardless of the place of payment or currency of either obligation.

Termination by a Seller – merger

7.3 A Seller may terminate its agreement to sell Receivables to the Master Purchaser at any time by giving five Business Days’ notice in writing to the Master Purchaser and the Funding Agent provided that either:

 

(a) the business of such Seller is merged or amalgamated with the other Seller; or

 

(b) the other Seller, acting jointly with such Seller, terminates its agreement to sell receivables by also giving five Business Days’ notice in writing to the Master Purchaser and the Funding Agent.

Continuing Effect

7.4 The termination by a Seller of its agreement to sell Receivables to the Master Purchaser pursuant to Clause 7.3 above shall not affect any rights or obligations of the parties in relation to any Receivables purchased prior to such termination and the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to bind the parties to the extent and for so far and so long as may be necessary to give effect to such rights and obligations. The covenants, obligations and undertakings contained in this Agreement and the rights and remedies in this Agreement in respect of any representation, warranty or statement made under or in connection with this Agreement and the indemnification and other payment obligations in this Agreement shall continue and remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.

8. R EMEDIES FOR B REACH OF W ARRANTY

Non-Conforming Receivables

8.1 If any representation or warranty set out in Part A of Schedule 1 insofar as it relates to the assignability, collectability, validity or enforceability of a Purchased Receivable or if any representation or warranty set out in Part B of Schedule 1 in respect of a Purchased Receivable proves to have been incorrect on the relevant Purchase Date and remains incorrect, or if the relevant Purchased Receivable has never existed (each affected Purchased Receivable being a Non-Conforming Receivable ) the Relevant Seller, in respect of each Non-Conforming Receivable, shall treat the amount equal to the Outstanding Balance of the relevant Non-Conforming Receivable as a Deemed Collection and the Relevant Seller shall pay to the relevant Master Purchaser Account an amount equal to the Outstanding Balance of the relevant Non-Conforming Receivable on the next Settlement Date. Notwithstanding

 

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the fact that the Deemed Collection shall be paid by the Relevant Seller on the next Settlement Date, for all other purposes including, without limitation, the calculation of the Daily Asset Base, the Deemed Collection shall be deemed to have been received as of the day such Non-Conforming Receivable arises. To the extent that a Seller has made a payment to the Master Purchaser in respect of a Non-Conforming Receivable in accordance with this Clause 8.1 and an actual Collection is subsequently received by the Master Purchaser in respect of such Non-Conforming Receivable, the Master Purchaser will pay to that Seller on the immediately succeeding Settlement Date, in accordance with the applicable Master Purchaser Priority of Payments and by way of refund of the payment made by the Seller pursuant to this Clause 8.1, an amount equal to the Collection so received in respect of such Non-Conforming Receivable.

Dilutions

8.2 If a Dilution occurs in respect of any Purchased Receivable, the Relevant Seller shall be deemed to have received a collection in an amount equal to each such Dilution and on the next Settlement Date shall pay to the relevant Master Purchaser Account an amount equal to such Dilution and the amount paid by the Relevant Seller pursuant to this Clause 8.2 shall be treated as a Deemed Collection in respect of the relevant Purchased Receivable. Notwithstanding the fact that the Relevant Seller shall make payment in respect of the Dilution on the next Settlement Date, for all other purposes including, without limitation, the calculation of the Daily Asset Base, the Dilution shall be deemed to have occurred as of the day such Dilution arises.

Means of remedying breach

8.3 For the avoidance of doubt, the payment by a Seller in full of the amount due in respect of any Purchased Receivable under Clause 8.1 or Clause 8.2 on the date on which it is due will remedy any breach or default by such Seller in respect of that Receivable or the relevant part thereof and the Master Purchaser and the Funding Agent shall not have any other right or remedy in respect of such breach or default.

Recoupment of Value Added Tax

8.4 For the purpose of ensuring recoupment of any value added tax forming part of a Purchased Receivable:

 

(a) all or part of which remains unpaid after the statutory period for purposes of claiming bad debt relief has elapsed; or

 

(b) the Outstanding Balance of which is, or would be, reduced, adjusted or cancelled by the Relevant Seller,

the Relevant Seller will use its reasonable endeavours to recover such value added tax to the extent that the Relevant Seller is legally entitled to claim a repayment of such value added tax (or the appropriate part thereof) from the appropriate tax authorities, and shall, upon receipt of any amount in respect of such value added tax, to the extent that the Master Purchaser has not already been fully compensated for the non-receipt of such part of the Purchased Receivable as is equal to the valued added tax charged

 

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thereon, promptly remit the net amount not so compensated to the Master Purchaser and any such net amount will be paid into a Master Purchaser Account and treated as a Collection. The Relevant Seller will make such accounting write-offs and transfers and raise such credit notes as may be necessary or desirable for this purpose, and take all such other steps as may be reasonably requested by the Master Purchaser provided that the Relevant Seller shall not be required to take any steps which it reasonably considers will unduly prejudice its tax affairs. At the request of the Relevant Seller and whether or not any amounts are payable to the Master Purchaser under this Clause 8.4, the Master Purchaser may, or at such time as the Master Purchaser is fully compensated, will, reassign or re-transfer such Purchased Receivable to the Relevant Seller, who will accept such re-assignment or re-transfer of any such Purchased Receivable (for a nil or nominal consideration), solely for the purpose of facilitating recoupment of such value added tax.

9. P ROTECTION OF M ASTER P URCHASER , F URTHER A SSURANCE

Non Petition Undertaking

9.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, or the winding up of the Master Purchaser, no Seller will take any corporate action or other steps or legal proceedings for the winding up, dissolution or reorganisation or examination or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee, liquidator, examiner, sequestrator or similar officer of the Master Purchaser or of any or all of the revenues and assets of the Master Purchaser nor participate in any ex parte proceedings nor seek to enforce any judgment against the Master Purchaser.

Further Assurance

9.2 Each Seller agrees that from time to time it will, at its own cost, promptly execute and deliver all instruments and documents, and take all further action as the Master Purchaser or the Funding Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the Master Purchaser’s interest in the Purchased Receivables and any proceeds thereof.

Enforcement

9.3 Each Seller hereby irrevocably consents to the Master Purchaser (or the Funding Agent on its behalf) or the Security Trustee at any time after the occurrence of a Termination Event, for its own benefit commencing proceedings in the name of such Seller in respect of any of the Purchased Receivables.

Currency Indemnity

9.4 If any payment under this Agreement is made or fails to be satisfied in a currency (the payment currency ) other than the currency in which such payment is expressed to be due (the contractual currency ) then the Seller making such payment as a separate and independent obligation shall indemnify and hold harmless (on an after-Tax basis) the Master Purchaser to the extent that the amount of the payment actually received by the Master Purchaser when converted into the contractual currency by the Master Purchaser purchasing the contractual currency (with the sum received) falls short of the amount expressed to be due.

 

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Payment to the Seller Accounts

9.5 Whenever any amount is due, owing or payable to a Seller under or in connection with this Agreement, payment of such sum in cleared funds into the relevant Seller Account, or as otherwise directed in writing by the Relevant Seller at least two Business Days before any such payment is due to be made, shall constitute a complete discharge of the Master Purchaser’s obligation to pay such amounts. For the purposes of this Clause 9.5, where an amount is payable in EUR, the reference to the Seller Account shall be construed as a reference to the relevant Seller EUR Account. Where an amount is payable in US$, the reference to the Seller Account shall be construed as a reference to the relevant Seller US$ Account and where an amount is payable in GBP, the reference to the Seller Account shall be construed as a reference to the relevant Seller GBP Account.

Appropriation of Payments

9.6 If a person owing a payment obligation in respect of a Purchased Receivable makes a general payment to the Relevant Seller on account both of a Purchased Receivable which the Master Purchaser has purchased or agreed to purchase and of any other moneys due for any reason whatsoever to the Relevant Seller and makes no apportionment between them then such payment shall be treated as though the person had appropriated it first to the Purchased Receivable which the Master Purchaser has purchased or agreed to purchase and the proceeds of or comprised in such payment up to the full amount due or to become due in respect of the Purchased Receivable shall accordingly be the property of the Master Purchaser and the Relevant Seller shall immediately and without deduction transfer that amount in accordance with Clause 4 ( Collection of Receivables ) of the Servicing Agreement and shall in the meantime hold such moneys as fiduciary agent for the Master Purchaser.

10. S ECURITY T RUSTEE

The Security Trustee (for itself and in its capacity as trustee under the Master Purchaser Deed of Charge) has agreed to become a party to this Agreement in order to receive the benefit of the warranties, covenants, undertakings and indemnities expressed in its favour, for agreeing amendments to this Agreement and for the better preservation and enforcement of the Security Trustee’s rights under the Master Purchaser Deed of Charge. However, the Security Trustee shall not assume or incur any obligation or liability whatsoever to the other parties hereto by virtue of the provisions contained in this Agreement.

11. C OUNTERPARTS

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a counterpart of this Agreement by e-mail attachment or telecopy shall be an effective mode of delivery.

 

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12. G OVERNING LAW

This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in relation to this Agreement are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, English law.

13. J URISDICTION

The provisions of Clause 4 of the Framework Deed shall apply to this Agreement on the basis set out therein.

 

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SCHEDULE 1

Part A

Representations and Warranties relating to the Sellers

 

(a) Status: it is a private company with limited liability ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the Netherlands and is duly qualified to do business in every jurisdiction where the nature of its business requires it to be so qualified except where failure to so qualify could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) Place of business:

 

  (i) it will:

 

  (A) maintain its registered office in the jurisdiction of its incorporation; and

 

  (B) maintain its “centre of main interests” (as that expression is used in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1346/2000 of 29 May 2000 on insolvency proceedings (the Insolvency Regulation )) in the Netherlands; and

 

  (ii) it will not maintain an “establishment” (as that expression is used in the Insolvency Regulation) in any jurisdiction other than the Netherlands, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Kazakhstan and Slovakia; and

 

(c) Capacity and authorisation: the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement or of any other Transaction Document to which it is a party and any other documents to be delivered by it hereunder:

 

  (i) are within its corporate powers;

 

  (ii) have been duly authorised by all necessary corporate action;

 

  (iii) do not contravene:

 

  (A) its articles of association;

 

  (B) any law, rule or regulation applicable to it;

 

  (C) any contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or its property; or

 

  (D) any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or its property; and

 

  (iv) do not result in or require the creation of any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of its properties. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it;

 

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(d) Consents: no authorisation or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party or any other document to be delivered by it hereunder;

 

(e) Legal Validity: this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which it is a party constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of it enforceable against it in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally;

 

(f) Servicer Reports: each Servicer Report (if prepared by it or one of its affiliates, or to the extent that information contained therein is supplied in writing by it or an affiliate), information, exhibit, financial statement, document, book, record or report furnished or to be furnished at any time by or on behalf of it to the Funding Agent or the Master Purchaser, in connection with this Agreement is or will be accurate in all material respects as of its date or (except as otherwise disclosed to the Funding Agent or the Master Purchaser, as the case may be, at such time) as of the date so furnished (or, if applicable, as of a date certain specified in such report), and no such document contains or will contain any untrue statements of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(g) No Default: no event has occurred which constitutes, or which with the giving of notice and/or the lapse of time and/or a relevant determination would constitute, a contravention of, or default under, any such law, statute, decree, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree, resolution, determination or award or any agreement, document or instrument by which it or any of its assets is bound or affected, being a contravention or default which could reasonably be expected materially and adversely to affect its ability to observe or perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party;

 

(h) No contravention; conflict: the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Parent, BSM and LCN (the LB Party ) of each Transaction Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions under such Transaction Documents does not in any material way conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of or the creation of any security interest, or require any payment to be made under:

 

  (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such LB Party is a party or affecting it or the properties of such LB Party or any of its subsidiaries; or

 

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  (ii) any order in any material way, injunction, writ or decree of any governmental authority or any arbitral award to which such LB Party its property is subject in any material way; or

 

  (iii) violate any material law in any material way;

except with respect to any conflict, breach or contravention or payment (but not the creation of any security interest), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention, violation or payment could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(i) Tax Liabilities: all material and necessary returns have been delivered by it or on its behalf to the relevant taxation authorities and it is not in material default in the payment of any Taxes, and, to its knowledge, no material claim is being asserted with respect to Taxes which is not disclosed in its most recent financial statements;

 

(j) Accounts: the most recently delivered audited consolidated financial statements (including the income statement and balance sheet) of the LyondellBasell Group have been prepared on a basis consistently applied in accordance with the relevant accounting standards and present fairly its results for the relevant period and the state of its affairs at that date;

 

(k) No Material Adverse Change: since Closing Date there has been no change in its business or operations so as to have a material adverse effect on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents;

 

(l) Solvency: it is not unable to pay its debts or otherwise insolvent and, to the best of its knowledge and belief, there are no circumstances existing that will bring it in a situation of cessation of payments ( ophouden te betalen ) within the meaning of the Dutch Bankruptcy Code or otherwise make it insolvent and it will not become unable to pay its debts or otherwise become insolvent in consequence of any sale of Receivables or any obligation or transaction contemplated in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party;

 

(m) No Termination Event: no Termination Event or Potential Termination Event has occurred;

 

(n) Suspect period:

 

  (i) it is entering into the transactions as described in the Transaction Documents (including all obligations to be assumed by it in connection therewith) in good faith and for the purpose of carrying on its business and such transactions are in the best interest of it and within the scope of its objects; and

 

  (ii) it believes that the entering into of the transactions and the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents do not and will not prejudice (A) its ability to pay its debts when they fall due and (B) the rights of its existing and future creditors;

 

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(o) Information: none of the written information and reports furnished by it in connection with the negotiation and entry into of the transactions envisaged by the Transaction Documents is inaccurate in any material respect, or contains any material misstatement of fact or, to its knowledge, omits to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading and it is not aware of any fact, information or circumstance the omission of which from such information or reports would reasonably affect an assessment of the rights being acquired in relation to any Receivables, the enforceability or collectability of the Receivables or the transactions and arrangements contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

 

(p) No Litigation : there is no pending or threatened action, investigation or proceeding affecting it or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(q) Licences: it has all necessary licences for carrying on the enforcement and collection of the Receivables and the performance of its obligations under the Transaction Documents;

 

(r) Goods: at the time of the delivery, following the Sale of Products to which the Purchased Receivables relate to the relevant Obligors, it was the absolute owner of the relevant products which were not subject to any Encumbrances or claims of any kind (including without limitation any retention of title or unpaid vendor’s lien) by the vendor thereof and such products were acquired by it from such vendor on bona fide arm’s length terms pursuant to a contract of true sale;

 

(s) Cash Pooling Companies : the Cash Pooling Companies are each of the members of the LyondellBasell Group that provide centralised cash pooling and other treasury services to the members of the LyondellBasell Group; and

 

(t) Ordinary course of business: each remittance in respect of the Purchased Receivables by a Seller to the Master Purchaser under this Agreement will have been (i) in payment of a debt incurred by such Seller in the ordinary course of business or financial affairs of that Seller and the Master Purchaser and (ii) made in the ordinary course of business or financial affairs of that Seller and the Master Purchaser.

 

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Part B

Representations and Warranties relating to the Purchased Receivables

 

(a) Ownership of Purchased Receivables: it is, immediately prior to the Purchase Date, the sole and absolute owner of the Purchased Receivable and the Related Contract Rights with respect to such Receivable and is entitled to sell and assign and is selling and assigning it to the Master Purchaser free from any Encumbrance or adverse claim;

 

(b) Transfer and Good Title: (i) in relation to the Purchased Receivables, the information and statements of any kind supplied or to be supplied by it to the Master Purchaser as evidence of or relating to a Purchased Receivable are true, accurate, correct, complete and not misleading; (ii) on completion of the sale of the Purchased Receivable in accordance with the Master Receivables Purchase Agreement, the Master Purchaser will obtain title thereto and will have title in and to such Purchased Receivables; and (iii) there are no legal, regulatory or contractual restrictions or binding personal obligations which prevent the sale and transfer of title to the Purchased Receivables to the Master Purchaser;

 

(c) Terms and Conditions: all Receivables have been originated under and are governed exclusively by the terms of the relevant General Terms and Conditions or a Model Sales Agreement or on terms which are not prejudicial to the transferability or collectability of such Receivables;

 

(d) Status of Contracts: all services or products to be supplied under the Contract under which the Purchased Receivable arises on or prior to the Purchase Date will be delivered in accordance with the terms of the Contract to the relevant Obligor and all the requirements of the Contract have been complied with in full and all other terms and conditions upon which the payment of the Purchased Receivable may be dependent have been fulfilled. There is no fact, circumstance, act, omission or state of affairs which could constitute a breach of any warranty, term or condition of the Contract or which would permit the Obligor or any other person to reject the services or products delivered under the Contract or which would provide any Obligor with any reason, justification, excuse or defence of any kind for not making timely payment in full of the whole amount due in respect of the Purchased Receivable;

 

(e)

Valid and Binding: the Contract under which the Purchased Receivable arises and the Purchased Receivable (including all associated rights) (i) are duly authorised by it and, to its best knowledge, each other party thereto; (ii) are legally valid and binding obligations of each Obligor and, to the best knowledge of it each other relevant party thereto which are and will be enforceable against such parties in accordance with their terms (subject to all relevant insolvency laws or other laws of mandatory application which would not prejudice the recoverability of the Purchased Receivables) and, such Contract complies with all statutory and other requirements for their validity (subject to all laws of mandatory application, which do not prejudice the

 

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recoverability of the Purchased Receivables). It is not aware of any fact, circumstance, act, omission or state of affairs which could constitute a breach of any warranty, term or condition of the Contract or which would permit the Obligor or any other person to reject the services or products delivered (or to be delivered) under the Contract or which would provide any Obligor (or any other person who is liable to make a payment in respect of the Purchased Receivable) with any reason, justification, excuse or defence of any kind for not making timely payment in full of the whole amount due in respect of the Purchased Receivable;

 

(f) No Variation or Amendment: there has been no variation, amendment, modification, waiver or extension of time of any kind in respect of the original terms of the Contract under which the Purchased Receivable arises which in any material way adversely affects the terms of the Purchased Receivable, or its enforceability or collectability;

 

(g) No Violation: neither the Purchased Receivable nor the Contract under which it arises contravenes in any material respect any relevant applicable laws, rules or regulations and it has not and, so far as it is aware no other party to the Contract has contravened any such law, rule, regulation or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon any of them, in each case which in any way adversely affects the enforceability or collectability of the Purchased Receivable;

 

(h) Seller Credit and Collection Procedures: (i) it has complied with the relevant Seller Credit and Collection Procedures in entering into the Contract under which the Purchased Receivable arises and in relation to the administration of each such Purchased Receivable to the date on which it is purchased hereunder (which criteria have been consistently applied in the management of the business of the Seller); and (ii) it has taken steps to require that each relevant Obligor makes payment of each Purchased Receivable to one of the Master Purchaser Accounts;

 

(i) Information: all information, written and (to the extent it has been provided by a Designated Person) oral, including any periodic reports (such as the Servicer’s Determination Report) supplied before or after the Funding Date by it or the Parent (and in particular as for the latter, its financial statements) is, when taken together, accurate in all material respects;

 

(j) Data Protection: the disclosure of information relating to the Obligor of each Purchased Receivable as contemplated by, and for the purposes envisaged by, this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement after the Funding Date is not contrary to data protection laws in the Netherlands or any other Eligible Country;

 

(k) No Termination or Defence: the Contract under which the Purchased Receivable arises has not been terminated or frustrated and no event has occurred which would make the Contract subject to force majeure or any right of rescission; and there is no right or entitlement of any kind for the non-payment of the amounts under each Purchased Receivable when due;

 

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(l) Set-off: there is not and it is not aware of any circumstances which would give rise to:

 

  (i) any right of set-off (other than with respect to a Volume Rebate Credit) netting, counterclaim, defence, or deduction by the Obligor in respect of the Purchased Receivable;

 

  (ii) any credit note, discount, allowance or reverse invoice which has been made or granted to any Obligor in relation to the same or any other transaction which remains outstanding, unless such credit note, discount, allowance or reverse invoice is reflected in the Purchased Receivable when sold and in its Purchase Price;

 

(m) Fraud or Dispute: the Contract under which the Purchased Receivable arises has not (i) been entered into fraudulently by the Obligor in respect thereof or (ii) been passed to the claims or legal department or referred to external lawyers other than in respect of the issue by it of letters demanding payment which are issued in the ordinary course of business;

 

(n) Misrepresentation, Duress: the Contract under which the Purchased Receivable arises was not entered into as a consequence of any conduct constituting fraud, misrepresentation, duress or undue influence by it, its directors, officers, employees or agents or by any other person acting on behalf of it;

 

(o) Segregation: with effect from the time when the Purchased Receivable is purchased by the Master Purchaser, it maintains records clearly identifying the relevant Purchased Receivable in accordance with Clause 5.4(i) ( Marking of Records ) of this Agreement;

 

(p) The Seller’s Records: it has or has caused to be maintained records relating to each relevant Purchased Receivable which are accurate and complete in all material respects and which are adequate so as to enable such Purchased Receivable to be enforced against the relevant Obligor and such records are held by it or to its order;

 

(q) Eligible Receivables: all Receivables are properly characterised as Eligible Receivables or Receivables which are not Eligible Receivables and in the case of any Eligible Receivables, are properly included in Net Receivables Pool Balance in the written information provided to the Funding Agent;

 

(r) Percentage Factor: on the date of any purchase or reinvestment, the Percentage Factor does not exceed the Maximum Percentage Factor; and

 

(s) No Taxes:

 

  (i) the Purchased Receivables are not subject to any withholding taxes and are assignable free and clear of any VAT, sales taxes, withholding taxes, export/import taxes, acquisition taxes, transfer taxes or any other Taxes, charges, levies, duties or imposts; and

 

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  (ii) the Master Purchaser can in no other way be liable for any Tax in the Netherlands by virtue of the transactions envisaged by the Transaction Documents provided that the Master Purchaser has not performed and will not perform any activities in the Netherlands other than those contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

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SCHEDULE 2

FORM OF SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE

I, the undersigned, being a duly appointed authorised signatory of [Basell Sales & Marketing B.V.] [Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V.] (the Seller ), hereby certify that:

 

(a) the Seller is not unable to pay its debts and will not become unable to do so as a consequence of the entry into or the performance of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party;

 

(b) the Seller is not, and to the best of our knowledge and belief, there are no circumstances existing that will bring the Seller in a situation of cessation of payments ( ophouden te betalen ) within the meaning of the Dutch Bankruptcy Code;

 

(c) no order has been made, petition presented, proceeding or corporate action commenced or any other step taken with respect to a statutory merger ( juridische fusie ) or de-merger ( splitsing ), liquidation ( vereffening ) or a voluntary liquidation ( ontbinding ) of the Seller or appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, trustee, curator ( bewindvoerder ) or similar officer in any jurisdiction in respect of the Seller or of any or all of the assets or revenues of the Seller, and the Seller has not received a notice concerning its dissolution from (i) the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce under Article 2:19a of the Netherlands Civil Code ( NCC ) or (ii) the relevant district court ( rechtbank ) under Article 2:21 NCC;

 

(d) the Seller has not filed an application for bankruptcy ( faillissement ), a (provisional) suspension of payments (( voorlopige ) surseance van betaling ), offered a judicial composition ( gerechtelijk akkoord ) or any similar proceedings pursuant to the EU Insolvency Regulation;

 

(e) the Seller is entering into the transactions as described in the Transaction Documents (including all obligations to be assumed by the Seller in connection therewith) in good faith and for the purpose of carrying on the Seller’s business and such transactions are in the best interest of the Seller and, within the scope of its objects and for the benefit of the Seller; and

 

(f) the Seller believes that the entering into of the transactions and the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents do not and will not prejudice (i) the Seller’s ability to pay its debts when they fall due and (ii) the rights of existing and future creditors of the Seller.

This certificate is given and delivered to you in my capacity as a duly appointed authorised signatory of the Seller on behalf of the Seller without personal liability.

 

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Authorised Signatory
Name:  

 

Signature:  

 

Date:  

 

 

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SCHEDULE 3

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

To: [The Master Purchaser]

 

Copy to: Citibank, N.A., London Branch (the Funding Agent )
  Citigroup Centre
  33 Canada Square
  Canary Wharf
  London E14 5LB

This certificate is delivered to you in accordance with Clause 5.4(b) of the Master Receivables Purchase Agreement dated 4 May 2010 (as amended from time to time) (the Agreement ). The definitions contained in the Master Definitions and Framework Deed dated 28 April 2010 as amended and restated from time to time shall apply to this certificate. The date of this certificate is [ ].

We certify that:

 

(a) as at [ ] no Termination Event or Potential Termination Event or Cash Control Event existed and no Termination Event, Potential Termination Event or Cash Control Event existed at any time during the period since [the Closing Date] [the date of the last certificate delivered under Clause 5.4(b) [other than [ ]]; and

 

(b) during the period since [the Closing Date] [the date of the last certificate delivered under Clause 5.4(b)] the Seller has observed and performed all of its undertakings and satisfied every condition contained in the Agreement to be observed performed or satisfied by it on or prior to the date of this certificate other than [ ].

 

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[BASELL SALES & MARKETING COMPANY B.V.]

[LYONDELL CHEMIE NEDERLAND B.V.]

 

 

Director

 

Director

 

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SCHEDULE 4

MASTER PURCHASER RECEIVABLES POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Part A

BSM Perfection Power of Attorney

THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY is given on 4 May 2010 by BASELL SALES & MARKETING COMPANY B.V. whose registered office is at Weena 737, 3013 AM Rotterdam, The Netherlands (the Principal ) in favour of BASELL POLYOLEFINS COLLECTIONS LIMITED (the Attorney ) whose registered office is at 53 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland.

W HEREAS :

(A) Pursuant to an agreement dated 4 May 2010 (as amended from time to time, including on or about the date hereof) between the Principal (as Seller) and the Attorney (as Purchaser) (the Master Receivables Purchase Agreement ), the Principal is to transfer to the Attorney the Receivables in respect of certain Contracts regarding the sale of polyolefin, petrochemical, chemical and fuel products and any Related Security derived from and including the benefit of the Contracts.

(B) The Principal has agreed to appoint the Attorney as its attorney in the manner hereinafter appearing irrevocably for the performance of the Principal’s obligations under and pursuant to the Master Receivables Purchase Agreement.

Terms defined in the Master Receivables Purchase Agreement have the same meaning where used herein.

N OW THIS D EED W ITNESSETH THAT the Principal H EREBY A PPOINTS the Attorney to be its true and lawful attorney for it and in its name or otherwise to do any of the following acts, deeds and things or any of them as may be within the power of the Principal:

1. to perfect the title of the Attorney in and to any or all of the BSM Purchased Receivables, the Related Security and the related Contracts insofar as they relate to BSM Purchased Receivables;

2. to give notice of the assignment of the right, title, benefit and interest of the Principal in the BSM Purchased Receivables, the Contracts and/or the Related Security to the Attorney to the relevant Obligors or any of them;

3. to deliver invoices in respect of, demand, sue for and receive all moneys due or payable under or in respect of the BSM Purchased Receivables;

4. from time to time to substitute and appoint severally one or more persons as attorney or attorneys (the Substitute Attorneys ) for all or any of the purposes aforesaid; and

 

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5. to do every other act or thing and to execute all such deeds, documents and certificates which the Attorney may deem to be necessary, proper or expedient for all or any of the foregoing purposes.

A ND the Principal hereby agrees at all times hereafter to ratify and confirm any act, matter or deed whatsoever the Attorney or any Substitute Attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done pursuant to these presents to the extent that such act or acts and execution are within the power of the Principal and within the contemplation of this Power of Attorney.

A ND the Principal hereby agrees to indemnify the Attorney or any Substitute Attorney against any loss, claim, liability or expense imposed upon the said Attorney or any Substitute Attorney as a result of any action taken by the said Attorney or any Substitute Attorney pursuant to these presents save where the same arises as the result of personal and conscious bad faith, negligence or fraud of the Attorney or any Substitute Attorney.

A ND the Principal hereby declares that, these presents having been given for security purposes and to secure continuing obligations of the Principal, the powers hereby created shall be irrevocable and shall not be affected by the liquidation, receivership, the making of an administration order or appointment of an administrative receiver or any other equivalent event of or affecting the Principal.

A ND the laws of England shall apply to this Power of Attorney and the interpretation thereof and to all acts of the Attorney and/or Substitute Attorney carried out or purported to be carried out under or pursuant hereto.

I N W ITNESS whereof the Principal has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed and delivered as its deed this day and year first before written.

 

EXECUTED as a DEED    )   
by BASELL SALES &    )   
MARKETING COMPANY B.V. a    )   
company incorporated in the Netherlands,    )   
acting by being a person who, in accordance    )   
with the laws of that territory, is acting    )   
under the authority of the company    )   

 

Witness:
Name:
Address:

 

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Part B

LCN Perfection Power of Attorney

THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY is given on 4 May 2010 by LYONDELL CHEMIE NEDERLAND B.V. whose registered office is at Weena 737, 3013 AM Rotterdam, the Netherlands (the Principal ) in favour of BASELL POLYOLEFINS COLLECTIONS LIMITED (the Attorney ) whose registered office is at 53 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland.

W HEREAS :

(A) Pursuant to an agreement entered into on 4 May 2010 (as amended from time to time, including on or about the date hereof) between, amongst others, the Principal (as Seller) and the Attorney (as Purchaser) (the Master Receivables Purchaser Agreement ), the Principal is to transfer to the Attorney the Receivables in respect of certain Contracts regarding the sale of polyolefin, petrochemical, chemical and fuel products and any Related Security derived from and including the benefit of the Contracts.

(B) The Principal has agreed to appoint the Attorney as its attorney in the manner hereinafter appearing irrevocably for the performance of the Principal’s obligations under and pursuant to the Master Receivables Purchase Agreement.

Terms defined in the Master Receivables Purchase Agreement have the same meaning where used herein.

N OW THIS D EED W ITNESSETH THAT the Principal H EREBY A PPOINTS the Attorney to be its true and lawful attorney for it and in its name or otherwise to do any of the following acts, deeds and things or any of them as may be within the power of the Principal:

1. to perfect the title of the Attorney in and to any or all of the LCN Purchased Receivables, the Related Security and the related Contracts insofar as they relate to LCN Purchased Receivables;

2. to give notice of the assignment of the right, title, benefit and interest of the Principal in the LCN Purchased Receivables, the Contracts and/or the Related Security to the Attorney to the relevant Obligors or any of them;

3. to deliver invoices in respect of, demand, sue for and receive all moneys due or payable under or in respect of the LCN Purchased Receivables;

4. from time to time to substitute and appoint severally one or more persons as attorney or attorneys (the Substitute Attorneys ) for all or any of the purposes aforesaid; and

5. to do every other act or thing and to execute all such deeds, documents and certificates which the Attorney may deem to be necessary, proper or expedient for all or any of the foregoing purposes.

 

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A ND the Principal hereby agrees at all times hereafter to ratify and confirm any act, matter or deed whatsoever the Attorney or any Substitute Attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done pursuant to these presents to the extent that such act or acts and execution are within the power of the Principal and within the contemplation of this Power of Attorney.

A ND the Principal hereby agrees to indemnify the Attorney or any Substitute Attorney against any loss, claim, liability or expense imposed upon the said Attorney or any Substitute Attorney as a result of any action taken by the said Attorney or any Substitute Attorney pursuant to these presents save where the same arises as the result of personal and conscious bad faith, negligence or fraud of the Attorney or any Substitute Attorney.

A ND the Principal hereby declares that, these presents having been given for security purposes and to secure continuing obligations of the Principal, the powers hereby created shall be irrevocable and shall not be affected by the liquidation, receivership, the making of an administration order or appointment of an administrative receiver or any other equivalent event of or affecting the Principal.

A ND the laws of England shall apply to this Power of Attorney and the interpretation thereof and to all acts of the Attorney and/or Substitute Attorney carried out or purported to be carried out under or pursuant hereto and to any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in relation hereto.

I N W ITNESS whereof the Principal has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed and delivered as its deed this day and year first before written.

 

EXECUTED as a DEED    )   
LYONDELL CHEMIE    )   
NEDERLAND B.V. a    )   
company incorporated in the Netherlands,    )   
acting by being a person who, in accordance    )   
with the laws of that territory, is acting    )   
under the authority of the company    )   

 

Witness:
Name:
Address:

 

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SCHEDULE 5

ADDRESSES OF THE SELLERS

 

S ELLER    A DDRESS OF PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE
BSM   

Weena 737, 3013 AM

Rotterdam,

The Netherlands

LCN   

Weena 737, 3013 AM

Rotterdam,

The Netherlands

 

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I N WITNESS OF WHICH this Agreement has been signed by the duly authorised representatives of the parties to it on the date appearing on Page 1:

 

SIGNED by    )   
   )   
for and on behalf of    )   
BASELL SALES & MARKETING    )   
COMPANY B.V.    )   
SIGNED by    )   
   )   
for and on behalf of    )   
LYONDELL CHEMIE    )   
NEDERLAND B.V.    )   
SIGNED by    )   
   )   
for and on behalf of    )   
BASELL POLYOLEFINS    )   
COLLECTIONS LIMITED    )   
SIGNED by    )   
   )   
for and on behalf of    )   
CITICORP TRUSTEE    )   
COMPANY LIMITED    )   
SIGNED by    )   
   )   
for and on behalf of    )   
CITIBANK, N.A., LONDON BRANCH    )   

 

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4 MAY 2010

BASELL SALES & MARKETING COMPANY B.V.

(as Seller and Servicer )

LYONDELL CHEMIE NEDERLAND B.V.

(as Seller and Servicer )

BASELL POLYOLEFINS COLLECTIONS LIMITED

(as Master Purchaser )

CITICORP TRUSTEE COMPANY LIMITED

(as Security Trustee )

and

CITIBANK, N.A., LONDON BRANCH

(as Funding Agent )

 

 

MASTER RECEIVABLES

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

LOGO

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

65 Fleet Street

London EC4Y 1HS


Master Receivables Purchase Agreement

CONFORMED COPY

 

CONTENTS

 

CLAUSE

   PAGE
1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION    1
2. SALE OF RECEIVABLES    2
3. DETERMINATION, PAYMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE AND OTHER PAYMENTS    3
4. REPURCHASE OF CREDIT INSURED RECEIVABLES    7
5. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND UNDERTAKINGS    8
6. PROTECTION OF INTERESTS AND NOTIFICATIONS TO OBLIGORS    16
7. TERMINATION    18
8. REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY    19
9. PROTECTION OF MASTER PURCHASER, FURTHER ASSURANCE    21
10. SECURITY TRUSTEE    22
11. COUNTERPARTS    22
12. GOVERNING LAW    23
13. JURISDICTION    23
SCHEDULE 1    24
SCHEDULE 2 FORM OF SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE    32
SCHEDULE 3 FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE    34
SCHEDULE 4 MASTER PURCHASER RECEIVABLES POWERS OF ATTORNEY    36
SCHEDULE 5 ADDRESSES OF THE SELLERS    40

Exhibit 21.1

 

Entity

  

Jurisdiction of Formation

Basell (Thailand) Holdings B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell (VI) Corp    Virgin Islands
Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Suzhou) Co. Ltd.    China
Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Thailand) Company Ltd.    Thailand
Basell Arabie Investissements SAS    France
Basell Asia Pacific Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.    China
Basell Asia Pacific Limited    Hong Kong
Basell Asia Pacific Trading (Shenzhen) Limited    China
Basell Bayreuth Chemie GmbH    Germany
Basell Benelux B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell Brindisi S.r.l.    Italy
Basell Canada Inc.    Canada
Basell Cayman Corp.    Cayman Islands
Basell Chemie Köln GmbH    Germany
Basell China AP Holdings B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell Deutschland GmbH    Germany
Basell Europe Holdings B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell Finance & Trading Company B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell Finance Company B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell FOS S.A.S    France
Basell France S.A.S.    France
Basell Gemma S.A.S.    France
Basell Germany Holdings GmbH    Germany
Basell Holdings Middle East GmbH    Germany
Basell Ibérica Poliolefinas Holdings S.L.    Spain
Basell International Holdings B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell International Trading FZE    Dubai
Basell Iso-Oléfines SAS    France
Basell Italia S.r.l    Italy
Basell Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.    Mexico
Basell Moyen Orient Investissements SAS    France
Basell Nederland B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell North America Inc.    Delaware
Basell Plasticos Ltda.    Portugal
Basell Poliolefinas Comercial Espagnola S.L.    Spain
Basell Poliolefinas Iberica S.L.    Spain
Basell Poliolefinas Ltda.    Brazil
Basell Poliolefine Italia S.r.l.    Italy
Basell Polyéthylène S.A.S.    France
Basell Polyolefin Istanbul Ticaret Limited Sirketi    Turkey
Basell Polyolefine GmbH    Germany
Basell Polyolefines France S.A.S.    France
Basell Polyolefins Company BVBA    Belgium


Basell Polyolefins India Private Ltd.    India
Basell Polyolefins Korea Ltd    Korea
Basell Polyolefins UK Ltd.    United Kingdom
Basell Polypropylène SAS    France
Basell Production France S.A.S.    France
Basell Sales & Marketing Company B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell Service Company B.V.    The Netherlands
Basell Slovakia s.r.o.    Slovakia
Basell UK Holdings Ltd.    United Kingdom
Basell UK Ltd.    United Kingdom
Compagnie de Distribution des Hydrocarbures SAS    France
Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre SAS    France
Complejo Industrial Taqsa A.I.E.    Spain
Cue Insurance Limited (Bermuda)    Bermuda
Equistar Bayport, LLC    Delaware
Equistar Chemicals de Mexico, Inc.    Delaware
Equistar Chemicals, LP    Delaware
Equistar GP LLC    Delaware
Equistar LP LLC    Delaware
Equistar Mont Belvieu Corporation    Delaware
Equistar Olefins G.P., LLC    Delaware
Equistar Olefins Offtake G.P., LLC    Delaware
Equistar Olefins Offtake LP    Delaware
GuangZhou Basell Advanced Polyolefins Co. Ltd.    China
Hisane A.I.E.    Spain
Houston Refining LP    Delaware
Industriepark Munchsmunster GmbH & Co. KG    Germany
Industriepark Munchsmunster Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH    Germany
KIC Ltd.    Bermuda
Lyondell Asia Holdings Limited    Hong Kong
Lyondell Asia Pacific, Ltd.    Delaware
Lyondell Centennial Corp.    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Central Europe Ges. M.b.H    Austria
Lyondell Chemical Company    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Delaware Company    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Espana Co.    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Europe Inc.    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Holding Company    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical International Company    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Italia S.r.L.    Italy
Lyondell Chemical Overseas Services, Inc.    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Pan America, Inc.    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Products Europe LLC    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Technology 1 Inc.    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Technology Management, Inc.    Delaware
Lyondell Chemical Technology, LP    Delaware
Lyondell Chemicals Properties, L.P.    Delaware
Lyondell Chemie (PO-11) B.V.    The Netherlands
Lyondell Chemie (POSM) B.V.    The Netherlands
Lyondell Chemie International B.V.    The Netherlands
Lyondell Chemie Investment Nederland B.V.    The Netherlands


Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V.    The Netherlands
Lyondell Chemie Utilities B.V.    The Netherlands
Lyondell Chimie France LLC    Delaware
Lyondell Chimie France SAS    France
Lyondell Chimie TDI SCA    France
Lyondell China Holdings Limited    Hong Kong
Lyondell Europe Holdings Inc.    Delaware
Lyondell France Holdings SAS    France
Lyondell France Holdings SAS    France
Lyondell Greater China Holdings Limited    Hong Kong
Lyondell Greater China Trading Ltd.    China
Lyondell Greater China, Ltd.    Delaware
Lyondell Japan, Inc.    Japan
Lyondell PO11 C.V.    The Netherlands
Lyondell POJVGP, LLC    Delaware
Lyondell POJVLP, LLC    Delaware
Lyondell POTechGP, Inc.    Delaware
Lyondell POTechLP, Inc.    Delaware
Lyondell Quimica do Brasil, Ltda    Brazil
Lyondell Refining Company LLC    Delaware
Lyondell Refining I LLC    Delaware
Lyondell South Asia PTE Ltd.    Singapore
LyondellBasell Acetyls Holdco, LLC    Delaware
LyondellBasell Acetyls LLC    Delaware
LyondellBasell Advanced Polyolefins Canada Inc.    Canada
LyondellBasell Advanced Polyolefins GmbH    Germany
LyondellBasell Advanced Polyolefins Mexico, S.A. de C.V.    Mexico
LyondellBasell Australia Holdings Pty Ltd    Australia
LyondellBasell Australia Pty Ltd    Australia
LyondellBasell Brasil Holdings B.V.    The Netherlands
LyondellBasell F&F Holdco LLC    Delaware
LyondellBasell Finance Company    Delaware
LyondellBasell Finance Netherlands B.V.    The Netherlands
LyondellBasell Flavors & Fragrances, LLC    Delaware
LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V.    The Netherlands
LyondellBasell Kazakhstan Holdings B.V.    The Netherlands
LyondellBasell Netherlands Holdings B.V.    The Netherlands
LyondellBasell Subholdings B.V.    The Netherlands
Millennium Methanol GP Inc.    Delaware
Millennium Methanol LP Inc.    Delaware
Petroken Petroquimica Ensenada SA    Argentina
PO Offtake, LP    Delaware
POSM Delaware, Inc.    Delaware
POSM II Properties Partnership, L.P.    Delaware
San Jacinto Rail Limited LP    Delaware
SCM Europe S.A.    Belgium
Smith Corona Marchant Finance A.G.    Switzerland
Societe du Craqueur de l’Aubette S.A.S.    France
Société du Pipeline Méditerranéen Rhône S.A.S.    France
TRV Thermische Rückstandsverwertung GmbH & Co. KG    Germany


TRV Thermische Rückstandsverwertung Verwaltungs-GmbH    Germany
US Industries Overseas Finance NV    The Netherlands Antilles
US Industries Worldwide NV    The Netherlands Antilles