Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - ALBEMARLE CORPd97578d8k.htm

Exhibit 10.1

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of September 14, 2015

among

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION,

(the “Borrower”),

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

BNP PARIBAS,

as Co-Documentation Agents

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION

and

ING BANK N.V.

as Co-Syndication Agents

Arranged By:

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

and

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

       Page  

ARTICLE I.

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1   

1.01

 

Defined Terms

     1   

1.02

 

Other Interpretive Provisions

     17   

1.03

 

Accounting Terms

     17   

1.04

 

Rounding

     18   

1.05

 

References to Agreements and Laws

     18   

1.06

 

Times of Day

     19   

ARTICLE II.

 

THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS

     19   

2.01

 

Loans

     19   

2.02

 

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

     19   

2.03

 

Prepayments

     20   

2.04

 

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

     21   

2.05

 

Repayment of Loans; Amortization

     21   

2.06

 

Interest

     22   

2.07

 

Fees

     23   

2.08

 

Computation of Interest and Fees

     23   

2.09

 

Evidence of Debt

     23   

2.10

 

Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

     23   

2.11

 

Sharing of Payments

     25   

ARTICLE III.

 

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     25   

3.01

 

Taxes

     25   

3.02

 

Illegality

     28   

3.03

 

Inability to Determine Rates

     29   

3.04

 

Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy

     29   

3.05

 

Funding Losses

     30   

3.06

 

Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation

     31   

3.07

 

Survival

     31   

ARTICLE IV.

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE LOANS

     31   

4.01

 

Conditions to Borrowing

     31   

ARTICLE V.

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     33   

5.01

 

Existence, Qualification and Power

     33   

5.02

 

Authorization; No Contravention

     33   

5.03

 

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

     33   


5.04

 

Binding Effect

     33   

5.05

 

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change

     34   

5.06

 

Litigation

     34   

5.07

 

No Default

     34   

5.08

 

Ownership of Property; Liens

     35   

5.09

 

Environmental Compliance

     35   

5.10

 

Insurance

     35   

5.11

 

Taxes

     35   

5.12

 

ERISA Compliance

     35   

5.13

 

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

     36   

5.14

 

Disclosure

     36   

5.15

 

Compliance with Laws

     37   

5.16

 

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

     37   

5.17

 

Subsidiaries

     37   

5.18

 

Solvency

     37   

5.19

 

Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws

     37   

ARTICLE VI.

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     38   

6.01

 

Financial Statements

     38   

6.02

 

Certificates; Other Information

     38   

6.03

 

Notices

     40   

6.04

 

Payment of Obligations

     40   

6.05

 

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

     41   

6.06

 

Maintenance of Properties

     41   

6.07

 

Maintenance of Insurance

     41   

6.08

 

Compliance with Laws

     41   

6.09

 

Books and Records

     41   

6.10

 

Inspection Rights

     41   

6.11

 

Use of Proceeds

     42   

ARTICLE VII.

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     42   

7.01

 

Liens

     42   

7.02

 

Mergers, Dispositions, etc.

     43   

7.03

 

Change in Nature of Business

     44   

7.04

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     44   

7.05

 

Use of Proceeds

     44   

7.06

 

Financial Covenant

     45   

7.07

 

Subsidiary Indebtedness

     45   

7.08

 

Sanctions

     46   

7.09

 

Anti-Corruption Laws

     46   

ARTICLE VIII.

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     46   

8.01

 

Events of Default

     46   

8.02

 

Remedies Upon Event of Default

     48   

8.03

 

Application of Funds

     48   

 

iii


ARTICLE IX.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     49   

9.01

 

Appointment and Authority

     49   

9.02

 

Rights as a Lender

     49   

9.03

 

Exculpatory Provisions

     50   

9.04

 

Reliance by Administrative Agent

     50   

9.05

 

Delegation of Duties

     51   

9.06

 

Resignation of Administrative Agent

     51   

9.07

 

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

     52   

9.08

 

No Other Duties, Etc.

     52   

9.09

 

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

     52   

ARTICLE X.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

     53   

10.01

 

Amendments, Etc.

     53   

10.02

 

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

     54   

10.03

 

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

     56   

10.04

 

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

     57   

10.05

 

Payments Set Aside

     58   

10.06

 

Successors and Assigns

     59   

10.07

 

Confidentiality

     62   

10.08

 

Set-off

     63   

10.09

 

Interest Rate Limitation

     63   

10.10

 

Counterparts

     63   

10.11

 

Integration; Effectiveness

     64   

10.12

 

Survival of Representations and Warranties

     65   

10.13

 

Severability

     65   

10.14

 

Tax Forms

     64   

10.15

 

Replacement of Lenders

     66   

10.16

 

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

     67   

10.17

 

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

     67   

10.18

 

Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury

     68   

10.19

 

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     69   

10.20

 

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

     69   

SCHEDULES

  

2.01

 

Commitments and Pro Rata Shares

  

5.09

 

Environmental Matters

  

5.17

 

Subsidiaries

  

7.01

 

Existing Liens

  

EXHIBITS

  

A

 

Form of Loan Notice

  

B

 

Form of Note

  

C

 

Form of Compliance Certificate

  

D

 

Form of Assignment and Assumption

  

E

 

Form of Administrative Questionnaire

  

 

iv


TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT is entered into as of September 14, 2015 among ALBEMARLE CORPORATION, a Virginia corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (defined herein) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

RECITALS

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide term loan facilities, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

The term loan facility and the transactions contemplated hereunder are in the corporate interests of the Borrower.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

  1.01 Defined Terms.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Acquisition” by any Person means the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of, or of a business unit or division of, another Person or at least a majority of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent of another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person and whether for cash, property, services, assumption of Indebtedness, securities or otherwise.

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit E or any other form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, for purposes of determining Affiliates of a member of the Consolidated Group, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 35% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent.

Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02.


Agreement” means this Term Loan Agreement.

Applicable Rate” means, for any day, the applicable rate per annum set forth below based upon the Ratings of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch in effect on such day:

 

     S&P/Moody’s/Fitch
Rating
   Tranche A
Eurocurrency Rate
Loans
    Tranche A
Base Rate
Loans
    Tranche B
Eurocurrency Rate
Loans
    Tranche B
Base Rate
Loans
 

Level 1

   > BBB+ / Baa1 /
BBB+
     1.000     0.000     1.000     0.000

Level 2

   BBB / Baa2 / BBB      1.125     0.125     1.125     0.125

Level 3

   BBB- / Baa3 / BBB-      1.375     0.375     1.375     0.375

Level 4

   BB+ / Ba1 / BB+      1.625     0.625     1.625     0.625

Level 5

   <BB+ / Ba1 /BB+      1.875     0.875     1.875     0.875

For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if each of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch shall have a Rating in effect and the Ratings established by such rating agencies shall fall within different Levels in the foregoing table, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the Level in which two of such Ratings shall fall or, if there shall be no such Level, on the Level in which the second highest of the three Ratings shall fall; (b) if only two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch shall have Ratings in effect, then the Applicable Rate shall be based on the Level in which the higher Rating shall fall unless one of such Ratings is two or more Levels lower than the other, in which case the Applicable Rate shall be based on the Level next above that of the lower of the two Ratings; (c) if only one of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch shall have a Rating in effect, then the Applicable Rate shall be based on the Level next below that in which such Rating shall fall; and (d) if none of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch shall have a Rating in effect, then the Applicable Rate shall be based on Level 5. If the Rating established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch shall change, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined as provided above as if the affected rating agency did not have a Rating in effect. Determinations by the Administrative Agent of the Applicable Rate shall be conclusive absent manifest error. For the avoidance of doubt, Level 1 in the table above is the “highest” Level and Level 5 is the “lowest” Level.

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Arrangers” means the financial institutions identified as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners on the cover page of this Agreement.

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

2


Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel and, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, shall also include the allocated cost of internal legal counsel and all expenses and disbursements of internal counsel directly attributable to the enforcement of the Administrative Agent’s or Lenders’ rights under this Agreement.

Attributable Principal Amount” means (a) in the case of capital leases, the amount of capital lease obligations determined in accordance with GAAP, (b) in the case of Synthetic Leases, an amount determined by capitalization of the remaining lease payments thereunder as if it were a capital lease determined in accordance with GAAP, (c) in the case of Securitization Transactions, the outstanding principal amount of such financing, after taking into account reserve accounts and making appropriate adjustments, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable judgment and (d) in the case of any Sale and Lease Back Transaction, the present value (discounted in accordance with GAAP at the debt rate implied in the applicable lease) of the obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the term of such lease.

Availability Period” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending at the earliest of (a) 5:00 p.m., New York time on November 15, 2015, and (b) the termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.04 or Section 8.02.

Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus  12 of 1% and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Eurocurrency Rate for any day shall be based on the Eurocurrency Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, respectively.

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Borrowing” means Loans of the same Class and Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

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 Eurocurrency Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank market.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (b) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation,

 

3


implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which: (a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) acquires directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, shares representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower or any Person directly or indirectly Controlling the Borrower; or (b) a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be individuals (i) who were members of that board of directors on the Closing Date, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board of directors or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least two-thirds of that board of directors or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board of directors or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least two-thirds of that board of directors or equivalent governing body.

Class”, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Tranche A Term Loans or Tranche B Term Loans, (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Tranche A Commitment or a Tranche B Commitment and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment of a particular Class.

Closing Date” means the date of this Agreement.

Commitment” means a Tranche A Commitment, a Tranche B Commitment or any combination thereof (as the context requires).

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Consolidated Group, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (b) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Consolidated Group for such period, (iii) the amount of depreciation and amortization expense for such period, (iv) non-cash expenses for such period (excluding any non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash payments in any future period), (v) non-cash goodwill impairment charges for such period and (vi) any non-cash loss attributable to the mark-to-market adjustments in the valuation of pension liabilities (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such loss has not been realized) in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 715 (ASC 715) plus (c) with respect to the Rockwood Acquisition, cost synergies (net of continued associated expenses) related to operational changes, restructurings, reorganizations, operating expense reductions, operating improvements and similar restructuring initiatives relating to the Rockwood Acquisition that, as of the date of calculation with respect to such period, are reasonably anticipated by the Borrower in good faith to be realized within 12 months following the Rockwood Acquisition; provided that (i) such cost synergies are calculated on a basis that is

 

4


consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, (ii) the aggregate amount of such adjustments under this clause (c) taken into account in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period of determination shall not exceed an aggregate amount equal to 5% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (determined without giving effect to this clause (c)) and (iii) to the extent such cost synergies are no longer reasonably expected by the Borrower to be realized within 12 months following the Rockwood Acquisition, then such cost synergies shall not be included in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”, minus (d) to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, (i) non-cash income during such period (excluding any non-cash income to the extent that it represents cash receipts in any future period) and (ii) any non-cash gains attributable to the mark-to-market adjustments in the valuation of pension liabilities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 715 (ASC 715), all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Funded Debt” means Funded Debt of the Consolidated Group determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Group” means the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Charges” means, for any period, for the Consolidated Group, all interest expense, including the amortization of debt discount and premium, the interest component under capital leases and the implied interest component under Securitization Transactions, in each case on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Debt as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters ending on such date.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Consolidated Group, the sum, without duplication, of (i) net income of the Consolidated Group (excluding items reported as nonrecurring or unusual in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and the Consolidated Group and related tax effects) for that period minus (ii) to the extent included in the amount determined pursuant to clause (i) above, the income of any Subsidiary to the extent the payment of such income in the form of a distribution or repayment of any Indebtedness to the Borrower or a Subsidiary is not permitted, whether on account of any Organization Document restriction, any agreement, instrument, deed or lease or any Law applicable to such Subsidiary, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, consolidated equity of the Consolidated Group as of that date determined in accordance with GAAP (excluding, for purposes hereof, changes in the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment and any mark to market of a derivative or hedging instrument (or any other adjustment related thereto) required under FASB ASC 133).

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 specified in the definition of “Affiliate.”

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

5


Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum.

Designated Asset Sale” means any Disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of all or any portion of the assets (other than Dispositions of accounts receivable, inventory or other assets in the ordinary course of business) of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ Minerals, Fine Chemistry Services or Metal Sulfides lines of business.

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country, region or territory to the extent that such country, region or territory itself is the subject or target of any Sanction (at the time of this Agreement, Iran, Crimea, Cuba, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

Disposition” means the sale, transfer, license, or any lease of substantially all of the assets of any Person or other disposition (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Sections 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

Environmental Laws” means any legally binding and applicable statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, judgment, order, decree, permit, concession, grant, franchise, license, agreement or restriction imposed by any federal, state, local, and foreign Governmental Authority relating to human health and the natural environment.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the natural environment or (d) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which environmental liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Internal Revenue Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code).

 

6


ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower 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; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition that 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; or (f) 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 the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

Eurocurrency Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing for any Interest Period, a rate per annum equal to the London interbank offered rate as administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period as displayed on the Reuters screen page that displays such rate (currently page LIBOR01) or, in the event such rate does not appear on a page of the Reuters screen, on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion (such applicable rate being called the “Eurocurrency Screen Rate”), at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. If no Eurocurrency Screen Rate shall be available for a particular Interest Period but Eurocurrency Screen Rates shall be available for maturities both longer and shorter than such Interest Period, then the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period shall be the Interpolated Screen Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Eurocurrency Rate, determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the Eurocurrency Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes.

Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate.

Eurocurrency Screen Rate” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate”.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

Excluded Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations thereunder or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, including any applicable intergovernmental agreements.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1.00%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a

 

7


Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1.00%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Rate, determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the Federal Funds Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes.

Fee Letters” means the JPMorgan Fee Letter and each of the other Fee Letters dated August 14, 2015, between the Borrower and the Arrangers.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Foreign Lender” means, with respect to the Borrower, any Lender that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

Funded Debt” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations for borrowed money, whether current or long-term (including the Obligations hereunder), and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, including convertible debt instruments;

(b) all purchase money indebtedness (including indebtedness and obligations in respect of conditional sales and title retention arrangements, except for customary conditional sales and title retention arrangements with suppliers that are entered into in the ordinary course of business) and all indebtedness and obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business and payable on customary trade terms);

(c) all contingent obligations and unreimbursed drawings under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(d) the Attributable Principal Amount of capital leases and Synthetic Leases;

(e) the Attributable Principal Amount of Securitization Transactions;

(f) all preferred stock and comparable equity interests providing for mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other like payments within 91 days following the Maturity Date;

(g) Guarantees in respect of Funded Debt of another Person; and

(h) Funded Debt of any partnership or joint venture or other similar entity in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer, and, as such, has personal liability for such obligations, but only to the extent there is recourse to such Person for payment thereof.

 

8


For purposes hereof, the amount of Funded Debt shall be determined based on the outstanding principal amount in the case of borrowed money indebtedness under clause (a) and purchase money indebtedness and the deferred purchase obligations under clause (b), based on the maximum amount available to be drawn in the case of letter of credit obligations and the other obligations under clause (c), and based on the outstanding principal amount of Funded Debt that is the subject of the Guarantees in the case of Guarantees under clause (g) or, if less, the amount expressly guaranteed.

Funding Date” means the date on which Loans are made to the Borrower under Section 2.01.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification, consistently applied and as in effect from time to time.

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 (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of 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 obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other 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 obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other 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 obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person. 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.

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that neither (a) owns assets with an aggregate book value in excess of $25,000,000 nor (b) has annual revenues in excess of $25,000,000.

 

9


Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all Funded Debt;

(b) net obligations under any Swap Contract;

(c) Guarantees in respect of Indebtedness of another Person; and

(d) Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture or other similar entity in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer, and, as such, has personal liability for such obligations, but only to the extent there is recourse to such Person for payment thereof.

For purposes hereof, the amount of Indebtedness shall be determined based on Swap Termination Value in the case of net obligations under Swap Contracts under clause (c) and based on the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness that is the subject of the Guarantees in the case of Guarantees under clause (d) or, if less, the amount expressly guaranteed.

Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency 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 March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

Interest Period” means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that:

(a) 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;

(b) 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

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan.

Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Interpolated Screen Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the Eurocurrency Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate

 

10


that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the Eurocurrency Screen Rate for the longest period for which the Eurocurrency Screen Rate is available that is shorter than such Interest Period; and (b) the Eurocurrency Screen Rate for the shortest period for which that Eurocurrency Screen Rate is available that exceeds such Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

JPMorgan Fee Letter” means the JPMorgan Fee Letter dated August 14, 2015, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC.

Laws” means, 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 whether or not having the force of law.

Lender” means each of the Persons that is identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, any other Person that becomes a Lender in accordance with this Agreement and their successors and assigns.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note and the Fee Letters.

Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Majority in Interest”, when used in reference to Lenders of any Class, means, at any time, Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of such Class representing more than 50% of all Loans and Commitments of such Class outstanding at such time, provided that, for the purposes of determining the aggregate Commitments of the Majority in Interest of Lenders of either Class, the Commitments of such Class of any Lenders that have defaulted on their obligations to lend hereunder shall be disregarded.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Consolidated Group taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan Document.

Maturity Date” means the Tranche A Maturity Date or the Tranche B Maturity Date, as the context may require.

 

11


Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 10.09.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Net Proceeds” means, in respect of any Designated Asset Sale, the amount of cash or cash equivalents received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of such Designated Asset Sale, less the amount (without duplication) of all cash fees and out-of-pocket costs and expenses paid or payable (including for the sake of clarity, taxes payable with respect to such Designated Asset Sale, escrowed funds required to be held for the purpose of indemnity or similar obligations or funds required to be used for the purpose of settling contingent working capital adjustments, provided that, in the event any funds that were held in escrow with respect to any Designated Asset Sale shall be reduced, the amount of such reduction shall, except to the extent such reduction is made as a result of a payment having been made in respect of the contingent liabilities with respect to which such funds were held in escrow, be deemed to be a receipt, on the date of such reduction, of cash proceeds in respect of such Designated Asset Sale) by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in connection with, and directly attributable to, such Designated Asset Sale.

Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Obligations” means, without duplication, (i) the Loans and (ii) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming a member of the Consolidated Group as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and 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 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 specified in Section 3.01(b).

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

12


Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

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 and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower 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 plan years.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

Pro Forma Basis” means, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenant hereunder, that the subject Acquisition or Disposition and any related incurrence or discharge of Indebtedness shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which annual or quarterly financial statements shall have been delivered in accordance with the provisions hereof. Further, for purposes of making calculations on a “Pro Forma Basis” hereunder, (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property, entities or business units that are the subject of the subject Acquisition or Disposition shall be included (or in the case of Dispositions, excluded) to the extent relating to any period prior to the date of subject transaction, and (b) Indebtedness incurred or, in the case of a Disposition, discharged in connection with the subject Acquisition or Disposition shall be deemed to have been incurred or, in the case of a Disposition, discharged as of the first day of the applicable period (and interest expense shall be imputed for the applicable period assuming prevailing interest rates hereunder or excluded based on actual interest accrued in accordance with GAAP).

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Lender of any Class, a fraction (expressed as percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitment or Loans of such Class of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the aggregate Commitments or Loans of such Class at such time. The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender of each Class is set forth as such on Schedule 2.01.

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Ratings” means the public ratings by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch of the long-term, unsecured, senior, non-credit enhanced Indebtedness of the Borrower.

 

13


Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, representatives and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the thirty-day notice period has been waived.

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the aggregate Commitments or Loans, provided that, for the purposes of determining the aggregate Commitments of Required Lenders, the Commitments of any Lenders that have defaulted on their obligations to lend hereunder shall be disregarded.

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Borrower, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the Borrower and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer of the Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or agent of the Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.

Rockwood Acquisition” means the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 15, 2014, by and among the Borrower, Rockwood Holdings, Inc. and Albemarle Holdings Corporation.

Rockwood Notes” means the 4.625% senior notes due October 15, 2020, issued by Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. pursuant to that certain First Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 25, 2012, to the Indenture dated as of September 25, 2012, among Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b).

 

14


Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions administered or enforced from time to time by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Securitization Transaction” means any financing or factoring or similar transaction (or series of such transactions) that has been or may be entered into by a member of the Consolidated Group pursuant to which such member of the Consolidated Group may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable, payment intangibles, notes receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals or other similar rights to payment to a special purpose Subsidiary or Affiliate or any other Person.

Security” means all capital stock, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, instruments and other evidence of Indebtedness, whether or not secured, convertible or subordinated, all certificates of interest, share or participation in, all certificates for the acquisition of, and all warrants, options and other rights to acquire, any Security.

Solvent” means, with respect to any Person as of a particular date, after giving full effect to rights of contribution against or reimbursement from other Persons under applicable Law or any Contractual Obligation, that on such date (a) such Person is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (b) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature in their ordinary course, (c) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such Person’s assets would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged or is to engage, (d) the fair value of the assets of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person and (e) the present fair saleable 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. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in 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 reduced by the amount of any contribution or indemnity that can reasonably be expected to be received.

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than shares or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Swap Contract” 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, 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, spot contracts or any other similar

 

15


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, that 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.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease under GAAP.

Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

Taxing Jurisdiction” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

Threshold Amount” means $100,000,000.

Tranche A Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Tranche A Term Loan during the Availability Period, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Tranche A Term Loan to be made by such Lender, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.04 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.06. The initial amount of each Lender’s Tranche A Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Tranche A Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Tranche A Commitments is $300,000,000.

Tranche A Maturity Date” means the date that is 364 days after the Funding Date, or if such date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.

Tranche A Term Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (a) of Section 2.01.

Tranche B Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make a Tranche B Term Loan during the Availability Period, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loan to be made by such Lender, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.04 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.06. The initial amount of each Lender’s Tranche B Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Tranche B Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Tranche B Commitments is $950,000,000.

 

16


Tranche B Maturity Date” means the fifth anniversary of the Funding Date, or if such date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.

Tranche B Term Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.01.

Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.

Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined as of the date of the most recently completed actuarial valuation report for that Pension Plan in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code.

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

 

  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) (i) 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.

(ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears unless otherwise expressly referenced.

(iii) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(iv) 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.

(v) Words denoting the masculine shall also include both the feminine and neuter gender and vice versa as the context may permit.

(c) 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.”

(d) 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.

 

  1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) 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 conformity

 

17


with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Funded Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded. For purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, GAAP will be deemed to treat operating leases in a manner consistent with their current treatment under GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes thereto that may occur thereafter.

(b) At the Borrower’s election, determinations of compliance with the financial covenant hereunder may be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to one or more Acquisitions, Dispositions of all of the equity interests of, or all or substantially all of the assets of, a Subsidiary or any Disposition of a line of business or a division of the Borrower or a Subsidiary, in each case, consummated after the Closing Date; provided that with respect to any such Acquisition or Disposition (i) the Borrower must elect to treat such Acquisition or Disposition on a Pro Forma Basis on or before the delivery of the Compliance Certificate relating to the first fiscal quarter period ending after the date of such Acquisition or Disposition, (ii) the Borrower must indicate such election on such Compliance Certificate and (iii) such election shall be irrevocable. Absent the Borrower’s election to treat an Acquisition or Disposition on a Pro Forma Basis in accordance with this subsection (b), determinations of compliance with the financial covenant hereunder shall not be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to such Acquisition or Disposition.

(c) The Borrower will provide a written summary of material changes in GAAP affecting the financial reporting of the Borrower or in the consistent application thereof by the Borrower with each annual and quarterly Compliance Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 6.02(b). If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

  1.04 Rounding.

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

  1.05 References to Agreements and Laws.

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, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

 

18


  1.06 Times of Day.

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York time (Eastern daylight or standard, as applicable).

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS

 

  2.01 Loans.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees, on a single date during the Availability Period, to make (a) Tranche A Term Loans to the Borrower in Dollars in a principal amount not exceeding its Tranche A Commitment and (b) Tranche B Term Loans to the Borrower in Dollars in a principal amount not exceeding its Tranche B Commitment. Loans may consist of Base Rate Loans, Eurocurrency Rate Loans, or a combination thereof, as the Borrower may request. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of the Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

  2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Loans as the same Type shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans and (ii) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of 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 Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans is being requested, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, 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 and Class 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 the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a 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 on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the applicable Class 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 applicable Lender of the details of any automatic

 

19


conversion to Base Rate Loans as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each applicable Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent at the account designated by it for such purpose in immediately available funds not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.01, 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 the Administrative Agent 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 Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of the Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default or Event of Default, no Loans of any Class may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans without the consent of the Majority in Interest of Lenders of such Class, and the Majority in Interest of Lenders of such Class may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Class be converted to Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then applicable Interest Period.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the applicable Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurocurrency Rate and Base 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 applicable Lenders of any change in the Prime Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings of any Class, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than five Interest Periods in effect with respect to such Class of Loans.

 

  2.03 Prepayments.

(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay any Borrowing of any Class in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that, (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 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) and Class(es) of Borrowings to be prepaid (provided that (y) if the Borrower does not specify the Borrowings to which such prepayment is to be applied, such prepayment shall be applied first pro rata to all Borrowings representing Tranche A Term Loans until paid in full and thereafter pro rata to all Borrowings representing Tranche B Term Loans outstanding on the date thereof and (z) if Eurocurrency Rate Borrowings are to be prepaid, the Borrower shall specify the Interest Period(s) of such Borrowings). The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each applicable Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the prepayment amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Tranche A Term Loans and Tranche B Term Loans, as applicable. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued

 

20


interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the applicable Loans of the Lenders of the applicable Class in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares thereof.

(b) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Designated Asset Sale, the Borrower shall provide prompt notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and, not later than the third Business Day immediately following the day on which such Net Proceeds are received, prepay Borrowings in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of Loans outstanding at the time of such prepayment and (ii) the amount of such Net Proceeds. Each prepayment pursuant to this clause (b) shall be applied, first, ratably to all Tranche A Term Loans then outstanding and second, ratably to all Tranche B Term Loans then outstanding.

(c) Any prepayment of Tranche B Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.03(a) or Section 2.03(b) shall be applied to reduce the subsequent scheduled repayments of the Tranche B Term Loans to be made pursuant to Section 2.05(b) as directed by the Borrower (or, absent such direction, in the chronological order of such scheduled repayments starting with the earliest of such scheduled repayments).

 

  2.04 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

(a) The Commitments shall automatically terminate on the Funding Date after giving effect to any Borrowings on such date. If the Funding Date does not occur, the Commitments shall automatically terminate at 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the Availability Period.

(b) Prior to the Funding Date, the Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate or permanently reduce the Commitments of any Class; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon three Business Days prior to the date of such termination or reduction and (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of the applicable Class of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Commitments. Each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments of such Class.

(c) Prior to the Funding Date, in the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Designated Asset Sale, the Borrower shall provide prompt notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Commitments will be automatically and permanently reduced in an aggregate amount equal to the Net Proceeds received in respect of such Designated Asset Sale. Each such reduction of Commitments pursuant to this clause (c) shall be applied, first, to reduce the Tranche A Commitments by the amount of such Net Proceeds (or the aggregate amount of the Tranche A Commitments, if less), and second, to the extent such Net Proceeds exceed the Tranche A Commitments, to reduce the Tranche B Commitments by the amount of such excess (or the aggregate amount of the Tranche B Commitments, if less).

 

  2.05 Repayment of Loans; Amortization.

(a) The Borrower shall repay the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Tranche A Term Loans on the Tranche A Maturity Date.

 

21


(b) The Borrower shall repay the Tranche B Term Loans on the last Business Day of each of March, June, September and December, beginning with September 30, 2016, and ending with the last such day to occur prior to the Tranche B Maturity Date (each a “Payment Date”), in an aggregate principal amount equal to (i) in the case of each Payment Date occurring on or after the first anniversary and prior to the second anniversary of the Funding Date, 1.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loans made on the Funding Date and (ii) in the case of each Payment Date occurring on or after the second anniversary of the Funding Date, equal to 2.5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loans made on the Funding Date.

(c) To the extent not previously paid, the Borrower shall repay the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Tranche B Term Loans on the Tranche B Maturity Date.

 

  2.06 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan of each Class shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus (B) the Applicable Rate and (ii) each Base Rate Loan of each Class shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable Borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the Base Rate plus (B) the Applicable Rate.

(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all of its outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due 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 by the Borrower and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable by the Borrower in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

22


  2.07 Fees.

(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account an annual administrative fee in an amount and at the times set forth in the JPMorgan Fee Letter. Such fee shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(b) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders and the Arrangers such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so agreed. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

  2.08 Computation of Interest and Fees.

All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by reference to the Prime Rate shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). 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 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.

 

  2.09 Evidence of Debt.

The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans 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, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, 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, Type, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

  2.10 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made free and clear of and 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, in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each applicable Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. 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 next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

23


(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed Funding Date that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Overnight Rate.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to the Borrower 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 conditions to such Loan 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.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) 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 to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

(e) Funding Source. 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.

 

24


  2.11 Sharing of Payments.

If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

  3.01 Taxes.

(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any and all payments by or on behalf of the Borrower to or for the account of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding (i) in the case of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, any and all present and future taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (however determined), and franchise and branch profits taxes imposed on it, in each case by a jurisdiction (the “Taxing Jurisdiction”) as a result of (A) the Administrative Agent or such

 

25


Lender, as the case may be, being organized under the Laws of or maintaining a lending office in the Taxing Jurisdiction or (B) the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, booking Loans made by it in the Taxing Jurisdiction, (ii) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, that are (A) imposed by the United States with respect to the Loans on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 10.15) or designates a new lending office, except in each case to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, pursuant to this Section 3.01 or (B) attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability to comply with Section 10.14 and (iii) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities with respect thereto being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes” and all such excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities with respect thereto being hereinafter referred to as “Excluded Taxes”). If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Internal Revenue Code to deduct any taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (i) to the extent that the deduction is made on account of Taxes or Other Taxes (as defined below), the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), the Administrative Agent or such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions for Taxes or Other Taxes been made, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall make such deductions, and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws. If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Internal Revenue Code to deduct any taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, then (i) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions, (ii) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant taxation authority in accordance with such Laws, and (iii) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction for Taxes or Other Taxes been made.

(b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or similar levies that arise from the execution, delivery, performance (other than payment of amounts owing under the Loan Documents), enforcement or registration of, or otherwise similarly with respect to, any Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c) (i) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender for (x) the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent and such Lender and (y) any liability (including additions to tax, penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally

 

26


imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Payment under this subsection (c) shall be made within sixty days after the date the Lender or the Administrative Agent makes a written demand therefor; provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.01, if the Administrative Agent or any Lender requests indemnification or compensation for Taxes or Other Taxes pursuant to this Section 3.01 more than 120 days after the earlier of (i) the date on which the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, makes payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes, and (ii) the date on which the appropriate Governmental Authority makes written demand on the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, for payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes, then the Borrower shall not be obligated to indemnify or reimburse the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, for such Taxes or Other Taxes. The Borrower shall, and does hereby indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii)(x)-(y) below; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not have any obligation to indemnify any party hereunder for Taxes, Other Taxes or any other liability that arises from such party’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. To the extent that the Borrower pays an amount to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence (other than with respect to Section 3.01(c)(ii)(x)) (“Back-Up Indemnity Payment”), then upon request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to exercise its set-off rights described in the last sentence of clause (c)(ii) below (on behalf of itself or the Borrower) to collect the applicable Back-Up Indemnity Payment amount from the applicable Lender and shall pay the amount so collected to the Borrower net of any reasonable expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in its efforts to collect (through set-off or otherwise) from such Lender with respect to clause (c)(ii), below.

(ii) Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against any Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the Borrower’s obligation to do so), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender and (z) the Administrative Agent against any taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to 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 to the Administrative Agent or the Borrower under this clause (ii).

(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a taxation authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such taxation authority

 

27


evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

(e) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 3.01 (including the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01), it shall pay an amount equal to such refund to the indemnifying party (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such indemnifying party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to such indemnified party in the event such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

(f) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

 

  3.02 Illegality.

If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest rate is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender, shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case, 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, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all of such Lender’s Eurocurrency Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such

 

28


Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. 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. If such Lender does not designate a different Lending Office to avoid the need for such notice, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.15.

Each Lender at its option may make any Loan to the Borrower by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

  3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.

If in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof (i) the Administrative Agent determines that (A) deposits in Dollars are not being offered to banks in the London interbank market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Rate Loan or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Rate for the Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan (in each case with respect to clause (i), “Impacted Loans”), or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason the Eurocurrency Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and all Lenders. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods) and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case 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 a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

  3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy.

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender;

(ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender; or

(iii) subject the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any taxes (other than Taxes on payments pursuant to the Loan Documents, which will be governed by Section 3.01, Other Taxes and Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

 

29


and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, from time to time upon request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs or expenses incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has had or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then, from time to time upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or expenses incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or expenses or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or expenses or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

(d) The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Rate Loan 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 absent manifest error), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or costs from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or costs shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.

 

  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 (excluding the loss of the Applicable Rate) incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurocurrency Rate Loan 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);

 

30


(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 Eurocurrency Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

(c) any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.15;

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. The Borrower shall also pay any reasonable customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

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 Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Rate used in determining the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

  3.06 Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation.

(a) A certificate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(b) Upon any Lender’s making a claim for compensation under Section 3.01 or 3.04, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.15.

 

  3.07 Survival.

The obligations of the Borrower under this Article III shall survive termination of the Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE LOANS

 

  4.01 Conditions to Borrowing.

The obligation of each Lender to make Loans pursuant to Section 2.01 is 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 (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement by the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

 

31


(ii) Notes executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting Notes;

(iii) copies of the Organization Documents of the Borrower certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation;

(iv) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(v) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation;

(vi) a favorable opinion of Withers Bergman LLP, counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer, dated the Funding Date and certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.01(b) and (c) have been satisfied and (B) the current Ratings;

(viii) a Loan Notice in accordance with the requirements hereof; and

(ix) a notice of redemption shall have been delivered to the trustee for the holders of the Rockwood Notes and the proceeds of the Loans shall be delivered substantially contemporaneously with the borrowing hereunder to such trustee to fund the redemption of the Rockwood Notes.

(b) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or that are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Funding Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.01, the financial statements referred to in the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to include the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 6.01.

(c) No Default shall exist, or would result from the proposed Loans.

(d) Any fees and expenses, including Attorney Costs of the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, required to be paid on or before the Funding Date shall have been paid.

 

32


Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to (i) in the case of documents or other matters specified in Section 4.01(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (ix), the proposed Closing Date, and (ii) in the case of documents or other matters specified in Section 4.01(a)(vii) and (viii), the Funding Date, specifying its objection thereto.

ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

  5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power.

The Borrower (a) is a corporation duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, (b) has all requisite corporate power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.02 Authorization; No Contravention.

The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and do not (a) contravene the terms of any of the Borrower’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, (i) any Contractual Obligation to which the Borrower is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law, except in each case referred to in clause (b) or (c), to the extent that it would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.

No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for those the failure to obtain, occur or make would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.04 Binding Effect.

This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

33


  5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change.

(a) The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Group for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, including the notes thereto (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Consolidated Group in all material respects as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Consolidated Group as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness, which are required to be shown thereon in accordance with GAAP.

(b) The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Consolidated Group for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2015, and June 30, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such fiscal quarters (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Consolidated Group in all material respects as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the periods covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Consolidated Group as of the dates thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness, which are required to be shown thereon in accordance with GAAP.

(c) Since June 30, 2015, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.06 Litigation.

There are not any actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened (and reasonably likely to be commenced) against or affecting any member of the Consolidated Group or any property or rights of the Consolidated Group as to which there is a reasonable likelihood of an adverse determination and which, if adversely determined, would individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.07 No Default.

(a) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

34


  5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens.

Each member of the Consolidated Group has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Consolidated Group is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

 

  5.09 Environmental Compliance.

Except as set forth in Schedule 5.09, (a) the Consolidated Group is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, except where the failure to do so would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) no member of the Consolidated Group has received written notice of any failure to comply with applicable Environmental Laws, which non-compliance neither has been or is being remedied, nor is being contested in good faith by such member of the Consolidated Group, nor is the subject of such member’s good faith efforts to achieve compliance, except notices for which non-compliance would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (c) the Consolidated Group’s facilities do not manage any Hazardous Materials in violation of any applicable Environmental Law, except where such violation would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) the Borrower is aware of no events, conditions or circumstances involving environmental pollution or contamination or employee health or safety that would be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.10 Insurance.

The properties of the Consolidated Group are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or its Subsidiaries operate.

 

  5.11 Taxes.

Each member of the Consolidated Group has filed all federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed by such member, and has paid all federal, state and other taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon such member or its properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or (b) those that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate

 

35


have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Other than as would not reasonably be expected to result in liability in excess of $15,000,000, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (ii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA and other contributions payable in accordance with the terms of such Pension Plan or applicable law), and (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred that, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan.

(d) The Pension Plans, on a consolidated basis, do not have any Unfunded Pension Liability in excess of the Threshold Amount.

(e) To the knowledge of the Borrower, neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that is subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

  5.13 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not 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, as in effect from time to time, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying “margin stock,” and the Loans hereunder will not be used to purchase or carry “margin stock” in violation of Regulation U or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying “margin stock,” or for any purpose that would violate the provisions of Regulation X issued by the FRB, as in effect from time to time.

(b) None of the Borrower or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

  5.14 Disclosure.

No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

36


  5.15 Compliance with Laws.

Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (b) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.16 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

To the knowledge of the Borrower, the Consolidated Group owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of its businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person. To the knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened (and reasonably likely to be commenced), that would in either case reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  5.17 Subsidiaries.

Set forth on Schedule 5.17 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of each Subsidiary of the Borrower, together with (i) the jurisdiction of formation and (ii) the ownership percentage of the Borrower or any Subsidiary therein.

 

  5.18 Solvency.

The Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

  5.19 Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws.

(a) The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, their respective officers, employees, directors and agents, are in compliance with applicable Sanctions in all material respects and are not knowingly engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in the Borrower being designated as a Sanctioned Person. None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is a Sanctioned Person.

(b) The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their business in compliance in all material respects with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

37


ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

  6.01 Financial Statements.

Furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Group as of the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within fifty days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Group as of the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s 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 in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Group in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in subsections (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

 

  6.02 Certificates; Other Information.

Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate of its independent certified public accountants certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or Event of Default under the financial covenant set forth herein or, if any such Default or Event of Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event (which certificate, when furnished by such accountants, may be limited to accounting matters and disclaim responsibility for legal interpretations);

 

38


(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer, (i) setting forth computations in reasonable detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance with the financial covenant contained in Section 7.06, (ii) certifying that no Default or Event of Default exists as of the date thereof (or, to the extent a Default or Event of Default exists, the nature and extent thereof and the proposed actions of the Borrower with respect thereto) and (iii) including a summary of all material changes in GAAP affecting the Borrower and in the consistent application thereof by the Borrower, the effect on the financial covenant resulting therefrom, and a reconciliation between calculation of the financial covenant before and after giving effect to such changes (which certificate may be delivered by electronic mail or by facsimile);

(c) promptly after requested by the Administrative Agent on behalf of any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

(d) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements that the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; and

(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent, on behalf of any Lender, may from time to time reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies (which may include .pdf files) is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

39


The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) subject to procedures and confidentiality undertakings of the Platform and (b) certain of the Lenders (each a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to any of the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated as “Public Side Information”; and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated as “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

 

  6.03 Notices.

Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) if unrated, any announcement by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch of any Rating, or if rated, any announcement by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch of any change or possible change in a Rating.

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

  6.04 Payment of Obligations.

Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, (a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, (b) all lawful claims that, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property (other than a Lien permitted by Section 7.01) and (c) except where the failure to so pay or discharge would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, all other obligations and liabilities.

 

40


  6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.02; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  6.06 Maintenance of Properties.

Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and material equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

 

  6.07 Maintenance of Insurance.

Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

 

  6.08 Compliance with Laws.

(a) 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 in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; or (ii) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with anti-corruption laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

  6.09 Books and Records.

(a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

  6.10 Inspection Rights.

Upon the request of the Administrative Agent on behalf of any Lender, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, 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 expense of the Lenders when no Event of Default exists, and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower and no more than once per year; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative

 

41


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 without advance notice.

 

  6.11 Use of Proceeds.

Use the proceeds of the Loans solely to redeem the Rockwood Notes.

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall not nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

  7.01 Liens.

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that the scope of the property covered thereby is not increased;

(c) Liens for taxes not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) carriers,’ warehousemen’s, mechanics,’ materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than thirty days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

(f) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation, which are covered in subsection (h) below), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property that, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and that do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

42


(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money which do not constitute Events of Default hereunder;

(i) Liens securing, or in respect of, Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets (including, but not limited to, any such Lien granted within 180 days of the acquisition of such fixed or capital asset); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

(j) Liens on property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary granted in connection with Sale and Leaseback Transactions, provided that the aggregate Attributable Principal Amount in connection with such Sale and Leaseback Transactions shall not at any time be in excess of the Threshold Amount;

(k) Liens on property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary granted in connection with Securitization Transactions;

(l) 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;

(m) licenses of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Liens on the property and assets of any Person to the extent such Liens are existing at the time such Person becomes a member of the Consolidated Group, and any renewals, extensions or replacements thereof so long as the scope of the property covered thereby is not increased, provided such Liens are not created in contemplation thereof and do not extend to any property or assets of any other member of the Consolidated Group;

(o) Liens on property or assets of the Borrower and any Subsidiary granted in connection with environmental remediation or similar obligations with respect to such property or assets not to exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate;

(p) Liens in favor of the United States or any state thereof, or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of any of the foregoing, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments or performance pursuant to the provisions of any contract or statute, to the extent not constituting Indebtedness; and

(q) Liens other than those referred to in subparagraphs (a) through (p) above, provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of obligations secured by such Liens plus the aggregate principal amount of unsecured Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the Borrower outstanding pursuant to Section 7.07(e) does not exceed 20% of Consolidated Net Worth.

 

  7.02 Mergers, Dispositions, etc.

Merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or any capital stock of any Subsidiary, except that:

(a) Any member of the Consolidated Group may purchase and sell inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

43


(b) If at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) any Subsidiary or any other Person may merge into, consolidate with or liquidate or dissolve into the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that, if the Borrower is a party to such transaction, the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into, consolidate with or liquidate or dissolve into any other Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary and no Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary receives any consideration therefor (except in the case of a non-wholly-owned Subsidiary, minority equity holders may receive their ratable share of consideration) provided that, if either Subsidiary is a Domestic Subsidiary, the surviving entity is a Domestic Subsidiary, and (iii) so long as (A) the Ratings on the date of the effectiveness of and giving effect to such merger or consolidation are better than or equal to the Ratings prior thereto and (B) the surviving corporation is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States and agrees in writing to assume the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with any other Person;

(c) The Borrower may sell all or any portion of the capital stock of any Subsidiary for fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Borrower’s board of directors, provided that such sale does not constitute a sale of all or substantially all of the Borrower’s assets; and

(d) The Borrower may (i) transfer, or cause to be transferred, all or any portion of the capital stock of any wholly owned Subsidiary to another wholly owned Subsidiary and (ii) sell any portion of the capital stock of any Subsidiary in connection with the establishment of a joint venture for the purpose of developing or continuing a product or business related to any of the Borrower’s existing lines of business as of the date of this Agreement.

 

  7.03 Change in Nature of Business.

Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Consolidated Group on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

  7.04 Transactions with Affiliates.

Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not restrict (a) dividends or distributions on account of shares of equity interests issued by Subsidiaries of the Borrower ratably to the holders thereof and (b) other transactions among the members of the Consolidated Group that are not prohibited by this Agreement.

 

  7.05 Use of Proceeds.

Use the proceeds of any Loan, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, in each case in violation of, or for a purpose that violates Regulation T, U or X of the FRB.

 

44


  7.06 Financial Covenant.

Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be greater than the ratio corresponding to such fiscal quarter:

 

Fiscal Quarter:

   Consolidated
Leverage
Ratio

the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015:

   4.50:1.00

the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2015:

   4.50:1.00

the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016:

   4.25:1.00

the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016:

   4.00:1.00

the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016:

   3.75:1.00

The fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016 and each fiscal quarter thereafter:

   3.50:1.00

 

  7.07 Subsidiary Indebtedness.

Permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness under the Rockwood Notes (including the Guarantees thereof) so long as such Indebtedness is redeemed with the proceeds of the Loans in accordance with Section 6.11 (and the related Guarantees are released upon redemption).

(b) intercompany Indebtedness among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or among Subsidiaries;

(c) Indebtedness of any Person to the extent such Indebtedness is existing at the time such Person becomes a member of the Consolidated Group and, any refinancings, replacements or extensions thereof so long as the amount of such Indebtedness, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, plus any reasonable penalty, premium or defeasance costs and reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with such refinancings, replacements or extensions, is not increased at the time of such refinancing, replacement or extension, provided that such (i) Indebtedness is not created in contemplation thereof and (ii) the scope of obligors liable for such Indebtedness is not increased;

(d) obligations (contingent or otherwise) existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Subsidiary for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Subsidiary, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view”; and

(e) other Indebtedness, provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the difference between (i) 20% of Consolidated Net Worth minus (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower secured by Liens permitted by Section 7.01(q).

 

45


  7.08 Sanctions.

Directly or indirectly, use any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Loan or the proceeds of any Loan to any Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, 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 Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, lead arranger, Administrative Agent, or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

  7.09 Anti-Corruption Laws.

Directly or indirectly, use any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions.

ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

  8.01 Events of Default.

Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03, 6.05 or 6.11 or Article VII; or

(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty days after the earlier to occur of notice thereof from the Administrative Agent or any Responsible Officer having actual knowledge of such failure; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or

 

46


otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount and the continuation of such failure beyond any applicable grace or cure period, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, 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 Indebtedness referred to in clause (A) or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee referred to in clause (A) (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount and, in the case of any Termination Event not arising out of a default by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, such Swap Termination Value has not been paid by the Borrower or such Subsidiary when due; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undismissed for sixty calendar days or an order or decree approving or ordering such appointment shall continue unstayed for thirty calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law in respect of any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed for sixty calendar days, or an order or decree approving or ordering such proceeding shall continue unstayed for thirty calendar days; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment.

(i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts 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 any such Person and such process, if not fully bonded, continues undismissed for sixty calendar days, or an order or decree approving or ordering such process shall continue unstayed for thirty calendar days; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) a final judgment 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

 

47


does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of forty-five consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or

(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.

 

  8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) 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

(c) 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 or equity;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States (or any other applicable Debtor Relief Laws), the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

  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), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

48


Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third held by them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

  9.01 Appointment and Authority.

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent 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 and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative 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 as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

  9.02 Rights as a Lender.

The Person serving as the Administrative 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 the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

49


  9.03 Exculpatory Provisions.

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not 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 the Administrative 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 the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law; and

(c) shall not, 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 any of the Borrower or any of their respective Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) 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 the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with 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 the Administrative Agent.

 

  9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.

The Administrative 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. The Administrative 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

 

50


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. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the 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.

 

  9.05 Delegation of Duties.

The Administrative 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 any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative 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 Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facility provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

  9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, and, at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default, with the Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), 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. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

(b) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(f) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date), and the retiring Administrative 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 Section). The fees

 

51


payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

  9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties 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.

 

  9.08 No Other Duties, Etc.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers, syndication agents, documentation agents, co-agents or book managers 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 or a Lender hereunder.

No Arranger or co-documentation agent shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender.

 

  9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.07 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative

 

52


Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.07 and 10.04.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

ARTICLE X.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

  10.01 Amendments, Etc.

No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender whose Commitment is being extended or increased, it being understood that a waiver of an Event of Default or a mandatory reduction in Commitments is not considered an increase in Commitments;

(b) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

(d) change Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(e) change any provision of this Section, the definition of “Required Lenders” or the definition of “Majority in Interest of Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) change any provisions of any Loan Document in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments due to Lenders holding Loans of one Class differently than those holding Loans of the other Class, without the written consent of Lenders representing a Majority in Interest of each affected Class;

(g) release the Borrower (subject to Section 7.02) from its obligations hereunder or consent to the assignment (subject to Section 7.02) of the Borrower’s rights and obligations hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

 

53


and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (ii) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersede the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein; and (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow the Borrower to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any other Loan Document to cure or correct administrative errors or omissions or any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency or to effect administrative changes (it is understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the changes described in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this Section 10.01 do not constitute administrative changes), and such amendment shall become effective without any further consent of any other party to such Loan Document so long as (i) such amendment, modification or supplement does not adversely affect the rights of any Lender or other holder of Obligations in any material respect and (ii) the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment.

 

  10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile as follows, 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, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified below:

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION

451 Florida Street

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: 225.388.7536

Facsimile: 225.388.8924

Email: scott.tozier@albemarle.com

With copy to:

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION

451 Florida Street

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801

Attention: General Counsel

Telephone: 225.388.7716

Facsimile: 225.388.8924

Email: karen.narwold@albemarle.com

and

ALBEMARLE CORPORATION

451 Florida Street

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801

Attention: Treasurer

Telephone: 225.388.7322

Facsimile: 225.247.3990

Email: Lorin.Crenshaw@albemarle.comAlbemarle Corporation

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified below:

Pastell L. Jenkins

10 South Dearborn – L2

Chicago, IL 60603

Tel: 312-732-2568

Fax No.: 888-303-9732

Email: jpm.agency.servicing.1@jpmorgan.com; and

(iii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

54


Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower each may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement) and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort,

 

55


contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or any other information through the Internet, telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic 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 the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them 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. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

  10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.

No failure by any Lender or the Administrative 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 or under any other Loan Document (including the imposition of the Default Rate) 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 law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the

 

56


Borrower shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.11), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clause (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.11, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

  10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facility provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), actually incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent

 

57


jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), this Section 10.04(b) shall not apply with respect to taxes other than any taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-tax claim.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any of its Related Parties, but without affecting the Borrower’s obligations to make such payments, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Commitments or Loans of all Lenders at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ pro rata shares (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any of its Related Party acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(d).

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 10.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

  10.05 Payments Set Aside.

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such

 

58


payment or the proceeds of such set-off 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 the Administrative 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 be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or paid by the Administrative 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 Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

  10.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that, subject to Section 7.02, the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (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 subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment or the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or the Loans of any Class at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment or the principal outstanding balance of the 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 or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than

 

59


$10,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s Loans or Commitments, and rights and obligations with respect thereto, assigned; provided that that this clause (ii) shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Loans or Commitments;

(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed provided that it shall be reasonable for the Borrower to withhold consent if such Person does not provide to the Borrower the information required under Section 10.14) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, and Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (B) a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person).

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, 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 and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, 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 subsection 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 subsection (d) of this Section.

 

60


(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural person) or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (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 Commitments or the Loans owing to it of any Class); 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 Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.

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 to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; 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 the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 10.14 shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 10.15 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, unless the Borrower consented to the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.11 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or

 

61


other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

(e) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central banking authority in other applicable jurisdictions; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(f) Assignments to Lenders. At the time of each assignment pursuant to Section 10.06(b) to a Lender that is not already a Lender hereunder, the assignee shall provide to the Administrative Agent and to the Borrower certification as to exemption (or reduction) for deduction or withholding of taxes in accordance with Section 10.14 and shall be subject to the provisions thereof.

 

  10.07 Confidentiality.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective Related Parties (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); (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority; (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, (i) to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (ii) any direct or indirect contractual counterparty or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction relating to obligations of the Borrower or (iii) any credit insurance provider relating to the Borrower and their obligations; (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower; (i) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender’s or its Affiliates’ investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender or its Affiliates; or (j) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments and the Loans. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or its business, other than (i) any such information that is available to the

 

62


Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or a Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified in writing at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

  10.08 Set-off.

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 any Affiliate of any Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being waived by the Borrower to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender or such Affiliate hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or owed to a branch or office or Affiliate of such Lender or denominated in a currency different from the branch or office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

 

  10.09 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 the Administrative 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 the Administrative 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.

 

  10.10 Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract, and this has the same effect as if the signature on the counterparts were on a single copy of this agreement.

 

63


  10.11 Integration; Effectiveness.

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; provided, that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents do not supersede any provisions of any commitment letter or fee letter entered into in connection with the arrangement and syndication of the credit facility established hereby that do not by the terms of such documents terminate upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, all of which provisions shall remain in full force and effect. 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; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Administrative Agent 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. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic imaging means (e.g., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

  10.12 Survival of Representations and Warranties.

All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Loan, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

  10.13 Severability.

If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

  10.14 Tax Forms.

(a) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will

 

64


enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(b) (i) With respect to the Loans, each Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Administrative Agent and to the Borrower, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement (or upon accepting an assignment of an interest herein), two duly signed completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or such other evidence that such Foreign Lender is entitled to an exemption from U.S. withholding tax pursuant to Sections 871(h) and 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender shall (A) promptly submit to the Administrative Agent and to the Borrower such additional duly completed and signed copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current United States laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from, United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, (B) promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of any change in circumstances that would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption, and (C) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower (including filing any certificate or document or the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws that the Borrower make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Foreign Lender or to reduce the amount of any such deduction or withholding to the greatest extent possible. To the extent such Foreign Lender does not act or ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable to such Lender under any of the Loan Documents, such Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Administrative Agent and to the Borrower on the date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower (in the reasonable exercise of their respective discretion), (A) two duly signed completed copies of the forms or statements required to be provided by such Lender as set forth above, to establish the portion of any such sums paid or payable with respect to which such Lender acts for its own account that is not subject to, or subject to a reduced rate of, U.S. withholding tax, and (B) two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto), together with IRS Form W-8 ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, IRS Form W-9, evidence that the beneficial owner is entitled to an exemption from U.S. withholding tax under Sections 871(h) and 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable, and any other information such Lender chooses to transmit with such form, and any other

 

65


certificate or statement of exemption required under the Internal Revenue Code, to establish that such Lender is not acting for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such Lender.

(ii) The Administrative Agent may, without reduction, withhold any taxes required to be deducted and withheld from any payment under any of the Loan Documents with respect to which the Borrower is not required to pay additional amounts under this Section 10.14(b).

(iii) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this paragraph, “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be permitted to withhold any taxes imposed by FATCA.

(c) Each Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code shall deliver to the Administrative Agent two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-9. If such Lender fails to deliver such forms, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable back-up withholding tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, without reduction. The Borrower shall not have any liability under Section 3.01 or otherwise with respect to amounts withheld by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 10.14(c).

 

  10.15 Replacement of Lenders.

If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, (iii) a Lender (a “Non-Consenting Lender”) does not consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Loan Document that has been approved by the Required Lenders as provided in Section 10.01 but requires unanimous consent of all Lenders or all Lenders directly affected thereby (as applicable) or (iv) under any other circumstances set forth herein providing that the Borrower shall have the right to replace a Lender as a party to this Agreement, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);

 

66


(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(c) 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, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

(e) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Non-Consenting Lender’s failure to consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Loan Document, the applicable replacement bank, financial institution or Fund consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination;

provided, further, so long as Sections 10.15(a) through 10.15(e) have been satisfied, the failure by such Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of such Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans pursuant to this Section 10.15 shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

  10.16 USA PATRIOT Act Notice.

Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

 

  10.17 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (OTHER THAN THOSE CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THAT WOULD DEFER TO THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION).

 

67


(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN ANY FORUM OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

  10.18 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY 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 THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND

 

68


THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

  10.19 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), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower 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) the Administrative Agent and each Arranger 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 Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its 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 Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates.

 

  10.20 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.

The words “execute” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender is under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent or such Lender pursuant to procedures approved by it and provided further without limiting the foregoing, upon the request of any party, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

69


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWER:     ALBEMARLE CORPORATION,
    a Virginia corporation
    By:  

/s/ Scott A. Tozier

    Name:  

Scott A. Tozier

    Title:  

Senior Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer


ADMINISTRATIVE    
AGENT:     JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
    as Administrative Agent
    By:  

/s/ John Kushnerick

    Name:   John Kushnerick
    Title:   Executive Director

 

71


[LENDER SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE TERM LOAN AGREEMENT OF ALBEMARLE CORPORATION]

 

LENDER:  

Bank of America, N.A.

by:  

/s/ Christopher DiBiase

  Name: Christopher DiBiase  
  Title: Director  
by:  

 

  *
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

* For Lenders requiring a second signature line.

 

72